Joshua Tree exists at the meeting point of two deserts: the higher, cooler Mojave to the north, home to the twisted Joshua trees that give the park its name; and the lower, hotter Colorado Desert to the south, land of creosote and ocotillo. Where they meet, the landscape turns surreal. Massive granite monoliths erupt from the desert floor, tumbled into impossible configurations by millions of years of erosion. The Joshua trees - actually giant yuccas, named by Mormon pioneers who saw the upraised limbs as Joshua pointing to the promised land - stand sentinel in alien forests. In the 1980s and 1990s, the park became a pilgrimage site for rock climbers, desert mystics, and musicians seeking inspiration. U2 named their 1987 album after it. Gram Parsons died nearby, and his friends burned his body in the desert. Joshua Tree is a place where the strange becomes spiritual.
The boulder piles that define Joshua Tree's landscape began as magma 100 million years ago, intruded into the earth and slowly cooled into granite. As the overlying rock eroded away, water seeped into fractures and chemically weathered the granite underground. When the softened rock finally reached the surface, it weathered rapidly, leaving rounded monoliths stacked in improbable configurations. The process continues: the boulders will eventually become sand. But for now, they create one of the world's great climbing destinations - thousands of routes on formations with names like Wonderland of Rocks and Hidden Valley.
Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) are not trees at all but giant yuccas, relatives of agave. They grow only in the Mojave Desert, at elevations between 2,000 and 6,000 feet. Their twisted branches inspired Mormon settlers to name them for the biblical Joshua raising his arms to heaven. Individual trees can live over 500 years and grow 40 feet tall. They're pollinated exclusively by yucca moths in one of nature's most specific symbioses. Climate change threatens the Joshua tree's range; the park's namesake species may eventually disappear from the area, retreating to higher elevations that don't exist.
Joshua Tree became a counterculture destination in the 1960s and never stopped. The desert's vastness, the surreal landscape, and the proximity to Los Angeles created a refuge for artists, musicians, and seekers. Gram Parsons, the country-rock pioneer, loved the desert and frequently visited. After his death from an overdose in 1973, his road manager and a friend stole his body from LAX and burned it at Cap Rock in the park - fulfilling what they claimed was his wish. U2's 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree,' one of the best-selling records ever, brought the landscape to worldwide attention. The album cover was shot in Death Valley, but no matter.
Joshua Tree is one of the world's premier rock climbing destinations, with over 8,000 routes across all difficulty levels. The coarse granite offers excellent friction; the boulder formations create routes from bouldering problems to multi-pitch climbs. Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Jumbo Rocks are popular areas. The climbing season runs from October through May; summer temperatures make the rock too hot to touch. The climbing community has its own culture here: campfire circles at Hidden Valley Campground, local legends, and decades of climbing history recorded in well-worn guidebooks.
Joshua Tree National Park is located about 140 miles east of Los Angeles, accessible via I-10 and Highway 62. Three entrances serve the park; the west entrance (Joshua Tree town) and north entrance (Twentynine Palms) are most used. The high desert can be explored year-round but summers are brutally hot. Spring wildflowers can be spectacular after wet winters. Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, Keys View (panoramic overlook), and Barker Dam are highlights. Camping is popular; reservations recommended October-May. The park has no water or services once past entrance stations. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the nearest commercial airport. The gateway towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms offer quirky desert culture, art galleries, and accommodations.
Located at 33.87°N, 115.90°W in the Transverse Ranges of Southern California, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. From altitude, the park appears as a region of rugged terrain between the lower Colorado Desert to the south and the higher Mojave to the north. The distinctive boulder piles are visible throughout the western and northern portions. The Joshua tree forests appear as dark patches on the lighter desert surface. Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are visible to the southwest. The San Andreas Fault runs along the park's southern boundary.