Joshua Tree National Park
National park · Riverside County
California
Highlights
Rugged desert landscapes, rock formations, and unique Joshua trees
Rugged desert landscapes, rock formations, and unique Joshua trees
"A certified Dark Sky Place reachable by about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, offering dramatic desert landscapes and exceptional night skies away from city light pollution." - Skye Sherman Skye Sherman Skye Sherman is a travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Aside from traveling, she's also a pilot, scuba diver, bookworm, and fourth-generation Floridian. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Palm Beach Illustrated, Atlas Obscura, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Highlighted for its desert wildlife examples — specifically tortoises and bighorn sheep — emphasizing the presence of desert-adapted species." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Highlighted for dramatic rock formations, native vegetation, and exceptional night skies, making the park a top choice for romantic stargazing and budget‑friendly outdoor exploration about an hour from Palm Springs." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"At nearly 800,000 acres, this national park preserves contrasting landscapes and deep natural history: during the Pleistocene Epoch there were rivers and lakes and megafauna like Columbian mammoths, camels, saber-toothed cats, and giant ground sloths, while today visitors find yucca forests, enormous rock formations, a cholla cactus garden, bighorn sheep, and tortoises. In 2023, over three million visitors came through, so stewardship is emphasized: “The desert is an incredible place, but it’s also fragile,” says Christina Sanchez, and she urges a leave-no-trace mindset, carrying plenty of water, telling someone your plans, and bringing emergency beacons when needed. Practical tips include: there are no gas stations inside the park so fill up before you go; check the park website for trail closures and alerts; pack layers and wind protection because Santa Ana winds can make conditions feel much colder or windier than expected; and be mindful of invasive seeds on shoes—“Humans unintentionally spread invasive species like Saharan mustard, cheatgrass, and red brome by carrying hitchhiker seeds on clothing or shoes,” Sanchez warns. Wildlife precautions are specific: avoid approaching or feeding bighorn sheep, and handling desert tortoises is illegal except to help one safely cross a road — if you must help, “use gloves or fabric, keep the animal close to the ground, and leave it somewhere shady,” Sanchez advises, and if it voids its bladder she recommends digging a shallow hole lined with a grocery bag or rocks, adding water to help rehydrate, and packing out the bag afterward. For stargazers, the area is an International Dark Sky Park with four designated stargazing areas (parking lots at Ryan Mountain, Hidden Valley, Quail Springs, and Cap Rock) and excellent Milky Way viewing; for climbers, the otherworldly rock formations support both traditional roped climbs and lower-angle scrambling. Ranger programs and guided tours are recommended to learn about flora and fauna, and the NPS app provides interactive trail maps." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"California is the top U.S. camping destination, known for its expansive natural parks, favorable weather, and rich biodiversity. It offers a range of outdoor activities from rugged hiking to lakeside swimming." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeare
