Another site to see at Joshua tree. Good for kids…read more You can see skull rock formation from the side of the road. It's a short walk up from the side of the road. It wasn't crowded when I arrived. The area itself is amazing to explored. Plenty of boulders and rocks to climb over and under. Lots of valleys and places to explore. I'm actually surprised that more people didn't explore the area and they just came to visit the face.

+ Marvelous rock formation. Erosion formed the eye and nose sockets of this eponymous skull…read more . You have the option of hiking the Skull Rock Trail, or you can park at the lot very close to the skull and admire it right there. . Despite the moderate crowd, I was able to have a bit of time to myself to admire the Skull Rock. Fascinating creation by mother nature.

Seemingly short but a pretty far walk from the parking lot. Once you get to the Arch rock trail…read moreit's 1.4 miles and winds through some great rock formations, all of which you can scramble on. Our favorite parts were all the "off-trail" moments where you could get up and close with the desert. In summer it's recommended to do this trail before 10 am, it gets hot even in Spring! It was by far the hottest we were because of the long walk from parking with no shade at all. I believe the elevation is lower here so it felt warmer than the other Joshua Tree hikes. The iconic stops are whale rock, heart rock, and the large arch near the beginning of the trail. I'm not sure what it was but there is also a cliff you can walk to the edge of and there is some great rock formations in a canyon. It is popular also if you come too late there will be no parking, when we left we saw people walking from pretty far to get here since the parking lot was full.

This is probably one of the most popular attractions at the park. It does get busy so my suggestion…read moreis to come early. It's located next to the campground, but the campground is strictly for campers. There is no parking there. For the visitors, there is a small parking lot right before you get to the campground check all trails app. You may want to download it because there's no reception in the area. The trail has the arch and heart shaped rock. But what I found more interesting was the area near the shape rock where there were tons of rocks and boulders of different sizes and shapes. It was surreal. It was really cool. climb and walk-through it all. Very kid friendly. Come early and it does get hot. It's all exposed. Definitely little shade.

Jumbo Rocks Campground has 124 campsites and is one of the more popular campgrounds at Joshua Tree…read moreNational Park. Because of that, they require reservations year-round for $30 per site. Next to the campground has massive rock formations. If you're not staying at the campground there are only four parking spots but you can park on the side of the road just outside the entrance. The campground is in a central location with other campgrounds and attractions nearby. Even if you're not staying there it's nice to walk around and check out the rocks.

We camp at Jumbo Rocks every year and it never gets old. The rock formations are just stunning like…read morenature's playground. You do need to book in advance though, this place fills up quick. Restrooms? Meh. Not the best, but we bring our own setup so it's not a dealbreaker. Just a heads-up: double-check how many vehicles your campsite allows. Last year we showed up with two cars but only had one parking spot such a rookie mistake! Thankfully our neighbors were cool and let us use their extra. There are tons of trails around here, with different levels depending on how much you feel like sweating. No water on-site though, so come prepared. Especially if you're visiting in the summer please bring a pack, hydrate often, and avoid turning your hike into a heat stroke story. Also, bees! They're not aggressive, but if you're allergic, bring your EpiPen or maybe rethink the trip. And the sunset? Unreal. Watching the sun bounce off those rocks is something else. If you're not staying overnight, you can still swing by and do the Skull Rock Trail it's short, sweet, and perfect for a day trip.

We've been to this National Park before, but it was our first chance to try some of the hikes, and…read morethey were really beautiful. If you just do the drive, you might not really see everything this park has to offer, so it's worth doing the hikes, even if only the easier ones. We did the Hidden Valley hike, which is only around a 1 mile loop. It can get pretty crowded though and the parking gets filled fast, so it's better to go early. We also went on the Barker Dam hike, which is also just a bit over a mile. This one was my favorite of the two and you get to climb some nice rocks on this hike. We did the other typical stuff like see skull rock, but didn't do this hike, and saw keys view, which is also really nice, but if you do go, it's definitely worth to do some hiking since it makes the experience of this park so much better.

Honestly, the park itself is a 5 star experience. The views are unreal -- the kind of place that…read moremakes you stop and just take it in. I went on a Monday thinking it would be calm, but it was still pretty busy. Parking was tough in a lot of spots, which definitely slowed things down. I did the Arch Rock Trail and checked out Heart Rock on the same route -- both were gorgeous and totally worth it. Then I tried heading to Skull Rock, but parking was basically impossible unless I parked far and walked close to 50 minutes. On top of that, there was a line of like 30 people just to take a picture. I skipped it, but even driving by, it was still impactful. Hidden Valley Trail ended up being another highlight -- super scenic and probably my favorite overall. Weather was "okay" -- around 90°, but going early in the morning made it manageable. Both trails are kid-friendly, probably 4 and up, but there are some slippery areas so you still have to be careful. I went with my wife and 4 yr old kid and did very well. I held his hand for some parts. We did everything in about 3.5 hours -- driving, hiking, finding parking, bathroom stops, and walking farther than expected because spots were full. The park itself is a 5 but the surrounding areas like Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree just don't offer much in terms of food options or social life. After an amazing nature experience, it kind of falls flat when you're looking for something to do or somewhere great to eat. If I could, I would give the surrounding area a 2 out of 5. So yeah -- the park is 5 stars, but the overall experience I would give it a 3.

Such a memorable, comfortable and fun experience!! I'm happy that a campsite opened up last minute…read moreon Saturday night before the week of Thanksgiving. I added myself to the waitlist on reserve California and just happened to see the email as soon as a spot opened up! This campground feels like camping on the moon or that we were living next to the Flintstones. Honestly it couldn't have been a better experience and I'll remember it forever. The spots are super spread out you can't even tell if anyone else Is near by and we were right up against the rocks in a little cove. Each site has its own picnic bench, grill and fire pit this was all incredibly helpful and made packing easier! The hikes and views are amazing. You can hike so many well known hikes just walking around the corner. The sunshine was perfect and the stars felt like we could touch them. We woke up for the sunrise! Looking forward to next trip!

Please read rules and all info to camp safely. December…read more2022 Christmas Camping Site was a great pick many rock formations to explore, folks ever so friendly. Bring plenty firewood when you think you do You don't trust Me. Vault Toilets highly maintained Frequent site visits by patrol cars Hiking with dogs can be challenging however manageable. There is a pet resort before entering Joshua I used them for the day made reservations in advance. There are 124 individual/family sites in Jumbo Rocks Campground. Reservations are required during the busy season, September to May. The campground is centrally located and offers great views of rock formations. A maximum of six people, three tents, and two vehicles may occupy an individual campsite, if there is space. A vehicle towing a trailer, popup, tent trailer, or fifth wheel, or a motorhome towing a vehicle, is considered two vehicles. Some sites can accommodate an overall combined RV length (including a towed vehicle) of up to 35 feet. For details about specific sites and availability, look at the Jumbo Rocks Campground page. Camping fees must be paid within one hour of selecting a campsite. Check in and check out are at noon. There is a 30-day camping limit each year. Only 14 of these nights may take place from October-May. All tents, tarps, and other camping equipment must be set up within 25 feet (7.6 m) of the picnic table or fire grate. Food must be stored securely where wildlife cannot get to it. Any scented or odorous items, including sunscreen and toiletries, must be secured as if they were food. Campsites left vacant for 24 hours will be treated as vacant. Holding or reserving campsites for persons not present is not allowed.

Had a great time at Joshua Tree. My only complaint is the bathrooms- every single bathroom that I…read morevisited was filled with bees which made it difficult to use the bathroom so I had to wait until we were out of the park. Make sure to pack water and snacks, as there is no food for sale in the park. If you're going in the summer, please be prepared with lots of water and sunscreen!

My first time visiting this national park even though I've resided in So Ca my entire life. I…read morepurchased my car pass online the same morning in route from Palm Desert in Coachella Valley. We stopped in the city of Yucca Valley where we grabbed lunch to go at Vons and grabbed a few beverages at Starbucks which is in route before entering the park. I utilized the AI Grok in my Tesla which routed and mapped the highlights of the national park which was convenient. My favorite stop was Hidden Valley which was a short one mile hike through formations of massive boulders. Pics and video's don't do justice of the beauty and serenity of this Valley. The Cholla Cactus Garden is beautiful and located towards the west side of the national park. The number of cactus are in the thousands and the environment is totally unique from the rest of the national park. Overall, it was a great day trip to Joshua Tree national park and I'll definitely return.

Indian Cove Campground is hands down one of the most unique and peaceful places to stay in Joshua…read moreTree National Park. Surrounded by massive rock formations, it feels secluded, quiet, and incredibly raw -- like you're camping inside a natural stone cathedral. The campsites are well spaced, giving you privacy and that true desert solitude. No RV hookups, no noise, no distractions -- just rocks, sky, wind, and silence. This is real camping, not a parking lot with tents. Sunsets here are unreal, and at night the stars are absolutely breathtaking. If you're into hiking, climbing, photography, or just disconnecting from everything, this place is perfect. You can step out of your tent and immediately feel like you're deep in the wilderness. Facilities are basic but clean and well maintained, which is exactly what you want in a place like this. Indian Cove isn't for everyone -- and that's why it's special. Highly recommended for anyone who wants an authentic Joshua Tree experience

This is a very nice Campground places to book up and weekends to fully book up so try to plan early…read morelike really early different spots have different benefits some are shady and some are not some are more roomy and some are not some have parking for more than one person While others the parking is extremely tight also need to look at the proximity to the pit toilets pit toilets meaning that it's just a hole in the ground but it isn't closed with the door overall the Ambiance and the environment is amazing and well maintained frequently I see that there are Ranger Patrol vehicles that drive by to check and the many times that we have visited we have always been very impressed with the cleanliness and the order and how well the park is maintained many people come here over and over again because of the amazing Ambience and the environment it is so quiet here and unclear nights you can definitely see all the stars and you are one with them this is far enough to be away from the daily hustle and bustle but close enough to be able to do a weekend trip

LIVE OAK PICNIC AREA is located in one of the more popular areas of Joshua Tree National Park,…read morenamely, a one mile long region along Park Boulevard that includes these features: (1) LIVE OAK picnic area; (2) SPLIT ROCK trail; (3) SKULL ROCK; (4) DISCOVERY trail and FACE ROCK. Face Rock is located at the intersection between Discovery Trail and Split Rock Trail; (5) PINE CONE rock (this is one of the most beautiful inselbergs in JTNP, but it has not been given a name. And so, I named it Pine Cone Rock); and (6) JUMBO ROCKS campground. Live Oak Picnic area has an indoor toilet, and three areas for parking. The parking spots are, just to the south of Twin Pyramid, just to the east of Twin Pyramid, and at the end of the 300 foot dirt road (mentioned below). PHOTOGENIC GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF LIVE OAK. The most photogenic features at Live Oak include: (1) Twin Pyramids; (2) Criss-crossing quartz dikes that reside in the north face of Twin Pyramids; (3) Granite formation resembling an ear. This is located on north face of Twin Pyramids; (4) Angled quartz intrusion with almond-shaped crevice. This is located on southern face of Twin Pyramids; (5) Valentine Heart. This is located about fifty feet to the east of the edge of the parking lot (by this, I mean the parking area that is just to the east of Twin Pyramids; (6) Beautiful quartz dike that resembles a stone shelf consisting of white bricks. This is located at the very end of the 300 foot dirt road that extends from Twin Pyramids to the live oak (to the actual live oak tree); and (7) Dramatic chockstone that is wedged in the middle of a small inselberg. This is located about 200 feet out in the desert, to the east of Twin Pyramid. There are not many inselbergs out there, which makes it easier to find this huge chockstone. All of the above are shown in the attached photographs. ESTABLISHED CLIMBING AREAS in LIVE OAK PICNIC AREA. These include, The Pope's Hat, Big Bob's Big Wedge, and Whispering Wall. The locations of these climbing areas (these are names of the boulders) are on pages 392-393 of Joshua Tree Rock Climbs by Robert Miramontes.

Hit and miss here to find a spot. No reservations. Came for spring break and it was packed. Luckily…read morewe found one open spot on a Monday. Gorgeous at this site though.

Campsites are on a first come, first serve basis. There are some that are reservations only, but we…read moreusually go for the Jumbo Rocks campsite as there are tons of spots. This time around, we decided to try out Belle Campground. The process is the same: pick a spot, fill out the form, clip it on your campsite post, and deposit the money filled envelope at the camp fee box (usually located near the info boards). It's a smaller campground with 18 spots at $15 per night. They have vault toilets and trash bins located throughout the area. The toilets are stocked with toilet paper, but it never hurts to bring some, just in case. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and BBQ grill. There is no water available, so bring enough for each person as well as cooking purposes. Overall, this was a nice campsite. It is a bit smaller than we were used to compared to Jumbo Rocks, but we enjoyed it all the same.

Our group of 10 boy scouts had an awesome experience rocking climbing with Stone Adventures. Our…read moreguides, Mason, Ryan and Nick were encouraging, patient and fun! The weather was perfect and the area the boys were climbing at was quiet and felt really secluded. Mason is also very helpful and flexible in helping our group of boy scouts complete their climbing merit badges. Thank you for such a wonderful experience. I will not hesitate to recommend them to anyone!

Amazing climb with Seth who was patient, encouraging and flexible. We had a great time-felt this…read morewas due to our guide. Thank you!