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.
Palm Springs Windmill Tours is known for its enlightening tours, around the breath taking windmills, few of the highest in the state. The tour takes you around the sight in comfortable buses, with deeply briefed guides, giving you an in depth knowledge on how things work. You also get to visit the solar energy plants, for a more enriching experience. Apart from this, you get to have a look at machines that failed to perform and the reason behind why they failed, making the tour even more intriguing. This day trip, is one of the most interesting tours, in the city, making it one of the 'Must dos'.
Palm Springs Biplanes is a tour service offering Biplane rides. The rides are a one of kind experience, to be shared with special friends. Those who love the thrill of adventure and heights, are in for an enthralling experience. When you are in the city, make sure you take this tour, you surely won't regret it.
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.
One of the places in the Joshua Tree National Park that is home to a flourishing lichen population, the Ryan Mountain towers at a height of 5,456-feet (1,663 meters). An iconic natural landmark within the park, the mountain can be accessed through an arduous trail measuring nearly 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). The hard trek is worth it, as the mountain rewards hikers with spectacular views from its pinnacle. You will be able to take in sweeping views of Lost Horse Valley, Pinto Basin, and Queen Valley, among others.
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.
Home to one of the most well-conserved historic mills in the Joshua Tree National Park, the Lost Horse Mine offers a nostalgic glimpse into the area's mining history. This 19th-century mine is one of the few remaining landmarks from the approximately 300 mines that were developed during the time, and is especially notable for its production of gold and silver. It is believed that the mine produced over 10,000 ounces of gold and silver at its zenith. The mine can be reached through a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) loop trail.