Short trips: Joshua Tree National Park

May 24, 2026

A single Joshua tree in golden hour light, distant mountains beyond

3 hours from PHX airport and 2.5 hours from LAX airport makes this accessible to a lot of people. It’s dry desert and quite hot in summer. But the rock formations are amazing. The camping spaces at some campgrounds are unique of all the places I have been. Giant boulders create a sense of your own personal campground, and still the convenience of a maintained camp. It’s great for hiking, camping, bouldering, and offroading apparently. It’s starting to feel like it’s time to plan a trip back. After the summer at least.

Cholla Cactus Garden

Teddy-bear cholla in the foreground, low desert ridgeline behind

I am not one who is enthralled by desert, but this was an intriguing place to hike. The soft sand washes, the giant boulders, and climable rock terrain - speckled with the harsh greens of desert plants. It’s easy to imagine small wildlife running around. At night is when the magic turns on. The stars are forever on the new moon, and the desert is a stage when the moon is up.

The Granite Playground

Granite boulders framing the trail, classic Joshua Tree formation

I am no rock climber, and yet it was more than a little fun to climb and explore. What is around the next rock? Is there really a tunnel through here? And, oh no am I lost? … guess I should climb to the top and look around. It’s pretty easy to navigate even if you lose the path a little.

Wide desert wash with boulder field beyond

There are soft, easy trails too. Nice for a casual stroll in day or at night too.

Sunset

The campground area at golden hour, with a Jeep and RV parked between boulders

Late golden hour at Joshua Tree, the desert taking on warmer tones

I will camp here again.