Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree

For my ninth and final National Park in California, I head deep into the desert to visit the epic, harsh, and barren landscape of Joshua Tree National Park

Situated roughly 45 minutes East of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park (est. 1994) is located in not one, but two deserts: The Mojave desert and the Colorado desert. Central to the Park’s landscape is its namesake- the distinctive desert plant known as the “Joshua Tree”- a medium sized tree with green leaves that Mormons settlers thought resembled the Biblical Joshua reaching his hands up to the sky in prayer:

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Like most deserts, Joshua Tree is a land of extremes: during the summer, temperatures routinely top 100 degrees Farenheit during the day and below 40 degrees at night. During the winter, temperatures can fluctuate to even greater extremes, with 20 degree changes between shaded and non-shaded areas not uncommon. While the park has its interesting moments during the day, it really shines at night, boasting one of the darkest skies in the United States:

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I spent two full days in the Park and hiked all over- here are some of my other favorites spots from the trip:

1) Arch Rock Trail- An easy .5 mile hike from a nearby campground, this is one of the few natural arches in the park:

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2) Ryan Mountain- With a relatively easy 1.5 mile climb to the summit, Ryan Mountain offers some of the best views of the surrounding area:

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3) Keys View- Hands down one of the windiest places I’ve ever been- I saw women and children getting knocked over by the wind alone. I myself nearly fell over while trying to (unsuccessfully) anchor my tripod:

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4) Cholla Cactus Garden- Miles and miles of the Cholla Cactus, a strange yellowish-green cactus that is known for aggressively attaching itself to nearby strangers.

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