5 Best Hikes In Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is located in the California desert surrounded by stunning desert vegetation and mountains. One of the best things to do in Joshua Tree is go on the many hiking trails around! This list includes hikes located in Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounded areas. Although there are so many hikes to do in Joshua Tree National Park, we’ve put together this list of the most popular hikes to do on your first visit.

Best Hiking in Joshua Tree

Our list of hikes in Joshua Tree is ordered from shortest distance/easiest to the longest distance/most difficult.

Cholla Cactus Garden

While this short loop is more like a scenic walk than a hike, it’s definitely worth the stroll! Located in the southern part of the park, this must do hike is quick, unique and very different to the scenery of Joshua Trees and boulders further up the road.

These cacti are known as “teddy bear chollas” as well as “jumping chollas”. They make look fluffy and cute, but these plants can easily attached to your skin, shoes and clothes so be careful not to stand too close.

This hike is located along Pinto Basin Road and is an amazing opportunity for photography, especially at sunrise and sunset. It is a very popular hike and can often be crowded during sunset and cooler days. Simply follow the path that leads you through the cholla cactus forest and back to the trailhead. There is no elevation change and parts of the trail have a boardwalk making it a bit more accessible of a trail.

About the trail:

0.2 mile (0.3km) loop
Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~10min
No dogs allowed
Fee: Park entry fee

Hidden Valley

Another popular trail that we think is worth the stop is the Hidden Valley nature trail. It is an easy loop to complete, but has enough turns to keep it interesting. The best part of this hike is the variety of vegetation around the boulders. It’s really great to visit here in the spring or autumn to see the blooming desert flowers or change in colours of the plants.

This is best to do in the mornings to avoid some crowds. There are picnic tables at the trailhead parking where you can stop for a snack right next to the boulders.

About the trail:

1.0 mile (1.6km) loop
Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~30min
No dogs allowed
Fee: Park entry fee

Skull Rock

This is skull rock, located in the Jumbo Rocks area. The Jumbo Rocks campground is very nearby this trail and you can reach skull rock from the campsite if you are staying there. I recommend combining this hike with the discovery trail to make it longer and more interesting. Another option is to just stop off the road near the trailhead to see skull rock.

This is another hike that can get crowded, but is worth the brief stop to see this unique rock formation! Other rock formations to look out for in this part of the park include Arch Rock and Heart Rock that can be found on nearby trails.

About the trail:

1.7 mile (2.7km) loop
Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~30min
No dogs allowed
Fee: Park entry fee

Ryan Mountain

This is a great short hike to do in Joshua Tree National Park with enough elevation to provide a little challenge, but also amazing views at the top. The elevation gain is about 1062ft and allows you to see so much of the national park but also into the Coachella Valley and Mt. San Jacinto on clear days.

Like the other hikes on this list, there is little to no shade on the trail so be prepared. Also note that it can get windy on the mountain and can even get snow in the winter!

About the trail:

2.9 mile (4.7km) out & back
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours
No dogs allowed
Fee: Park entry fee

Panorama Loop in Black Rock Canyon

In our opinion, one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree is actually not inside the park! While it is still part of Joshua Tree National Park, Black Rock Canyon is located about 20 minutes away from the West Entrance. Black Rock Canyon has many trail options and the Panorama Loop is one of our favourites. There is also a campground here and the opportunity to go backcountry camping.

To get to the Panorama Loop, you start by walking on a wide trail with deep sand. Then you can choose to take the loop either direction (there are different suggestions whether to get clockwise or counterclockwise - we like both). Once you reach the top, you can see views of the Palm Springs wind turbines in the valley, San Jacinto and San Gorgonio, and also into Joshua Tree National Park.

It’s great to visit on a clear spring day when the mountain peaks in the distance still have snow on them. This area can still get busy, but we’ve never see it get too crowded since the trails are spread out and it’s not in the main part of the park.