Joshua Tree National Park makes up 790,636 acres and is known for the famous Joshua Trees. The park is where two deserts meet, the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. There are many different activities within the park such as hiking, climbing, camping, and off-roading. Within this 2-day itinerary through Joshua Tree National Park, we will cover some of our favorite hikes in the area.
Jake and I have been through Joshua Tree National Park a couple times now. It has beautiful campgrounds, great desert hikes and one of the most breathtaking night skies where you can star-gaze for hours. Most visitors assume that the coolest thing to see here are the Joshua Trees, and while they are spectacular, there really is so much more to do and see here. In this 2-day itinerary, we will be starting from the North entrance and exiting through the South Entrance. You can easily switch the guide if you are entering through the South Entrance first.
Map:
Follow along this map to get to each trailhead. There isn’t much cell service out there, so you will want to make sure you know where you are headed once you are in the park. Getting a map from the entrance booths is a good idea.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail:
First on the Joshua Tree National Park 2-day itinerary, is Hidden Valley Nature Trail. This hike is a popular hike within the park, and it gives some history of the desert along the trail. The hike is a 1-mile loop with 114 feet elevation change. The nature trail meanders among tall boulders and unique plant life. You might even see some wildlife around the walk.
We highly suggest starting off your Joshua Tree National Park 2-day itinerary diving deep into Joshua Tree’s beautiful nature.
Skull Rock:
You’ve probably seen a picture of the famous Skull Rock by now, and if not, then you are in for a unique treat. Joshua Tree National Park is home to the famous Skull Rock and you can see if right from the road. But if you want to get up close to it and snap a picture then you can park along the road and get onto another nature trail.
The hike around the Skull Rock Nature Trail is 1.7 miles with 160 feet elevation change. The nature trail loops around each side of the road showing you more of Joshua Tree National Park’s beauty. Meandering through boulders and desert cactus, you will gain more history of Joshua Tree National Park.
Split Rock Loop Trail:
If you think you will enjoy Skull Rock, then you won’t want to miss Split Rock Loop Trail as it also takes you to the famous “Face Rock”. The trail also meanders along desert plant life, boulders and mountain views in the distance. We started the loop first with “split rock” which is a rock that is split in half. The trail continues down a sandy path that is well maintained.
A little over a mile into the hike you will find a sign that will lead you toward face rock. It is about .35 miles down a sandy wash, and you will run into a rock that looks like a face. You can either continue on this hike to connect to the trail toward skull rock, or head back down the sandy wash to continue the loop to the parking lot.
The Split Rock Loop hike is around 1.9 miles with 252 feet elevation change. But if you do decide to check out face rock, the hike is around 2.6 miles round trip.
Note: Skull Rock and Face Rock are very close to each other, so if you are interested in doing both, you can hike Skull Rock Trail to Face Rock Trail.
Cholla Cactus Garden:
Cholla Cactus Garden is a must-see attraction on the Joshua Tree National Park 2-day itinerary. The nature trail is located right off the highway adding next to no extra time to your trip. It is an easy .2 miles loop that winds around the thick garden of Cholla Cactus. Or if you aren’t up for the nature walk, you can see the beautiful Cholla right from the parking lot.
Cholla Cactus are the only cactus with papery sheath covering their spines. Be sure to stay on the designated path, because you won’t want to get too close to these cacti.
Lost Palms Oasis:
This is one of my favorite hikes in the park. It is a 7.2 mile hike with 1026 feet elevation change. The hike is well-maintained and easy to follow until the last section that brings you down into the canyon of lost palms. The trail down to the lost palms is along loose rock down to the canyon. If you take your time and have good hiking shoes, it won’t be too difficult.
There really is no specific trail once you are upon the lost palms, so if you want to adventure deeper into the canyons, take it at your own risk. Just be sure to leave no trace and respect any signs that say closed to restoration.
Joshua Tree National Park- Mountain Peaks:
If you are looking to get a good view up in the surrounding mountains of Joshua Tree, consider adding Ryan Mountain, Inspiration Peak or Warren Peak to this Joshua Tree National Park 2 day itinerary.
- Ryan Mountain
- is 3 miles with 1069 feet elevation change. It offers stunning panoramic views of the park with views of the rock formations and Joshua Tree forests.
- Inspiration Peak
- is a short 2 mile hike with 656 ft elevation change. The trail isn’t well marked, so you will want to follow a GPS tracked map of the hike. But the views are stunning from the top where you can take in the panoramic views of Mount San Jacinto, Mount San Gorgonio and Ryan Peak.
- Warren Peak
- is located in the Little San Bernardino Mountains of Joshua Tree National Park. The hike is 5.6 miles with 1092 feet elevation change. Warren Peak also offers stunning views of Mount San Jacinto, Mount San Gorgonio and Eureka Peak.
Accommodation in Joshua Tree:
Camping in Joshua Tree National Park:
When we drove through on our Joshua Tree National Park 2-day itinerary we camped at Belle Campground. There are a handful of campgrounds within the park making it easy to stay and explore for multiple days. There are 5 different campgrounds within the park where you can reserve a site online before coming or 3 campgrounds that are first-come, first-serve. The price ranges from $15 to $25 per night.
You can also find some great National Forest Land right outside the park that allows overnight campers to stay for free. If you are entering from the North, check out Sheldon Road. And a good spot to stay at the South entrance is Joshua Tree South BLM.
Camping within the park will also offer one of the most beautiful night skies.
Hotels & VRBO’s Near Joshua Tree:
If camping isn’t your style, then there are an assortment of hotels or vacation rentals outside the park you can choose from. We find some killer deals on Kayak or Expedia.
Joshua Tree has some super adorable trendy Vacation Rentals.
- Dome On The Range: The Geodesic Experience
- Oasis In The Heart of Joshua Tree
- Sagebrush Bungalow – Modern Retreat
- Creative Desert Retreat in the Hear of Joshua Tree
- Soul Shine | Amazing views | Modern | A+ Location
Also, Check Out Other Favorite Places Around California:
Ultimate Guide To Red Rock Canyon State Park | California
The Ultimate Guide To The Alabama Hills
The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway California Road Trip | San Francisco To Los Angeles
Takeaway | Joshua Tree National Park 2 Day Itinerary:
In conclusion, Joshua Tree is a unique National Park in California. With two different deserts colliding, the abundance of beautiful Joshua Trees and desert cactus it is a must-see destination if you are in Southwest California. We hope this Joshua Tree National Park 2 day itinerary helps you make your own itinerary in Joshua Tree National Park. Happy Adventuring!
