This post was written by guest blogger, Sophie of Sophieroams
Looking to visit Joshua Tree National Park in sunny, southern California? Here are a few basics to know before you visit.
🔹The best time of year to visit @joshuatreenps is March through May and October through November. I traveled to the park in late March, and it did not disappoint.
🔹 I recommend two full days to explore Joshua Tree, but it can easily be done in one day. The park gets really crowded after 9am, and by 11am there will be a massive line to enter. I recommend getting there as early as possible!
🔹 To dodge the massive car lines, I highly recommend packing food. If not, there is an amazing farmers market on Saturday’s @joshuatreefarmersmarket1 If it’s the right season, purchase the strawberries! 🍓They are amazing and locally grown. I also highly recommend @dezfinefood. The chocolate croissant is to die for. 🥐
🔹Arch rock (1.2 miles) and Skeleton Rock (the rock is right on the side of the road) are two of the more famous rock formations in the park. Whichever one interests you more, I recommend visiting right after sunrise. 🌅 That’s when it will be the most quiet. We arrived at Arch Rock at 7 am, and only saw a couple other people. (Note: I am NOT a morning person. 😂)
In addition, here are a few other trails I highly recommend:
Hidden Valley Nature Trail ~ 1.0 miles
Cholla Cactus Garden ~ 0.2 miles
Barker Dam Nature Trail ~ 1.1 miles
🔹 The best spot to view a sunset is Keys View. Be sure to arrive at least 40 minutes before sunset to get a parking spot! Finding a space is really competitive.
For more information about the park, visit the park website and the OutoftheOffice4good blog site.
Photo Credits
National Park Service
Steve Hynes, outoftheoffice4good.com (Cover)
Check out Sophie’s Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/sophieroams/. She writes about travel tips & hacks for the everyday explorer.
On her site, she also shares amazing photos of Iceland, Colorado, Arizona, other national parks, and lots more!