The Joshua Tree National Park

Located in Southern California, the Joshua Tree National Park is over 794,000-acres, and while it was declared a national monument in August 1936, it wasn’t until Halloween in 1994 when it was deemed a national park. It’s comprised of two different desert ecosystems referred to as the Colorado and the Mojave. If you’re considering a visit to the national park, the following is some information that can help get you started for your trip.

Activities
There’s plenty to do when you’re visiting Joshua Tree National Park. For example, you can go horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, or mountain biking, take some incredible photos or gaze up at the stars, go bird-watching, or go camping. With so much to do, you could easily spend an extended amount of time there, marvel at the beauty of nature, and not experience a second of boredom.

Camping
Speaking of camping at Joshua Tree National Park, there are nine campgrounds from which you could choose, but if you want to go camping between October and May, you may be better off going during the week as the weekends are extremely popular. You can make a reservation at some campgrounds during the busy season, but many are first come first serve, and during the summer months, you don’t need to make reservations at any campgrounds. If you’re interested in staying at campgrounds that offer water, it’s $20 each night, but it’s $15 per night if you stay at a campground that doesn’t offer it. Keep in mind that there is a camping limit each year and check-in and check-out times are at noon. Quiet hours are also from 10pm to 6am.

Weather
Joshua Tree National Park offers quite a range of temperatures throughout the year. For example, in December and January, the average max temperature is around 62 degrees with an average minimum temperature around 31 degrees. Things get much different during the summer months. In July – which is typically the hottest month of the year – the average max temperature is 105.2 degrees with the average minimum low temperature standing at about 70.6 degrees.

Plants and Animals
There are numerous plants and animals that you may spot at Joshua Tree National Park. For example, when it comes to animals, you might see bats, giant desert scorpions, lizards, snakes, mountain sheep, many species of birds, frogs, toads, and more. You’ll also find a multitude of plant species, and – of course – Joshua Trees.

Before you head over to Joshua Tree National Park, make sure to look up any information you need – such as how much you’re going to have to pay in entrance fees – so that there’s no confusion once you get there. Make sure that you also tell someone where you’re staying and your itinerary and if you can help it, stick to your plan. Also, for safety purposes, bring the necessities with you (extra cell phone battery, food, water, first aid kit, etc) regardless of how long you’re staying. Lastly, have a great time!