Joshua Tree National Park encompasses one of the most interesting and diverse patches of desert in the United States. Its namesake species, the spiky, dramatically crooked Joshua tree, is also considered by many to be the defining characteristic of the Mojave Desert. But this huge desert park actually lies at the meeting point of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. The park’s eastern and southern precincts, with its sub 3,000 foot elevation and plants such as creosote bush, “jumping” cholla cactus and spidery ocotillo, is Sonoran in character while its western precincts are higher, cooler, wetter and quite densely forested with the park’s namesake tree.
Introduction
Proclaimed a National Monument in 1936 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1984, Joshua Tree was designated a National Park in 1994. Rich human history, a pristine natural environment and ample unexplored backcountry set it apart from other National Parks. Joshua Tree National Park’s 794,000 acres is made up of two desert regions: the Mojave and Colorado deserts of Southern California. Joshua Tree National Park encompasses the unique contrast between high desert and low desert habitat. The Colorado Desert, which occupies the eastern half of the park, is dominated by the abundant creosote bush. Small stands of spidery ocotillo and cholla cactus add interest to this arid land. The higher, cooler and wetter Mojave Desert is the home of the distinguished and distinguishing, Joshua tree.
Extensive Joshua tree stands spread throughout the western half of the park. In addition, the westside includes some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts. Five fan palm oases dot the park, marking the few areas where water naturally wells up from underground sources allowing wildlife to abound. Teeming with life, these oases provide dramatic contrast to their arid surroundings.
The land has been characterized by extreme climatic changes: torrential rains, cool nights and arid days. Rainfall is rare and unpredictable. Streambeds are usually dry and waterholes are few. This land may appear defeated and dead, but intricate living systems thrive within its parched environment.
History & Culture
The Joshua Tree area has been the focus of sporadic archeological investigations for over 60 years, but the sequence of prehistoric human occupations is still imperfectly understood. Fluted projectile points of the Paleo-Indian period have been found in the region. These artifacts are thought to be associated with a tradition of big-game hunting that may date back to 9000 B. C.. Artifacts of a slightly later period, the early Archaic, which include those of the Dieguito and Lake Mojave complexes, were also found in the region. There may be evidence at Joshua Tree National Park of Paleo-Indian or Early Archaic occupations. There is good evidence of human occupation from the middle and Late Archaic periods, which together range from 3000 B. C. to 1100 A. D.after about 1000 A. D., occupation of the area increased considerably, judging from the frequency of sites that date within the last thousand years. At the time of European contact, the boundaries of three American Indian groups the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi and Serrano intersected at points now in the park. The descendants of these Indian groups continue to live in the area.
Exploration, cattle raising, homesteading and mining took place in what is now the park. The first European to enter the area was a Spanish army officer, Pedro Fages, commander of California’s Spanish forces, who described the date palms, probably Joshua trees, that he saw as he crossed the Mojave Desert in 1772. There were more Spanish expeditions in the area in 1774 and 1776. The southern periphery of the present park was briefly explored from December 1823 through January 1824 by Captain Jose Romero, representing the government of Mexico, who was dispatched to find and evaluate for overland travel the east-west Cocopa-Maricopa Trail from San Bernardino to the Colorado River. This route of Cocopa-Maricopa Indians was one of the major pre-European contact Indian trails in the area. Another such trail was the Mojave, located farther north, which also extended from San Bernardino to the Colorado River, connecting with north-south trails along both banks of the river.
Jedediah Smith made an overland journey to California in 1826. He was a fur trapper with the Rocky Mountain Fur Company who visited the Mojave Indian villages along the Colorado River and trekked westward over the Mojave Indian trail toward the Pacific Ocean. There were few other early expeditions in the 1830’s and 1840’s. During the gold strike of 1849 goldseekers from the east passed through on their way to central California.
In 1865 the first mining claim was filed in what became the park. It was for the Jeff Davis mine in Rattlesnake Canyon. mining, mostly for gold, continued in or near the park into the 1960’s. mining over the years brought adits, diggings, shafts, equipment, structures and roads to the landscape. It also added sources of water as wells were dug or pipelines were constructed from water sources to process ore. As many as 3,000 shafts or other diggings remain.
Joshua Tree National Monument was set aside in 1936 to preserve an ecologically dynamic component of the California Desert much more than just Joshua trees. The eastwest Transverse ranges support examples of Mojave and Colorado Desert ecosystems. The elevations range from almost 6,000 feet to near sea level, which creates an unusual compressed transition zone between the Mojave Desert and the Colorado province of the Sonoran Desert. Philip Munz, a botanist and early park advocate, thought it was important to protect mountains, canyons and basins because of their relationships. The original monument boundary took this into account. A deletion of acreage in 1950 to accommodate mining interests took away some of the mountains and canyons.
Early proponents of the monument envisioned a representative segment of the two deserts that would be large enough to embrace a self-sustaining natural system. This system contains biotic and abiotic components that influence each other and are in turn influenced by climate, fire, earthquakes and other natural phenomena. In 1994, President Clinton signed the California Desert Protection Act and turned Joshua Tree National Monument gained National Park status and grew to 105,900 acres its rise to prominence was complete. Joshua Tree now lies within a three-hour drive of more than 18 million people. As a next-door neighbor to the massive Los Angeles area, Joshua Tree has naturally become a very popular getaway but the park remains a wonderfully low-key place, 75 percent of its land designated wilderness.
Nature & Science
Joshua Tree California and its surrounding area is known as the Morongo Basin. The area is a 5,200 square miles desert ranging in elevation from1,500 feet to nearly 6,000 feet. The area is composed of two deserts. The low desert area called the Colorado goes up to 3,000 feet. The Mojave Desert in the region ascends up to nearly 6,000 feet. Currently in the area there are 700 plant species, 240 bird species, 40 mammals and 45 reptile species.
Attractions
Cottonwood Spring Oasis is seven miles from the southern entrance to the park. The spring, the result of earthquake activity, was used for centuries by the Cahuilla Indians, who left bedrock mortars and clay pots, or ollas, in the area. Cottonwood Spring was an important water stop for prospectors, miners and teamsters traveling from Mecca to mines in the north. Water was necessary for gold processing, so a number of gold mills were located here. The remains of an arrastra, a primitive type of gold mill, can be found near the spring and concrete ruins mark the site of two later gold mills in the area.
Recreation
Camping
Call 800-365-2267 to reserve campsites at Black Rock, Indian Cove and all group sites. Other campgrounds are first-come, first-served and fill early on fall and spring weekends. Each family campsite has a maximum capacity of 2 cars, 2 tents and 6 people. Group site capacity ranges from ten to seventy people. Showers are not available and there are no hookups for recreational vehicles. If you wish to have a campfire, bring your own firewood as all vegetation within the park is protected. Quiet hours begin at 10 pm and last until 6 am. Generator use is limited to six hours a day: 7 to 9:00 a.m., noon to 2 pm and 5 to 7 pm.
Climbing
Joshua Tree is a year-round climbing hot spot. Hidden Valley is the most popular campground and probably has about 100 routes right there. Within 10 minutes of the campground, there’s even more climbing. Ryan Camp, just a couple miles east, has good climbing too. The Wonderland of Rocks is a good place to do a day hike or an extended trip as well as climb. Drilling and bolting are prohibited in Joshua Tree National Park. Information about climbing in the park is available at the main visitor center and at entrance stations.
Hiking
Many trails cross the park with a variety of scenic vistas. Considering the climate, you’ll probably want to carry at least a gallon of water with you for a day of hiking. Disorientation is common in the desert, so maps and a compass are strongly recommended.
Mountain Biking
There are plenty of trails for mountain biking, but all off trail riding is strictly prohibited.
Road Cycling
Cycling is permitted on both paved and dirt public roads. There are no bicycle paths along roads. Bikes are prohibited on backcountry and nature trails.
In The Area
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park has more than 3.3 million acres of spectacular desert scenery, interesting and rare desert wildlife, complex geology, undisturbed wilderness and sites of historical and cultural interest. Bounded on the west by 11,049 foot Telescope Peak and on the east by 5,475 foot Dante’s View, Badwater is the lowest point (-282 feet) in the western hemisphere.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers a wealth of things to do and places to go year-round. Its huge lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife photographers and roadside sightseers. Three of America’s four desert ecosystems the Mojave, the Great Basin and the Sonoran Deserts meet in Lake Mead NRA. As a result, this seemingly barren area contains a surprising variety of plants and animals, some of which may be found nowhere else in the world.
Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve was created in October 1994 when Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. Congress acted to protect one of the most diverse desert environments in the world. The area ranges from creosote bush dominated flats in low areas to pinyon pine and juniper woodlands in higher elevations. Everywhere there are surprises. Sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, vast vistas and mile-high mountains help define this amazing area within the Mojave Desert.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia is the second-oldest national park in the United States. It was established in 1890 to protect the Big Trees in Giant Forest, including the General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest living thing.
Small portion of what is now Kings Canyon was originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park. In 1940, General Grant was absorbed into the new and larger Kings Canyon National Park, which eventually grew to include the South Fork of the Kings River and 456,552 acres of backcountry wilderness. Managed as one park, together Sequoia and Kings Canyon total over 863,700 acres.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks also contain the Mineral King Valley and Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the U. S. outside of Alaska.
When To Go
The best time to visit Joshua Tree is during the Spring, Fall and Winter. Winters are generally mild, but summers can be brutal. If you’re on a budget, keep in mind that room rates drop as the temperatures rise. Early morning is the best time to visit sights and avoid crowds, but some museums and visitor centers don’t open until 10:00 a.m.. If you schedule your town arrivals for late afternoon, you can drop by the visitor centers just before closing hours to line up an itinerary for the next day. Plan indoor activities for midday during the hotter months. Because relatively few people visit the desert, many attractions have limited hours of access.
Traveler Facts
Contact Information
Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Phone: 760-367-5500
Fax: 760-367-6392
Visitor Centers
Joshua Tree National Park’s Visitor Centers are open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. Check for seasons.
The Oasis of Mara in Twentynine Palms is open daily 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m..
The Cottonwood Visitor Center is open daily 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m..
Accessibility
The nature trails at Bajada, Cap Rock and the Oasis of Mara are accessible. An assistive listening system is available for use during ranger programs with prior notice.
Miscellaneous
There are two major things to be aware of when exploring Joshua Tree National Park.
- Take caution around old mining sites. Mine shafts are unstable and rickety and known to emit harmful gases. Explore at your own risk.
- Observe the weather carefully. Flash floods are likely in July and August. Although washes appear to be great campsites, flood season proves otherwise as these areas attract rising water very quickly. If you get caught in heavy rains, avoid canyons, mountains and hills and don’t ever attempt to traverse a flooded wash.
