Joshua Tree National Park and its surrounding area is such a fun place to explore. There are one-off psychedelic type clothing and knick knack shops in town that always have hidden gems to find. There are a lot of ways to go about your visit here - my first time I chose to stay in a yurt.
There are not actually any unique housing options within the actual park itself but there is a five to eight mile radius around the park where you can find yurts, trailers, air streams, tiny homes, etc. The list goes on this. I visited the park with a friend in September when the temperature was still hitting the mid 90s during the day so we thought best to get a yurt to be able to sleep under the stars and enjoy the cool desert nights once the sun went down.
The set up was simple with just the yurt elevated off the ground and a solar powered generator for our electronics. There was a fire pit and we were in the middle of a dried up lake basin. The owner of the yurt lived a little more than half a mile from where we were camped out and other than that we were out there alone.
Once the sun set and the temperature cooled we had a bon fire under the stars. Joshua Tree is one of the best places I would have to say to see the stars. The town is so small that it hardly radiates any light pollution so if you're in the middle of the desert it is pitch black. We were there during a new moon and when we looked up - we were sitting under the milky way. Such a magical night.
Cholla Gardens, Joshua Tree National Park
Tip: Plenty of water, sunscreen, upf clothing - the sun in the summer months of Joshua are killer. Be prepared with tons of extra water.
Cholla Gardens is a great place to explore, just don't get too closes to all the cacti if you don't want to have a rough day. The cacti that grow here are the Teddy Bear cactus plant, also known as the Jumping Cactus plant. There is a short path that allows you to walk around the area, but you can also roam around.
I will say there are plenty of hikes to enjoy inside the park that take you through all the masses of boulders. Skull Rock is a key stopping point from what my friend and I saw on the map of places to visit.
Upon arrival the actual Skull Rock is right by the roadside and doesn't take any effort to get there. We spent some time wandering through the nearby area.
Tip: If you don't do well in heat or direct sun think about visiting during cooler months like October or March.
Joshua Tree trails
The landscape in Joshua is incredibly different once you leave cholla gardens. On the trails you will be greeted by the infamous yucca trees scattered about the boulders.
Another gem of visiting Joshua Tree is stopping by Pioneertown. This is about fifteen or so minutes out of the way stop with a great restaurant to stop at. Pioneertown has a handful of small artists who create and sell their pottery, ceramics, and jewelry out of small shops. All the items are handmade.
It is a cute area to explore some preserved memorabilia, get some shots of the picturesque town, and they even have a hotel you can stay in on the property.
For a good meal or a drink I recommend stopping by Pappy & Harriets. This spot is famous for putting on concerts of all sorts and can also be a fun reason to head out to Joshua Tree. Their shows sell out fast, and you'll understand why once you've visited.
The inside of the restaurant in covered in different license plates and the atmosphere is incredibly vibrant.
You can sit outside on their large patio if you want some fresh air. I definitely recommend this place to stop and refuel for the rest of your trip.
One of the best parts about the trip was waking up early to go out and take pictures during golden hour. The sun reflects off the area beautifully in bright hues of pink and orange.
My friend dressed up and was my focal point once we got out amongst the trees.
I have raced a lot of places to see sunrise - this will forever be on the the best places in my opinion.
You can't beat the view or the colors the sky emits. Joshua Tree is a magical place to explore.
Pappy & Harriets
Golden Hour at Joshua Tree
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