An informative and engaging precursor to the eponymous park, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center offers the perfect way to begin your adventure. Get a free map to the park here, learn more about the best trails to take, check out the unique exhibits on display or visit the shop on-site for a few collectibles. During busier months at the park (October-May), it is advisable to pick up the park pass here in order to avoid the long queues at the ranger station.
A short drive from the northwest entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park will lead you to one of the most spectacular sunrise and sunset spots in the area. Keys View, a coveted vantage point, rests high above the Little San Bernardino Mountains, and offers vast, uninterrupted views of Coachella Valley and beyond. On a clear day, one may also be able to sight the San Andreas Fault along the valley's contours. Its easy access and rewarding vistas make it a very popular destination.
A beautiful hunk of dull granite arches over boulders and rocks in the Joshua Tree park landscape, forming one of the most recognizable landmarks in the park. The trail leading up to the Arch Rock is scenic and fairly easy even for novice hikers. Once you reach the arch, have fun exploring the rocky landscape and the park's unusual yet stellar terrain.
A fascinating stop on a fairly doable trail that can be traversed even by families, it is easy to see why the Skull Rock is so popular. The Skull Rock looms in the far distance in Joshua Tree's desert landscape, peering through its empty hollow 'eyes'. The rock, indeed a geological oddity, bears an uncanny resemblance to an actual skull, replete with a round head and hollow sockets for eyes. Don't forget to stop here and get a quick photo to remember your Joshua Tree National Park adventure.
Located in Joshua Tree National Park, the Oasis of Mara is one of the most visited sites in the park, and also one of its most significant. Historically, the area was settled by the Serrano, Chemehuevi and Cahuilla natives. According to legend, the Serrano named this oasis 'Mara', which translates roughly into 'a place of little springs and much grass'. Much of the flora and vegetation that one sees today can be traced back to the effort of the natives, who planted nearly 29 palm trees in this oasis. They serve today as an important habitat for a range of desert fauna.
Considered as one of the most astounding wonders within Joshua Tree National Park, the Wonderland of Rocks is a site that should not be missed. The landscape comes alive in the 12-square mile (31 square kilometers) sprawl that features the rocks, replete with granite boulders of all sizes and shapes that almost tumble onto one another. One of the best ways to reach and view the rocks in all their glory is through the Barker Dam Loop Trail. The unusual terrain allows visitors plenty of opportunities for climbing and hiking.
A short drive from the northwest entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park will lead you to one of the most spectacular sunrise and sunset spots in the area. Keys View, a coveted vantage point, rests high above the Little San Bernardino Mountains, and offers vast, uninterrupted views of Coachella Valley and beyond. On a clear day, one may also be able to sight the San Andreas Fault along the valley's contours. Its easy access and rewarding vistas make it a very popular destination.
A beautiful hunk of dull granite arches over boulders and rocks in the Joshua Tree park landscape, forming one of the most recognizable landmarks in the park. The trail leading up to the Arch Rock is scenic and fairly easy even for novice hikers. Once you reach the arch, have fun exploring the rocky landscape and the park's unusual yet stellar terrain.
In operation since 2013, Coachella Valley Brewing Company is a craft brewery, one of the first of its kind in the region. Not only is the beer brewed from fresh, locally sourced ingredients but the brews are quite delicious as well. The place offers numerous flavors of beer, making this place a great spot for beer lovers; Windfarm, Phoenix and Black Widow are a few to name. Tours of the brewery take place every Friday and Saturday for those interested to learn the beer making process and sample a few brews. There is also a taproom on-site where a rotating selection of beers is available on tap. If you are a fan of beer, you are surely going to have a good time at the Coachella Valley Brewing Company.
Located in the remote interiors of Joshua National Park, the Keys Ranch was home to rancher and miner William F. Keys for nearly 60 years. The site is illustrative of one of the earliest settlements in the park, and is a must-visit for visitors. In order to preserve the authenticity of the site, limited visitors are allowed into the ranch and only guided tours are available from October to May. The ranch complex is home to the ranch house, a store, a school and a workshop area.
The historic Wall Street Mill was constructed by a miner named Bill Keys in order to aid people in sifting through the ground ore for gold and silver. The Wonderland Ruins, which are located not far from the mill, also attest to a time in Gold Rush history, when the mining industry was at its peak. The crumbling rose buildings seen now were believed to have been built during that time. Visitors can reach this site through a 2.2-mile (3.21-mile) trail and immerse in the bygone days of gold mining history.