Best Dog Friendly Hikes Joshua Tree – Joshua Tree National Park is truly a hot spot for hikers, hippies and adventurers! This is one of my favorite winter hiking destinations – I drive my van wherever the sun shines, so I spend most of my winters in this area. There are tons of fun hikes and unique scenery, so this guide will help you choose where to go, featuring all the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, along with everything you need to know – entrance fees, best time to hike Joshua Tree, things to take and more!
There are various hikes throughout the park, so this guide includes short, easy trails, longer day trips, and even dog-friendly hikes in Joshua Tree National Park.
Best Dog Friendly Hikes Joshua Tree
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Hiking In Joshua Tree National Park: A One Day Itinerary
Before you check out the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, you need to get there! If you are flying, most people fly to Los Angeles or San Diego, but you can also look into direct flights to Palm Springs. Use Expedia to find the best flight deals!
From there you can rent a car through Discover Cars or Rental Cars. However, a great alternative to a car rental is a small house on wheels! With a motorhome, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans.
Joshua Tree is absolutely perfect for RVing – there are free campsites all around the park that are secluded, quiet and peaceful. Dirt is the best way to find free camping near Joshua Tree National Park and you can get a free trial here!
The desert climate means Joshua Tree is warm when most other parts of the US are warm. that. they are cold, which is why it is such a great destination for winter walks! Before you plan your hiking trip, make sure you know what to expect year-round.
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Winter is (in my humble opinion) the best time to hike in Joshua Tree National Park! The weather is sunny and warm, but a little less hot than other times of the year, which I think is better for hiking. It gets pretty chilly in the desert at night, so if you’re visiting Joshua Tree in the winter, be sure to pack some layers!
Snow is very rare in Joshua Tree, but it can happen occasionally, which would be a really unique way to experience the park.
Spring and fall are the most popular times to visit Joshua Tree National Park, so you’ll see more people on the trails. It’s warm and sunny, but much milder than summer time.
I don’t recommend hiking Joshua Tree in the summer – it’s hot, like over 100 degrees, so it’s not comfortable or safe for most people. However, it’s the least popular time to visit, so if you can handle the heat, you’ll likely have the trails to yourself. If you go for a walk in the morning or evening, the temperatures are much milder.
Joshua Tree National Park Boy Scout Trail — Danielle Bedics Arizala Photography
Along with spring, autumn is really popular. The weather is perfect for hiking in Joshua Tree, but it’s definitely crowded.
Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park is $30 per car, but if you visit national parks often, I definitely recommend getting the America the Beautiful Pass. An annual pass costs $80 and gets you into every national park in the country for an entire year! Definitely a much better deal if you travel a lot.
You can pay the entrance fee on the way to the park or buy a ticket online in advance.
When you go, it’s important to be prepared! The desert climate in Joshua Tree is quite unique, so here are some tips on what to bring and what to wear when hiking in Joshua Tree National Park.
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You’ll need boots for hiking in Joshua Tree National Park! Most of the trails are not very steep, so I prefer to walk in shoes. My Chacos are my go-to hiking boots, but I also love the Luna Barefoot boots, which offer a thinner sole – this can come in handy if you plan on climbing some of the rocks! If you want more coverage (because Joshua Tree has lots of rocks and spiky cacti), I recommend the Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots.
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It might surprise you, but when the sun isn’t shining, the desert can be very cold! Especially if you walk in winter, if the wind is blowing or the sun is behind a cloud, it gets cold. Nights are cool in the desert, so whether you’re hiking in the morning or evening, or you want to stargaze in the park, you’ll definitely need to add some layers!
You don’t need a big winter coat or anything, but some light, packable layers are a must. The North Face Class V Windbreaker is a great light and packable option for exploring and is perfect for windy days that aren’t too cold. The RVCA Meyer Packable Anorack Jacket is another cute windbreaker that folds up beautifully! Add Patagonia fleece for extra warmth and layering.
Hidden Valley Trail In Joshua Tree National Park
If you plan to do more hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, bring a backpack so you have enough room for everything. When it comes to my camera gear, my go-to backpack is the Alex Strohl Mountain Light. It is definitely the best bag for hiking. If you don’t need storage for your camera gear, I recommend the Osprey Hikelite.
For shorter routes, you can choose a lighter daypack. For short hikes in Joshua Tree, I love my Topo Designs i-pack!
Water is important no matter where you go, but especially in the desert, the dry air, blazing sun and heat will dehydrate you much faster! Of course, disposable water bottles are terrible for the environment, so avoid it and get a reusable one!
For hiking, CamelBak water tanks are convenient and lightweight – they fit in your hiking water pack on the go. Nalgene water bottles are great for everyday use, and if you want an insulated water bottle to keep your water cool and refreshing, Hydro Flasks are the best!
Joshua Tree National Park: Camping And Hiking Guide
Now it’s time to talk about the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park! If you want a shorter and easier route, there are many. Of course, “easy” is subjective, so for this travel guide, short and easy hikes in Joshua Tree National Park are those that are a mile or less with little to no elevation gain! They are great for a quick pit stop or if you want to explore more of the park and walk some of the short trails.
This is one of the most popular trails, and for good reason! It offers great views of Joshua trees, amazing crags and rock formations, and lots to explore. As an added bonus, there are some hidden trails nearby that are less traveled!
For a really short hike with great views, this is one of the best easy hikes in Joshua Tree National Park! On the drive and on the trail itself, you will see truly picturesque views.
As you head south into the park, there are less Joshua trees and piles of rock, but more mountain scenery – and you soon find yourself in a sea of yellow cholla cactus. This trail is really short and easy, but it’s one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park!
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If you want to explore a little more, these are the best day hikes in Joshua Tree National Park – they’re over a mile long, but due to the desert landscape, most of them are fairly flat.
This is one of the most popular hikes in the park and one of the few trails with significant elevation gain! If you want more of a challenge, this is the one for you. When you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the park!
The Barker Dam Trail involves some rock scrambling and is actually one of the few places in the park where you can see the water! Most days you won’t find any – but once it rains there will be water in the dam which attracts game.
This trail is one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, and since it’s on the south side of the park, you’ll see great views of the mountains, but not many trees. It
Days In Joshua Tree National Park
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