Joshua Tree Adventure Route

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself.

- NPS Website

Route Overview

Trip Length & Season

Adventure Rating: Epic

Trip Length: 2-5 days Season: October to May typically provides the most enjoyable temperatures. But the best time to visit is typically in April when the desert begins to bloom (but it can get warm!).

Digital Map & GPX files

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• Joshua Tree Adventure Route

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Technical Ratings & Terrain

Avg Technical Rating: 2-3

Peak Technical Rating: 4

Typical Terrain: The first leg of the route is along paved roads. Geology tour road is mostly a wide graded dirt road, while Berdoo Canyon features a few rockier sections. Old Dale Road is the an old jeep trail and is the rockiest and bumpiest part of the track.

Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans

Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4

Recommended Moto: A more nimble bike such as a mid-sized bike or dual sport is recommended given some of the more rugged terrain along the track.

Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are not recommended for this track.

Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear

Fuel: Given the length of the track, you shouldn't need to refuel along the way.

Alternative Routes

Brooklyn Mine Road & OK Mine Roads Distance: 9 miles Technical Rating: 4-5 This is the rockiest trail within the alternative routes but leads to some of the better known mines within the Old Dale Mining District. While not necessarily the most technical, this track is is very rocky and you can expect to spend most of your time crawling along in 4-low. If you decide to explore one of the side trails, the terrain can get substantially more technical. Iron Age Road Distance: 18 miles  Technical Rating: 4 Alternative exit going out via Iron Age Road. Enterprise Bypass Distance: 4 miles Technical Rating: 1 (pavement) Sprinters are recommended to use this bypass to avoid some of the narrower and off camber trails just south of Enterprise.

Camping Recommendations

Dispersed camping is not permitted within Joshua Tree NP's boundaries, which means you'll need to make reservations at one of the park's campgrounds if you plan to stay within the park. Our favorite campground within the park is Sheep's Pass Group Campground, due to the spacious sites and the ability to park up to 6 vehicles per site. Most other campgrounds in the park only permit 2 vehicles per site, and sometimes just 1. Dispersed camping is permitted on BLM lands north and south of the park, as well as BLM lands in the Old Dale Mining District.

Our favorite campgrounds in Joshua Tree NP

• Hidden Valley campground

• White Tank campground

• Belle campground

• Jumbo Rocks campground

• Ryan campground

• Indian Cove campground

• Sheep Pass Group campground

Dispersed Camping Areas

• Joshua Tree South (BLM)

• Joshua Tree North (BLM)

• Old Dale Road (north of the JTNP boundary)

• Brooklyn Mine Road

• Gold Crown Road

• Iron Age Road

Hipcamp offers dozens of campgrounds on the north side of the park.

Discovery Points

• DP1 - Joshua Tree NP Visitor Center

• DP2 - Hidden Valley Nature Trail

• DP3 - Keys Ranch (tickets required)

• DP4 - Barker Dam

• DP5 - Wonderland Ranch ruins

• DP6 - Worth Bagley Stone

• DP7 - Wall Street Mill

• DP8 - Keys View

• DP9 - Hall of Horrors slot canyon

• DP10 - Desert Queen Mine

• DP11 - Skull Rock

• DP12 - Geology Tour Road

• DP13 - Malapai Hill

• DP14 - Berdoo Canyon

• DP15 - Berdoo Camp

• DP16 - Pinkham Canyon

• DP17 - Cottonwood Spring Oasis

• DP18 - Mastodon Mine

• DP19 - North Star Mine (Sunset Mine)

• DP20 - Golden Egg Mine

• DP21 - Mission Gold Mines

• DP22 - Rose of Peru Mine

• DP23 - Gold Standard Mine

• DP24 - Brooklyn Mine

• DP25 - Los Angeles Mine

• DP26 - OK Mine

• DP27 - Supply Mine

• DP28 - Oasis of Mara

Land Managers & Other Resources

• Joshua Tree NP

• Geology Tour Road Pamphlet

Permits & Papers

There is an entrance fee to enter the Joshua Tree National Park. Check the park's website for current fees.

Adventure Badge Get your Joshua Tree Adv Badge (decal) from our online store.

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Route Details

Like many of our national parks, Joshua Tree has exploded in popularity thanks in part to Instagram and its proximity to several major metropolitan areas. However, those "in the know" have been coming to the park for decades, in search of spiritual awakenings and the desert magic that seems to pervade this corner of Southern California. While the route traverses through some of the more popular areas within the park, you'll also get to experience the rugged backcountry in and around the park, that few get to experience. Despite its proximity to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, Joshua Tree is renowned for its clear desert skies, especially during the warmer months. It's a place where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. The drier Colorado dominates the lower elevation, while the greener Mojave sits at above 3,000 feet. Visitors are often amazed by the stark contrast of these two desert ecosystem. Within the park there are a number of palm oases , Lost Palms and 49 Palms are the two favorite and both be reached by hiking trails. Rock climbing is one of the most popular activities in the park. With its golden granite monoliths, it's easy to see why so many rock climbers flock here during the cooler months. Spring tends to be the busiest time of year at Joshua Tree, as visitors flock to witness the perennial blooms of wildflowers, cacti, and other desert flora. History buffs will enjoy the rich mining heritage of the park. Joshua Tree and the surrounding area was a hotbed for gold minders in the 19th century, with many of these abandoned mines still accessible today. If you enjoy exploring abandoned mines and ruins, be sure to check out the Old Dale Mining district and the mines in the surrounding mountains. The route begins on pavement at the 29 Palms Visitor Center, where you can pick up your park pass. A short jaunt down 29 Palms Highway leads you to Gold Crown Road, a wide sandy road. The surrounding hills and mountains are loaded with mines, and you'll soon reach the Old Dale Mining district, which is a great place to stop and explore. Gold Crown Road soon turns into Old Dale Road. There a few semi-technical sections on Old Dale Road, so be sure to stay on your toes! As Old Dale Road makes it ways south, it passes the Cottonwood Visitor Center (be prepared to show your park pass). From the Cottonwood Visitor Center, swing a hard right onto Pinkham Canyon Road. Pinkham Canyon is a true jeep trail with numerous ruts and rocks. A stock 4x4 with high clearance and 4 low should be able to manage the the trail, but some of the sections require slow going. If you haven't aired down, now would be a good time to do so! As you make your way to the bottom of the mountain, Pinkham Canyon spits out right next to Interstate 10. From here you'll take a series of dirt BLM roads that connect to another favorite jeep trail among the locals-- Berdoo Canyon. Much like Pinkham Canyon, you'll need to reduce your speed to navigate the ruts and rocks. 11 miles later, Berdoo Canyon intersects with Geology Tour Road, and the narrow and rocky jeep trail straightens into a wide and sandy byway. If you're in the mood for exploring, there are a number of hiking trails that begin and end on Geology Tour Road. Jumbo Rocks, Skull Rock, and Split Rock are a favorite among visitors in this section of the park. The final leg of the journey makes quick work of Queen Valley and Bighorn Pass before exiting onto the pavement of Park Blvd. As it makes its way towards the west entrance, Park Blvd passes a number of great hiking trails. The route concludes in the city of Joshua Tree, at the aptly named Joshua Tree Visitor Center.

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