Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park essentials

Joshua Tree National Park marks the transition between the high Mojave and low Colorado deserts. This collection highlights the park's distinct geological formations, including the monzogranite boulders at Jumbo Rocks and Skull Rock, alongside unique flora like the Teddy Bear Cholla. Historical sites such as the Keys Desert Queen Ranch and Wall Street Mill provide insight into early 20th-century homesteading and mining. For expansive views, Keys View provides a panorama of the San Andreas Fault and Coachella Valley, while the Oasis Visitor Center serves as an educational hub for desert ecology.

Joshua Tree National Park Essentials — Map

Mfield / CC-BY-SA-3.0

A

Keys View

It’s truly a gorgeous scene to see the panorama of Joshua Tree National Park - with its rocky landscape, hills and peninsular ranges.

Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0

B

Cholla Cactus Garden

A dense concentration of "teddy bear" cholla cacti located in the park's Colorado Desert section. A flat, quarter-mile loop trail winds through the garden.

Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0

C

Skull Rock

Skull Rock may refer to:

Bachelot Pierre J-P / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Arch Rock

A 30-foot-wide natural granite arch formed by centuries of erosion. It is accessible via a short hiking trail from the White Tank Campground or Twin Tanks.

brewbooks / CC BY-SA 2.0

E

Jumbo Rocks

Massive monzogranite boulder formations and outcrops centrally located in the park. The area features numerous rock scrambling opportunities and a large campground.

F

Cottonwood Spring Oasis

The area was first inhabited by Cahuilla Indians who left plenty of artefacts here.

Jarek Tuszyński / CC BY 3.0

G

Keys Desert Queen Ranch

The Keys Ranch is the prime example of early settlement in the Joshua Tree National Park area.

H

Oasis Visitor Center

Visit the infocenter before coming to the park. Very interesting educational videos about flora and fauna are shown here.

National Park Service inventory / Public domain

I

Wall Street Mill

The Wall Street Mill in Joshua Tree National Park was a complete and operable gold ore crushing mill featuring late-19th century two-stamp…

J

Heart Rock

A natural granite formation shaped like a heart, located a short distance from Arch Rock along the same hiking trail.

K

Cap Rock

A distinctive rock formation featuring a large boulder balanced atop a granite base. A 0.4-mile nature trail circles the formation, showcasing desert flora and diverse rock shapes.

Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0

L

Black Rock Canyon

The entrance into the park is truly remarkable itself. The Joshua trees lining the canyon are home to uncountable animals.

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