joshua tree national park It’s unrealistic.
The eponymous spiky trees are often compared to something out of Dr. Seuss’s imagination, but park ranger Mark Mahan has a different take.
“I’m a huge sci-fi geek, and driving through the park feels like the closest thing to visiting another planet ever,” he said. “because joshua tree, they don’t look like any oak tree, and they don’t look like any pine tree. The rock formations look like something out of a Star Trek episode, so it feels like another world. ”
Fortunately, travelers don’t need a rocket ship to see the park’s impressive scenery. Here’s what travelers need to know about Joshua Tree, the newest national park in USA TODAY’s annual series.
What’s so special about Joshua Tree?
“This is a place where two deserts meet, so it’s unique because we have not one but two landscapes: the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, high desert and low desert,” Mahan said. “But the two features of this park are Joshua’s trees and rocks.”
Although Joshua trees are found elsewhere in the Mojave Desert, Mahan said the combination of trees and rocks is what makes this park truly unique.
Rock is especially popular. rock climber, To him, Joshua Tree is a world-famous destination. According to the park’s website, there are more than 8,000 climbing routes and more than 2,000 boulder problems within the park.
“Anywhere there’s a rock, you can climb it,” Mahan said. Rangers only ask visitors to leave no trace.
Do I need a reservation to enter Joshua Tree National Park?
no. No reservations are required to visit Joshua Her Tree, but there is an admission fee.
Admission passes cost $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person arriving on foot or bicycle. You can purchase in advance online. recreation.gov Valid for 7 consecutive days after first use.
Which city is closest to Joshua Tree National Park?
Twentynine Palms is the closest city to the park, but several smaller towns are nearby.
Palm Springs is less than an hour away and the closest airport, Palm Springs International Airport, is serviced by major airlines.
The park is less than a three-hour drive from Los Angeles and San Diego, and less than four hours from Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Can you drive through a Joshua tree?
absolutely.
“Our parks are designed to be driven through,” Mahan said. “There is a scenic drive course (Park Boulevard) If you go straight into the park from the town of Joshua Tree, you can find the rock without much effort. In fact, Joshua’s tree and rock will find you. …You’ll see amazing views everywhere you go. ”
Can I go to Joshua Tree at night?
yes. Joshua Tree is open seven days a week.
What is the best time to visit Joshua Tree? What is the weather like?
In spring and autumn, most comfortable temperatureaccording to the park, the peak season is from October to May.
Temperatures can drop below freezing in the winter and often reach triple digits in the summer.
Depending on the amount and location of the park’s rain, visitors can: look at wildflowers It will bloom in the spring, but there are no guarantees.
“One spring, just a few years ago, people got together. They’re like, ‘So where can we go to see wildflowers?’ We’re like, ‘There’s actually nothing here,'” Mahan said. “The last time we saw wildflowers everywhere was in the spring of 2019.”
How long should I stay in Joshua Tree National Park?
“If you only have time to do one thing, take the scenic drive down Park Boulevard through a landscape of trees and rocks,” Mahan said.
Driving Park Boulevard can take as little as an hour to a full day, depending on what stops visitors make along the way.
“There’s no trail I can recommend. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hiked a trail and said, ‘This is my new favorite trail,'” Mahan said. “Wherever you’re inspired by the scenery and see signs for hikes with parking available, that’s the trail for you. Every trail has a unique charm.”
Ideally, visitors would take a full day or two to explore the approximately 800,000-acre park. This gives you time to enjoy the park’s spectacular desert sunsets, stunning night sky As an international dark sky park. But Mahan cautions against falling for the internet hype.
“They believe that key view teeth of “It’s a sunset place,” he said. “That’s not true. of place. It’s just a place. There are thousands of locations within the park where you can watch spectacular sunsets. …The trees and rocks we are familiar with are not present at Keysview. ”
No matter how long visitors stay, they should plan to bring everything they need to survive, including gas, food, and water.There are some Water bottle and jug filling station Although located within Joshua Tree, it is not central to the park and cell phone service is spotty.
Who are the indigenous people of Joshua Tree National Park?
According to the park, the land is inhabited by the Malayam (Serrano), Nu (Chemehuevi), and Kawiya (Cahuila) peoples, and was used by the Aha Makabe (Mojave) people, and currently has 15 The head is represented, the park adds. tribe:
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Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY