Hollis was an incredible desert guide! She communicated well prior to the hike, arrive early and…read morelead such an informational hike. Her wealth of knowledge about rocks, plants and animals was impressive. Her passion for desert life shined through all morning long. We will book her again!

What not to enjoy! From the get go, so informative about flora and fauna and desert animals. Our 2…read morehour guided hike was so informational. Hollis made our first visit to Joshua Tree a great memory. Would highly recommend!

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'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!

This was my first time at this futuristic sculpture. It is fenced up so you are only allowed to…read moretake photos at a viewing point where they have a bench. It seems quite peaceful here and it is really in the middle of nowhere. Overall I did enjoy, it and this could be a quick spot to just stop by if you are in the area!

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.

How was this so incredible!!! Arcade games were a blast to the past and Blake was friendly and…read morehelpful! The escape room was unlike anything I'd done before! The puzzles were fun and challenging just the right amount. Once you get it, it's so satisfying! I couldn't imagine how integrated the puzzles were! It was a FUN time--can't wait for more friends to do it so we can talk about it!!

I really love to see the new streets the crews are working on while we all pass, when I'm driving…read moredown Long Canyon Road it's a nice windy less narrow road. I feel the traffic flowing right! I love checking out those large Palms and the other thing is I will I planning is a definite trip there. It looks relaxing.

Five stars for another wonderful trail near Desert Hot Springs. It is great to see nature being…read morepreserved and also made accessible for everyone to enjoy. The city of Desert Hot Springs is making a concerted effort to create and maintain great hiking opportunities and Long Canyon Trail is the latest example. My trip out to the trailhead on a weekday offered some interesting sights along the way: two folks engaging in what looked like target practice and another fellow perhaps sampling some natural herbs. If you plan to hike, I'd make sure you go with a group. And don't forget water, sunscreen and a hat. Free parking and no entrance fee.

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.

Easy to coordinate with, very flexible and professional. The staff are so knowledgable about the…read morepark and provided amazing information!

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.