“And the Joshua tree bent low, and it cried… let them go.”
— Emmylou Harris, “Joshua Tree”
In the middle of nowhere, Gram Parsons’ spirit still lingers. The singer died nearby in the ’70s, and his friends famously stole his body to cremate it under the stars, right here in Joshua Tree. No one ever looked at this desert the same way again.
And honestly, how could you? This place is wild in every sense. Trees that look like they’re throwing slow-motion tantrums. Rocks stacked like forgotten playgrounds of giants. Sunsets that stop you mid-sentence. It’s not a backdrop; it’s a mood.
Joshua Tree is where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts collide. That means double the drama: surreal landscapes, wild contrasts, and a vibe you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll spot rock climbers clinging to vertical puzzles, stargazers waiting for the sky to erupt, and maybe even a tortoise just minding its business.
Want to see it all without getting lost or glued to your screen? Our self-guided audio tour has your back– no signal needed. Just drive, listen, and let the stories roll with the wheels.
You’ll pass through Hidden Valley, once a hideout for cattle rustlers, and Queen Valley, where abandoned mines whisper old gold dreams. Keys View serves up panoramic jaw-droppers. Skull Rock grins back at you. Intersection Rock draws the brave and bruised. And don’t even get us started on stargazing.
Just remember: the Joshua trees aren’t responsible for your existential crisis. They’re just doing their twisty thing.
Note: For all road closure updates and more, please visit the National Park Service website.
Complement your drive with these top hikes!
Here’s a PDF of the top 10 trails that are along our Joshua Tree tour. You get an overview of the approximate time it takes to do each trail and how easy or difficult the trail is.
Bonus Tour
Enjoy the bonus tour of Hidden Valley Nature Trail.
Speak German and Spanish?
Hallo, Ihre Joshua Tree Tour ist auch auf Deutsch verfügbar.
Hola, tu Joshua Tree también está disponible en alemán.
NOTE:
- The West Entrance will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 7, to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 10. Park Boulevard will be closed to traffic for six miles —from the West Entrance to Quail Springs.
- You can purchase digital park entrance passes for Joshua Tree National Park on recreation.gov at no extra cost. It’s recommended to buy your pass in advance to speed up park entry and either print it or save it on your mobile device due to limited connectivity in the park.
If buying a pass in person, options include:
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- North and West Entrance Stations (card only)
- Cottonwood Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, Joshua Tree Visitor Center, and California Welcome Center (cash or card).
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- For road closures & reservation fees, visit nps.com
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- An annual $99.99/year subscription offers access to over 200+ tours.
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Joshua Tree Map
Where To Start?
Starting Point Address: You can start your driving tour from any entrance closest to you.
Northeast Entrance: Twentynine Palms
South Entrance: Cottonwood Visitor Center – Cottonwood Visitor Center
West Entrance: Joshua Tree Visitor Center – Joshua Tree Visitor Center
The starting points of the hikes are mentioned in the PDF.
How Does It Work?
- Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
- Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If there are multiple versions or entrances for your tour, be sure to download all audio guides.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux, and bring headphones on walking tours. CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. We are working with Apple for a resolution.
- To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
- The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
- Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
Audio Story Highlights
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Welcome
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Town of Joshua Tree
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What's in a Name
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Joshua Trees
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The Makings of a Desert
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West Entrance Gate
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The Cahuilla
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Bighorn Sheep
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Hiking Safety
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Samuelsons Rock
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Native American Music
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Jim McHaney
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Willow Hole
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Quail Mountain
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Hemingway
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Hidden Valley Nature Trail & McHaney Gang Hideout
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Intersection Rock
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Lost Horse Mountain & The Gold Thief
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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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Polaris
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Road Runner vs Wile E. Coyote
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Hall of Horrors
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Geology
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Deserts
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Queen Valley
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Tahquitz
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Skull Rock
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Split Rock Loop Trail
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Desert Flowers
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Cactus Wren
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Changing Seasons
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Sky's the Limit Observatory
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Cahuilla Traditions
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Oasis Visitor Center
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
The weird, wiggly-armed Joshua trees look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, but they’re actually not trees at all! They belong to the yucca genus and are more closely related to a cactus than a tree.
Joshua Tree gets its name from the weird and wild plants of the same name, but those plants first got their name from the Mormons. Mormon pioneers who first saw Joshua trees thought they looked like the Biblical figure of Joshua with his arms raised in prayer and named them accordingly!
Joshua Tree National Park is one of the few places on Earth where Joshua trees can still be found. It’s also the meeting point between two vastly different deserts: The Mojave and the Colorado. You can find more information on Joshua tree specialities in our blog.
Without question! Though harsh, this landscape is unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere. The beauty and serenity you can find here is truly something special.
Dogs are allowed in Joshua Tree, but only in certain areas. If you’re planning on doing much hiking, check beforehand to make sure the trails you’ll hike allow dogs. It gets hot in Joshua Tree, and you definitely don’t want to leave your furry friends in the car!
Joshua Tree National Park covers a staggering 1,242 square miles of desert. That’s bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island! Read more on the sizing of Joshua in detail.
While Joshua Tree is quite a large park, you can definitely see it in a day if you plan carefully! If you want to do a lot of hiking or bouldering, however, it might be wise to give yourself two days to fully enjoy the park without feeling the time pressure. Take a look at our latest blog post for a day trip to Joshua.
Joshua Tree features some really amazing hiking and climbing opportunities for visitors of all skill levels. There’s also plenty of sightseeing for visitors who’d rather stick close to their vehicle. Whatever you do, you should definitely plan to catch a sunset while you’re in the park!
Winter is actually one of the nicest times to visit Joshua Tree! With mild daily highs around 60, you’ll be able to explore and embark on some of the park’s longer hikes without battling the desert heat. Learn more about Joshua in winter in our blog.
Most nights, the Milky Way is indeed visible from Joshua Tree National Park. Just make sure you’ll be out on a clear night and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. Read more in our blog post about the milky way .
A weekly pass to enter the park is $35 per vehicle, $25 for a motorcycle, or $15 if you enter on foot or on a bike. An annual pass costs $55 per vehicle. Joshua Tree also accepts America the Beautiful passes, so if you’ve got one of those, you can get in for free!
Cellular data is extremely sparse within Joshua Tree, and WiFi is only available as visitor centers. It’s important to have offline navigation options when visiting the park.
The Joshua Tree Music Festival takes place each spring, and is a great opportunity to soak up some desert vibes. The park also hosts an annual Night Sky Festival in September for avid stargazers.
Climbers love Joshua Tree for good reason, as the park boasts around 8,000 different climbing routes. The whole park might not exist if not for one woman, Minerva Hoyt, who took it upon herself to protect this amazing landscape.
Absolutely! Joshua Tree is too large and too spread out to make the most of a bus or van tour, so a self-guided Joshua Tree Tour in your own vehicle or rental is a great alternative.
Inclusions and Exclusions
App on your phone: A link to download the Action Tour Guide App and Password for your tours.
Easy to use: Stories play automatically by GPS. Hands-free. Get HELP all day: Call, Chat, or Email.
Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Valid for multiple visits up to 1 year after purchase.
Interactive audio stories: Experience local history and culture through clear, concise narratives from experienced narrators.
At your own pace: No group. Take breaks for photos, snacks, hikes. Go at your own pace.
Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
Don’t miss a thing: Full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated videos, text, and hidden gems.
Transportation, parking fees, food, and drinks.
Entry tickets or reservations to any attractions along the route.
Car Rental: Please arrange a rental car at the closest airport or train station.
