5 stars Upon…read moreentering the visitor's center, I was greeted by a little museum that NPS is so well-known for. It details the rock formations and the wildlife that can be expected while hiking. Within the visitor's center is a gift shop with gorgeous Joshua Tree Nat'l Park-inspired clothing and products. I recommend purchasing merch here since a portion of proceeds go back to the parks. The souvenirs are also much more affordable than privately-owned gift shops nearby. I bought a pin ($7) and a Travel Stamp sticker ($3.99). The office staff are also very knowledgeable about the area. The young man I spoke to highlighted the areas I asked about - see photo for highlighted map. I wanted short 1-mile hikes along with Heart Rock & Arch Rock. 5/5 stars for service! The restrooms inside are clean and there are also portapotties in the parking lot with outdoor sinks available. Their parking lot is small, but there's plenty of street parking. The entrance to the national park is really close by as well.

One of four visitor centers for Joshua Tree National Park, each having a slightly different name,…read morethis location is in downtown Joshua Tree, surrounded by other city buildings. It is the one fronting the West entrance to the Park, which is the more popular of the two. It is located before having to pay the park entrance fee. It was manned by two friendly, quite busy volunteer rangers, answering any questions about your visit. We didn't have time to visit the park itself, so took the opportunity to learn a bit more about the park from displays and presentations. As I learned, it is crowded inside (shoulder to shoulder). There is a dedicated parking lot, along with street parking, and a small gift shop. My wife's mom ended up buying a tote bag (or two) to take back home. We didn't get to go inside the park this time, but was able to see plenty of Joshua trees real close, which are only endemic to this area.

If you are looking for a quick stop in Joshua Tree drive to Transmission Sculpture. Very calm with…read moregood energy vibes making you feel at peace. I have never heard of Daniel Popper, but as we approached this unique spot it was nice to see what it's all about. It signifies the connection from earth and the sky. There's no access to get close to the sculpture since it's nestled in a private residence, but a small trail will lead you to it from the parking area. Still a great background picture to take from a distance. When driving there, it can get a little rough on the off road. I was able to drive slowly with my compact car, but at the same time had anxiety hoping none of my tires would pop due to all the rocks on the dirt road. I made it through and I'm so glad we were able to see the amazing sculpture. It's worth the drive.

If you're a Joshua Tree regular like me, consider this your official desert bucket list item:…read moreDaniel Popper's TRANSMISSION. This isn't just some random roadside "big thing"--it's a colossal, soul-stirring installation that looks like it crash-landed from another galaxy and decided to set up shop on Joshua Tree's sands. Now, let's get real about logistics. Yes, it's a little trek: five miles of paved road on Sunfair followed by one mile of maintained dirt road that's surprisingly civilized (for the desert, anyway). But come on, if your tires don't eat a little sand dust, did you even go to Joshua Tree? And trust me, when this giant beauty looms up like a mystical desert monolith, you'll forget all about the bumps in the road and start wondering if you should have packed an offering. Popper has this magic trick of making art that's both massive and meditative. TRANSMISSION feels ancient, cosmic, and perfectly at home in the desert's eerie silence--like it's been swapping secrets with the Milky Way for centuries. Standing in front of it makes you feel tiny in the best, "oh wow, my problems are microscopic" kind of way. What doesn't feel cosmic? The fact that some enlightened souls decided to graffiti the info board. Really? If scribbling your name on an art installation's plaque is your idea of self-expression, maybe just... stay home. Or, I don't know, go swim in holy water until the urge passes. This piece deserves reverence, not Sharpie doodles. Bottom line: if you love art, road trips, and things that make you feel gloriously insignificant under the desert sky--go. Bring water, bring a camera, bring your sense of awe. TRANSMISSION isn't just a sculpture; it's a pilgrimage. Totally worth the drive even if you visit it just once. P.S: Closer to sunset visits are the best, as you'll get to enjoy this beauty but also the ever changing hues of the open desert. Cheers!

We had a great time on the Caves & Corridors scramble with Stephen! He was patient, encouraging,…read moreand a ton of fun! We are a family of four, kids ages 9 and 12. We all had a ton of fun and built our confidence to scramble on hikes later in our trip. The views were spectacular and highly recommend a scramble Stephen!!

Brad was a fantastic guide. We've been climbing before but weren't particularly experienced…read more However, he managed to challenge us just enough to keep things interesting, but at no point did we feel unsafe or overtaxed. He did a great a job explaining how the gear worked and found us some fantastic spots that were uncrowded and (importantly) shaded. He also showed us some really cool spots that we'd never have found on our own. Thanks Brad and Summit Climbing for a great day.

10/10 would 1000% recommend. It was crazy because my partner and I were coming out of a brewery and…read morewe saw this hi-orbit escape game! We saw images on yelp and immediately decided to add it to the itinerary! I loved the theme about it all and how story driven it was. It was very creative and a good moderate amount of challenging. The set up was so cute! And it is just one whole room! Which was a new experience! I also loved that they have an arcade to play while you wait! My partner and I got the Hi-orbit Heroes package which included a Polaroid, pin and sodas we got to drink! (Which tastes just like a slurpee! Delicious!) would definitely go back for the games and would recommend to anyone going to Joshua tree

Add this to your list of fun things to do with friends or family while in Joshua Tree!…read more If you are looking for an immersive experience in the High Desert, Hi-Orbit Games in Twentynine Palms is the newest addition to the SoCal scene. This cinematic journey takes you into a nostalgic, sci-fi world inspired by the mysteries of Joshua Tree. Hi-Orbit Games is a gorgeous game filled with creativity. It's a spacious Gen 3 experience with no physical padlocks in sight. The set is interesting, really wonderful use of space. I enjoyed how they leaned into the Joshua Tree location. This game is great for escape room players that love multi-room experiences, scenery, modern escape experiences and active challenges.

Ethereal experience, soaking in stone tubs imported from Indonesia filled with geothermal water…read moreunder the peaceful moonlight sky overlooking the JT area. It's just you and tub. Outdoor yet private. The fencing provides a good safe perimeter around the tub. Thank you Marya for showing me the ropes and being so nice and patient. Tip: the later timeslot you book, the better ;)

This place really hits the spot when you want an escape to the desert. We had an amazing week of…read morehiking, soaking and exploring. Highly recommend.

Ryan Trailhead is another stop within Joshua Tree National Park and a must do. The starting point…read morefor the 3-mile roundtrip hike to the summit of Ryan Mountain. There is a steep uphill climb that will provide scenic views, good exercise, and different terrain. There is plenty of parking, access to restrooms, and an educational section, where you'll learn about how the natives used to live and survive.

Popular high hike of JT National Park. Not the tallest, but some of the best views of this desert…read more From the large parking lot, you'll hike along the very well-defined trail up stone stairs for over an hour. Patiently, you'll eventually reach the summit and enjoy exhilarating views of Joshua Tree, including squints of JT's popular hiking trails and the tall Quail Mountain. Highly recommended. Quiet, peaceful ambience.

I highly recommend if you're coming to Joshua tree to make a visit to the hall of horrors. The area…read moreis pretty large, there is a lot to explore. It's a very popular area for rock climbers. We did see a few there when I visited. There is a lot of boulders and rocks and places to explore. Fun for the kids. Make sure you download the AllTrails app.

For my Yelpers that enjoy a little adventure, this place is for you. Small slot canyons, nooks and…read morehidden passages await you here. Hidden inside Joshua Tree National Park, the Hall of Horrors is a great stop. The route is less than a mile, but you have to find the slot canyons. The first one is pretty wide on the right. The second one on the left is about six inches across which requires one to squeeze through the rock walls. Be sure to remove your back pack when making your way through these slots. Lots of large boulders to climb on and a couple of mini caves to just sit in and enjoy the views. Overall, a very satisfying experience and I highly recommend.

This was one of those last minute / random / wasn't planned kind of hikes. Which ended up being…read moredefinitely worth it. Very minimal gain and elevation, however wear sturdy shoes due to the soft uneven sand. Very interesting history I won't spoil it for everyone but it's not just about a mine.. You can get up close and personal with the mine, please be respectful and do not enter the mine although it is very clear you can see that some people have disregarded the signage entering the mine and damaging pieces of it as well. As with any mine, it is unsafe to enter. Parking is of course on all BLM land free. When I went it was during the week and it was not overly crowded at all I think I may have seen a total of four people. Very peaceful and even during the summer it wasn't outrageously hot as SoCal can be. Definitely worth the Segway from heading to death valley.

Relatively flat, wide path to and from the parking area. This is not one of those challenging…read morehikes. However, you are rewarded with some beautiful groves of Joshua Trees, very slight diversions to check out Wonderland (Ohlson) Ranch ruins and an vintage abandoned vehicle near the beginning of your walk. Later on, of course, is the Wall Street Stamp Mill, which is an abandoned gold stamp mill. While this has been fenced off, it's very interesting. And of course, there's more abandoned stuff nearby, including a couple of cars. Bring lots of water, a hat, and sunscreen. You're in the desert. Even if it's not hot, you're in the desert.