Joshua Tree National Park is simply amazing. It is one of the most unusual places we have ever visited. It has been speculated that Dr. Seuss’ Truffula Trees were based on the Joshua Tree. It is known for a fact that Dr. Seuss did visit Joshua Tree National Park before his first drawing of a Truffula Tree appeared.
Joshua Trees
The entire park has an otherwordly feel to it. All of the rocks and boulders piled on top of each other made me think of a giant playing with pebbles, stacking them up to see how high they could go without falling over. I am so happy that we made the 2 1/2 hour drive from San Diego to visit the park (almost 3 1/2 back, as we were at the far end of the park). We could have easily spent five days here checking out all the trails. It is one place I would love to visit again and I always recommend a visit to anyone who will be in the San Diego area. Our entire San Diego itinerary will be covered in another post.
We only had a day (we had to drive there and back from San Diego), but we managed to fit in a lot! Here is a list of what we covered.
Sunday – Joshua Tree National Park – bring water/snacks/sunscreen/walking sticks/hats – $20
C & S Coffee Shop – opens 5:30 am – 2 hours 18 mins – 55795 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley
Drive to Joshua Tree Visitor Center – 8-5 – 13 mins – 6554 Park Blvd – bathrooms, drinking fountains, gift shop
Hidden Valley Picnic Area Trail – 1 mile loop
Cap Rock Nature Trail – junction of Park Blvd and Keys View Rd – .4 mi loop
Keys View (20 min drive) – San Andreas Fault – .25 mi loop
Jumbo Rocks Campground – skull rock – 1.5 mi loop
White Tank Campground – opp site 9 – .5 mile loop – arch rock
Cholla Cactus Garden .25 mi loop
Cottonwood Spring Visitor Center – 8:30-4 – water, toilets (It was closed by the time we got there)
Cottonwood Spring Trail – 1 mi – walk there and back, same path
I really hope that you are able to make a trip to the park. It’s one of my favorite places! As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.
All pictures are available for purchase as Fine Art Prints and Digital Downloads at full resolution through Alamy. If you see something you like, click on the link. If you are unable to find it, use the Contact Me page and I will make sure the image is available.
If you are interested in the itineraries for some of our other trips, click on the links below.
4 Days in the Sun ~ Arizona Itinerary
See the Entire Island of Maui in 10 Days
What to See and Do in San Diego
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Joshua Tree National Park
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