Fun Things to do near Los Angeles: Day Drive to Joshua Tree National Park

I’ve always seen photos of Joshua Tree National Park on Instagram and other social media and I figured that if I was ever in Los Angeles again I would make it a point to venture out and see the park since I love being outside in nature. Don’t get me wrong, the city of L.A never really gets old but it’s nice to balance the busy pace of the city with the calm and peaceful speed of the outdoors. Joshua Tree National Park is not in L.A. It’s about a two and a half hour drive away near the city of Twentynine Palms,  so pack up some snacks and water and head out.

My time in Joshua Tree was limited as I wanted to get back to the city before the sun completely went down but the few hours I was able to spend there were just enough to give me a reasonable taste of the beautiful desert scenery and decompress from being stuck in L.A. traffic for the majority of my trip.

I arrived at one of the entrances to the park and having a National Park pass came in handy since it gave me unlimited access to the park. You should really consider getting a National Park Pass as it really pays for itself in about 2-3 visits. So if you’re a nature nerd like me, then you should definitely get one.

I decided to get to the park early since it was in the forecast to be in the upper 80’s in Fahrenheit and I wanted to get through most of the park before it got too hot. I will recommend that you bring a lot of water if you plan on being there for the majority of the day. There aren’t many points in the park to get water or supplies and the last thing you want is to be dehydrated on a hot day. Also, if you’re staying until around when the sun goes down, it might be good to bring a windbreaker or thin jacket as it can get chilly.

As I drove through the park, there wasn’t a lot of wildlife and the scenery was pretty much the same all the way through but it does make for interesting backdrops if you’re going to get photos or just like nature. It may be kind of boring for someone who isn’t really into nature or doesn’t want to just go for a drive out in the middle of nowhere. I loved it though every moment of my drive through the park as I had never seen rock formations the size, texture, and color as the ones in this park.

Along the way, I noticed a lot of rock climbers slowly inching their way up the gigantic rock masses. It is also pretty interesting to watch the rock climbers scale the various boulders and rocks around the park. I kind of lived vicariously through them as I’ve never rock climbed before other than simple bouldering. They looked quite small in comparison to the gigantic rocks they ascended.

If you like to hike, there are miles and miles of hiking trails. There are designated trails but it doesn’t really seem like you have to stay on them, although it is highly advised. I will also say that there are rattlesnakes and other wildlife like bighorn sheep and bees so keep an eye out while you’re walking. You can camp there if you want, so check the website if you need to reserve a spot.

There were so many places that I decided to stop along the way. One that I thought was pretty interesting was Skull Rock, which actually looks like a skull and might instantly inspire the pirate in you to snap a quick shot or chit and chat about a scurvy naive or where all the rum has gone.

I also stopped at Arch Rock. The names of the points are pretty obvious and as you might have guessed, Arch Rock is…well…a rock…with an arch. I just think it’s so amazing what the power of nature can do. The rocks slowly wear down over time until they are no longer there and just end up being part of the sands of the desolate desert. Dust to dust.

Joshua Tree was just what I expected it to be. It was a great place to just go for a drive and not be bothered with a busy mind. It’s an excellent way to just relax or push your body to the limits if you decide to go for a hike or rock climb. The landscape is simple yet reasonably complex. You might want to take a look at a map before you head into the park as cell service can be spotty.

So if you’re looking to just “get away” from the big city and be out literally in the middle of nowhere without the bother of cell service or internet connection then put Joshua Tree on your list.

Keep in Mind:

• If you’re not really great with directions, be sure to get a map at the ranger’s station or at the entrance. Many of the stopping points are signed and marked so I would say it’s hard to get lost, but better safe than sorry.
• Keep an eye on your gas level as there aren’t any gas stations really close to the park
• Bring enough water for everyone in your group. I recommend one gallon a day per person or two gallons if you’re going to be hiking per person.
• Pack it in, Pack it out. Don’t leave any trash on the trails or at your campsite. Whatever you bring in, take it out and dispose of it outside the park or in designated trash cans. Do your best to keep the land beautiful so that others can enjoy it. This philosophy also reduces the likelihood that wildlife could ingest the trash and be harmed or come looking for food in the future.

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