An easy weekend trip to Joshua Tree… or so I thought.
I think I might be cursed. Or at least, I’ve upset the weather gods at some point. Because I seriously have the WORST luck with weather.
I thought I’d be pretty safe when I planned a girl’s weekend trip to Joshua Tree National Park with my bestie Haley. I mean, it’s in the DESERT for crying out loud. A little exploring, a little hiking, and a lot of star-gazing under a brilliant desert sky. Sounds perfect, right?
Nope. Wrong.
Not only did it rain on us in the desert, it FLOODED.
How’s that for luck?
No worries though! You can’t let bad luck get you down. You gotta work with the lemons the universe gives ya, pack a rain coat, and make some freaking lemonade.
On the bright side, the weekend wasn’t ALL rain. We ended up having a half-day of sunshine before the weather went to crap. Woohoo!
So I’ve put together a little guide for enjoying a weekend trip to Joshua Tree – that covers those weird times in life when you just have a little sliver of time to enjoy something beautiful – and then the other things you can do when the weather turns to crap.
But first…what IS a Joshua Tree?
It’s only 2 hours east of L.A., but Joshua Tree National Park feels (literally) like worlds away. Strange Dr. Seuss-looking trees dot the desert landscape as far as you can see, surrounded by huge mounds of orange boulders. It looks like you just landed on a strange planet. But what the heck are these tall, bushy trees?
They don’t really resemble anything else. At first glance, the trunk appears fairly normal. You know, bark and stuff. But then it all gets crazy from there, as shaggy porcupine-looking branches sprout upwards in all directions.
Technically, it is a Yucca brevifolia. And part of the Agave family. But that really doesn’t clear things up.
What IS it? A cactus? Palm? Evergreen? I guess it’s kind of all those things – and also none of them.
But why the heck is it called a Joshua Tree?
Apparently, Mormon pioneers came across these trees in the mid-19th century and thought the branches resembled the outstretched arms of the biblical figure Joshua, guiding them westward.
Honestly, I don’t see it. Unless Joshua had several arms held out at crazy angles. But “Joshua Tree” is a heck of a lot easier to say than Yucca brevi-whatever, so let’s just roll with it.
These crazy trees only exist in this part of the world (the Mojave desert and parts of Arizona) which is why they decided to make it a National Park. And I’m so glad they did. Because this place is freaking beautiful. Even when it rains.
Quick hikes in Joshua Tree NP – for when the weather is good
Joshua Tree is a huge park, covering more than 790 thousand acres! With time at a minimum, its best to stick to hikes that you don’t have to drive too far to get to. This way you can maximize your weekend trip to Joshua Tree.
Here’s two recommendations:
Hidden Valley Nature Trail
You’ll find the trailhead parking lot just 9 scenic miles into the park from the West Entrance Station (closest to the town of Joshua Tree.) This short 1-mile loop is the perfect little hike to get a taste of Joshua Tree goodness.
You’ll find towering golden boulders surrounding a valley full of abundant plant life. And with plenty of Joshua Trees, this loop has a little bit of everything. It is rumored that cattle rustlers used to hide their cattle here in the 19th century. Pretty cool! If you can only squeeze in one short hike during your weekend in Joshua Tree, this is it. We looooooved it.
Barker Dam Trail
You’ll find this trailhead just 2 miles from the Hidden Valley Nature Trail (so it’s easy to get to both of these quickly). This one’s a little different…there’s WATER here. In the middle of the desert!
This little oasis is where early cattlemen dammed up a creek to water their cattle back in the day. (You can learn all about it at the Visitor’s Center). The dam is still there, along with the old trough for watering the cattle.
This trail used to be a loop, but with some parts closed (presumably for trail repair) it is now a 1.8 mi out and back trail. It’s also rumored to be a good place good place to spot some Bighorn Sheep getting a drink. But we didn’t see any… 🙁
Download a PDF park map of Joshua Tree National Park here
What to do when the weather in Joshua Tree is crap
While the weather in Joshua Tree is usually sunny and warm (and downright scorching in the summer months), we experienced “winter” in the desert: lows in the freezing range and highs in the 50s and 60s. December thru February is considered the “wet season” so rain isn’t unheard of. But we just weren’t expecting the downpour and flash floods we experienced. Seriously, it was a thing.
So here’s some things to do if you find yourself in a similar situation:
Get some coffee
When you wake up and the weather is shit, it’s time to fuel up. Head on over to one of these local spots and get your breakfast fix:
- Frontier Café – A local hipster/ hippie hangout joint. We found it to be pretty chill, with yummy food, good coffee, and soothing hippie live music! We felt a little out of place without a Mac Book and bad grandma knits – but hey, it was a nice respite from the blustery weather outside.
- C & S Coffee Shop – A true local’s hangout, mom & pop style. Your typical hustling and bustling breakfast joint serving up the classics. No fancy coffee and hipster avocado toast here, just bacon and eggs folks.
- Joshua Tree Coffee Co. – Apparently, the best coffee ever. I can’t vouch, since we didn’t make it here while they were open. But I figured it was worth a mention since everyone raves about it. Give it a try!
Visit the Visitor Center
Check out the main Visitor’s Center on Park Blvd. for everything you need to know about Joshua Tree National Park. Talk with rangers and get info on where to go in the park. Or flip through their great library of books on Joshua Tree NP, the high desert and so much more. Plus, they have great exhibits on the park’s wildlife, trees, and settlers! I’m such a National Parks nerd that I LOVE visiting the Visitors Centers. I also collect National Parks patches, stickers and magnets. #nerdalert
Go shopping
There’s lots of cute little shops dotting the road from Yucca Valley to Twenty Nine Palms. Here’s a couple we found interesting:
- Hoof & The Horn – A cute mix of vintage western wear, new artisan items, and a whole lot of that desert hippie vibe. We loved it! I found a Joshua Tree t-shirt I couldn’t live without, as well as a bundle of sage for purifying my house when I got home. As you do. I’ll let you know how that goes…
- Wine & Rock Shop – I mean who wouldn’t stop and check out a shop with a name like that? It had to be done. We were pleasantly surprised by all the fabulousness we found inside. Rocks, of course. And wine. But also soaps, incense, pottery, more sage bundles, some really clever toys, and tons more. Worth a look for a bathroom stop alone. You’re transported to a whole other world in there, you’ll just have to trust me. 😉
Drive through the park
The scenery in the park took on a whole different quality in the rain. Colors changed, low foggy patches engulfed the Joshua Trees, and the desert seemed more alive than before. It is worth a ride through the park to see the changing landscape.
Check out Skull Rock
A great destination to drive to in the rain is Skull Rock. Yes, it is exactly as it sounds, a rock shaped like a skull, and it’s pretty darn cool! At approx. 18 miles down Park Blvd. from the West Entrance Station you’ll see a sign for Skull Rock Trail. There is a short path that leads there from the road, you can’t miss it. The area surrounding Skull Rock is filled with giant boulders. It’s like a giant forest of rocks. We found it was worth getting a little wet to explore!
Visit Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown
Just 4 miles north of Yucca Valley via Pioneertown Road you’ll find Pioneertown. This “town” is actually a Western-style movie set from the 1940s. There’s not much to Pioneertown but the set, which is one “Mainstreet” of facades including a saloon, bank, etc. Besides a hotel, the only thing to really do in Pioneertown is visit Pappy & Harriet’s a honky-tonk like BBQ restaurant and music venue. It is a great place to get some good food and catch a show, some of which are some pretty big names!
*Beware, we visited Pioneertown before and after the big rain storm and flash floods that we experienced during our weekend in Joshua Tree. During the storm, Pioneertown Road was impassible due to flash floods washing over the road. There were several signs in the area that read: Turn around don’t drown! If you are ever in this situation, I would totally heed this advice and avoid heading up Pioneertown Road if it is raining heavily!
Check out a video on Pappy & Harriet’s Instagram of the major wash on Pioneertown Road (cutting off access to Pioneertown from Yucca Valley). This wash was just a hundred yards down the Pioneertown Road from where our Airbnb was, so scary!
Final thoughts…
Even though our weather situation turned out to be less than ideal (and in some ways downright scary with the flash flooding) we still had the most amazing quick weekend trip to Joshua Tree. I feel privileged to have seen the desert in such a unique way, and I can’t wait to go back again!
Peeps Pointers
Getting to Joshua Tree
There’re several airports within a few hour’s drive to Joshua Tree, making it easy to find the best one to get the cheapest flight to!
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) – approx. 45 minute drive
- Ontario International Airport (ONT) – approx. 1.5 hour drive
- John Wayne Airport – Santa Ana (SNA) – appox. 2 hours drive
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – approx. 2.5 hour drive
Getting around Joshua Tree
We rented a car from the airport. Which I highly recommend, especially for just a weekend trip to Joshua Tree. Time is at a premium! Public transport from the airport to Joshua Tree is limited, expensive and of course Joshua Tree NP is vast. Without a car it would be a challenge!
Where we stayed in Joshua Tree
We opted for an authentic desert experience, (hoping for dome epic stargazing) and rented an airstream-like camper on Airbnb:
Vintage Silver Streak with Stunning Views
The camper was super-cute and surprisingly secure in downpour conditions and the host was very helpful when we had our flash-flood concerns. I totally recommend it!
