Pudgy Buffalo

Joshua Tree National Park is chock full of natural wonders, including its namesake odd sprout, the Joshua tree! But the park is diverse in its terrain and ecosystems, so you won’t find these unusual growers everywhere. Joshua trees favor the cooler, higher elevations of the Mojave Desert. Similarly, they don’t thrive in the southern part of the park in the hotter and drier Colorado Desert. The best spots to see Joshua trees are in the northern and central part of the park. There are some exceptionally large trees growing along Park Boulevard with one near the turnoff for Sheep Pass rumored to be a thousand years old!

Spending time in a Joshua tree forest is a park must-do, especially for new visitors. Take a look at these great spots to get up close with Joshua trees:

Black Rock Canyon Area

1. Black Rock Campground Area and surrounding trails: Higher-elevation campground and trails sit in one of the park’s densest Joshua tree forests.

Central Joshua Tree Area

2. Barker Dam Area: There are some nice Joshua trees to see on the Barker Dam Nature Loop’s return to the parking area.

3. Minerva Hoyt Trail: Joshua trees dot this stretch of open desert from Keys View Road to the Hidden Valley Picnic Area.

4. Lost Horse Valley: Lost Horse Valley is teeming with Joshua trees as far as the eye can see! The Hidden Valley trailhead looking south is an exceptional spot to see the Joshua trees of this valley.

5. Wall Street Mill Trail: This trail meanders through the Joshua tree-speckled desert along the edge of the Wonderland of Rocks to the old Wall Street Mill.

6. Boy Scout Trail: The Boy Scout Trail pushes deep into the outback, through wild stands of Joshua trees to enter the Wonderland of Rocks and end up in Indian Cove. Find the Boy Scout trailhead on Keys View Road.

Tip: The Indian Cove area in the northern part of the park is not a good place to see Joshua trees. In Central Joshua tree, skip Ryan Mountain as it was heavily deforested of its Joshua trees by 19^th century miners and ranchers.