“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.
Download the Joshua Tree National Park Trip Planner for more details on how to reach the park, must-see stops, best places to stay, when to visit, activities to do, packing tips, and more!
Hello, Hallo, Bonjour and Hallo – Explore Joshua Tree in English, Dutch, French and German!
All languages are available to you when you purchase the tour.
Want all of our tours? Upgrade to Action+:
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- An annual $99.99/year subscription offers access to over 200+ tours.
- Unlimited use throughout the year.
- Includes free access to new tours as they are released.
Know Before You Go
Note: The campground reservation system has canceled all bookings, and refunds have been issued. Visitor centers are also open during regular hours with staff available for assistance, and the construction of the new West Entrance station continues. While rangers are not collecting fees, they are present for public safety and guidance. The Education and Fundraising departments are operating as usual, supporting the park through donations and programs. Visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly and follow Leave No Trace principles.
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.
NOTE:
- 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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Nearby Tours
Walking
1-2 Hours
15+ Stories
1+ Miles
Driving
3-4 Hours
65+ Stories
30+ Miles
Driving
1 Hour Hours
15+ Audio Points
1+ miles
Driving
2-3 Hours
50+ Stories
20+ Miles
Joshua Tree Map
Starting Point
Join the tour anywhere along the route. Follow the route in any direction; the tour works both ways from all entrances.
Suggested starting points are indicated by green START markers on the map:
From Joshua Tree West Entrance (Park Blvd): 6563 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA
One suggested start is on Park Boulevard in the town of Joshua Tree, near the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. Head south on Park Blvd towards the park.
From Twentynine Palms Northeast Entrance (29 Palms Hwy): 6505 Freedom Wy, Twentynine Palms, CA
Another suggested start is on 29 Palms Highway (CA-62) near the Joshua Tree NP Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms. Drive east on Twentynine Palms Highway, then turn right onto Utah Trail and head south towards the park.
From Cottonwood Visitor Center South Entrance (Cottonwood Springs Road)
Another suggested start is on Cottonwood Springs Road, located at the southern end of Joshua Tree National Park near the Cottonwood Visitor Center. Head north on Cottonwood Springs Road towards the park.
How Does It Work?
- Access your tour: Download the Action Tour Guide app and sign in with the same email used for your website purchase. Your tour will appear under My Tours.
- Download your tour: Download it before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.
- Start your tour: Open My Tours, select your tour, and tap Start Touring when you reach a starting point.
- Listen your way: Use your phone’s speaker or headphones, or connect to your car’s audio system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not currently supported, compatibility is in development.
- GPS-triggered audio: Stories play automatically as you reach each location along the route.
- Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day. Tours are valid forever (one year for Action+).
Joshua Tree Audio Tour
Things to do on the Tour Include:
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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.
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Inclusions and Exclusions
Action Tour Guide app: Download the app to access your purchased tour.
GPS-triggered audio: Stories and directions play automatically as you reach each location.
Tour anytime: Single tours and bundles never expire and can be used anytime. Action+ is an annual subscription that automatically renews each year unless canceled.
Narrated stories: Hear local history, culture, and stories from experienced narrators.
Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day.
Offline access: Download your tour before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.
Stories, stops, and directions: Follow the route to key attractions with automatic directions and stories at each location.
Transportation: Transportation, parking fees, and tolls are not included.
Admission: Entry tickets and reservations are not included.
Food and drinks: Meals and drinks are not included.
Rental car: A rental car is not included and may be required for driving tours.
