Welcome to the Joshua Tree National Park Tour
Explore the rugged, mystical beauty of Joshua Tree National Park with a self-guided driving tour. This raw desert landscape features incredible vistas, stunning rock formations, and eponymous cartoonish trees. As you drive on the Joshua Tree National Park tour and listen to stories around each bend in the road, keep an eye out for desert animals like the roadrunner, tortoise, and even bald eagle. Plus, enjoy a Bonus Tour of Palm Springs!Â
You can start your tour at Joshua Tree Visitor Center, Cottonwood Visitor Center, or the Joshua Tree Cultural Center.
About the Tour
This self-guided driving tour begins at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center and follows the park road through this one-of-a-kind national park. As we leave civilization behind, we’ll hear about the Cahuilla tribe who once called this place home and get our introduction to Jim McHaney, who terrorized the townsfolk with his band of ruffians.
Then, of course, we’ll see the eponymous Joshua trees themselves. These funky plants look like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, but we can assure you they’re 100% real! Get the facts on why they look like they do and what the early Mormon pioneers thought they meant on this guided tour of Joshua Tree National Park.
Continue to a hiking trail that leads you to one of the park’s strangest sights: a bunch of rocks with cryptic spiritual inscriptions on them, left by an odd recluse almost 100 years ago. We’ll also fill you in on some of the wildlife you might spot while you’re in the park, from the pint-sized roadrunner to the elusive bighorn sheep.
Next, we’ll visit the ever-popular Hidden Valley Nature Trail, where the infamous McHaney Gang once kept their stolen cattle while waiting to sell them off. Then it’s on to Intersection Rock, a climbing hub that positively towers over the surrounding desert.
After that, we’ll head down into Lost Horse Valley and hear the dramatic tale of how it got its name. It’s a story involving horse theft, a risky move, and a tense encounter with the McHaney Gang. Keys Point awaits beyond this valley, the most famous vista point in the park, where visitors and locals alike flock to catch the sunset.
Up next, we’ll swing by the ominous Skull Rock and get a chance to visit some old, abandoned mines in Queen Valley. Then we’ll head to an observatory that’s perfect for stargazing and end up in the Oasis Visitor Center. Our tour concludes here, just outside Twentynine Palms.
Starting Point Address: You can start your tour from any entrance closest to you.
Main Entrance (West): Joshua Tree Visitor Center – 6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
South Entrance: Cottonwood Visitor Center – Pinto Basin Rd, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Northeast Entrance: Joshua Tree Cultural Center –Â 6533 Freedom Wy, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Joshua Tree Tour Map
What You'll See
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Joshua Tree Visitor Center
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The Town of Joshua Tree
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Quail Mounatin
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Samuelsons Rock
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Willow Hole
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Hemingway Buttress
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Lost Horse Valley
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Hidden valley nature trail and McHaney Gang Hideout
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Intersection Rock
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Right at Cap Rock
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Lost Horse Valley
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Lost Horse Mine Loop Trail
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Keys View
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Queen Mountain
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Queen Valley
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Skull Rock
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Cushion Foxtail Cactus & Split Rock Loop Trail
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ALT : Sky's The limit observatory and nature center
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ALT : Oasis visitor center
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Arch Rock Nature Trail
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Ocotillo Patch
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Mastodon Peak
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Cottonwood Spring
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Cottonwood Visitor Center
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ALT Palm Springs Visitors Center
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ALT Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
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ALT Palm Springs Art Museum
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ALT Walk of the Stars Palm Springs
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ALTÂ Palm Springs Air Museum
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ALT Coachella Valley Preserve - Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve
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ALT: General Patton Memorial Museum
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ALT Coxcomb Mountains
Preview the Tour
Stop 1: Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Stop 3: Samuelsons Rock
Stop 14 : ALT: Barker Dam
Stop 24 : Queen ValleyÂ
Stop 39 : Cottonwood Spring
Tour FAQs
The famous Joshua tree actually isn’t a tree at all – it’s a yucca! Take a Joshua Tree National Park tour like this one to get the best views of this plant’s iconic Dr. Seuss-like looks. As you may have figured out, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the best places to see this unique plant!
The famous Joshua tree got its name from Mormon travelers. As the Mormons made their way across the desert, they thought the arm-like branches of this plant looked like they were raised in prayer and encouraging the Mormons to head further west. The trees reminded the travelers of the Biblical-figure Joshua since they were searching for a place to freely practice their faith.
Absolutely! Self-guided tours like this one are one of the best ways to visit America’s national parks. Traditional guided tours are often crowded, meaning that you can struggle to see iconic park views. You also have to follow a set schedule that might not meet your needs. Action Tour Guide’s Joshua Tree National Park Tour allows you to set your own pace and learn about the park’s rich history as you travel in the comfort of your car.
Dogs are allowed in Joshua Tree, but only in certain areas. If you’re looking to head out on trails, the chances are, you’ll be better off leaving your furry friend with a sitter. In order to follow the park’s rules, all dogs need to be within a hundred feet of a road, a picnic area, or a campground. You also have to make sure you keep your dog on a leash that’s six feet or less. And because Joshua Tree can reach dangerously hot temperatures, you always need to carry water for your pet and make sure that they’re not walking on any hot surfaces like sidewalks.
This Joshua Tree tour can wow both adventure-seekers and people wanting to soak in the views. Go hiking, sight-seeing, and more! Action Tour Guide’s Joshua Tree Tour will tell you about some of the park’s best hikes, best rock climbing spots and top sightseeing points in the park.Â
 Joshua Tree National Park offers 1,235 square miles of beautiful desert landscapes.
Yes – it’s one of the nicest national parks to visit during the winter months! With mild daily highs around 60, you’ll be able to make the most out of your Joshua Tree Tour without having to fight the heat. This makes the winter months a perfect time to hit some of the park’s longer hikes.
Additional Information
What do we do?
Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day!Â
Lifetime Validity
​Changing travel date? No worries! All individual tours come with lifetime validity.Â
No Network Needed
The tour works offline, so you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. However, we do suggest you download the tour at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc., before you head out for a completely immersive experience.
Not an Entry Ticket
This is not an entry ticket.
How many tours should I buy?
Since this is a driving tour, you only need to buy one tour per car.
Each tour 3 - 4 Hours
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