An image of a Joshua Tree with a desert landscape in the background

National Parks

Joshua Tree National Park

The 29 Palms Inn is located 5 minutes from the north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, and the Oasis Visitors Center. Explore the nearly 800,000 acres that make up Joshua Tree National Park, and find incredible hiking and nature trails, ranger-lead tours of historic gold mines and homesteads, world-class rock climbing and bouldering, stunning spring wildflowers, and breathtaking starry night skies.

Joshua Tree National Park is home to some of the most fascinating geology found in the California deserts; rugged mountains of twisted rock and exposed granite monoliths testify to the tremendous earth forces that shaped and formed this land. Much of the park exists within an overlap of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, creating a unique transition zone where you’ll find rich biodiversity, and a diverse range of plants and animals from each desert ecosystem.

Start your trip with a stop at the local Visitor’s Center, located 5 minutes away, at 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms. Open daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm

Tips on enjoying a great day in Joshua Tree National Park:

  • Carry lots of water – min. of 1 gallon (4 L) of water per person, per day is recommended
  • Be prepared with a full tank of gas, there’s a lot to see, by car and by foot
  • Carry a map with you. There is no cell reception in the park so you can’t rely on GPS
  • Dress in light colored, loose fitting clothes, wear a hat & sunglasses, apply sunscreen regularly
  • Traveling with a dog? Remember pets are only allowed on vehicle roads, and not hiking trail

Take advantage of a wide range of programs that include educational adventures, seminars, family programs and courses on hiking, survival skills, creative arts in the park, natural science and cultural history. These courses enable participants to experience the park in an engaging way alongside expert instructors who provide a personal and fun learning experience on these educational experiences. Check out the Desert Institutes current class schedule online.

Joshua Tree National Park’s Website

Mojave National Preserve

Desert sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, and carpets of wildflowers are all found at this 1.6 million-acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, rock-walled military outposts and vast open Mojave Desert Wilderness.

Located 1 1/2 hour north of Twentynine Palms, the Mojave National Preserve provides serenity and solitude – an escape from modern urban life. The Mojave National Preserve was designated in 2013 by National Geographic as one of the world’s 100 best kept secret journeys and hidden adventures, and we couldn’t agree more. The Preserve’s 1.6 million acres is as lonesome country as you will find anywhere. It is complex, magnificent, and peaceful. Whether you are in for the day, or camping for several, there is much to see and do.

This is a ‘look after yourself’ preserve – the land has been left to be with old mines and historic ranching preserved. The original routes or travel including the Mojave Road and the Spanish Trail can be picked out and followed if you have the right vehicle; you can climb and slide back down the largest sand dunes in the Mojave Desert; explore lava tubes in extinct volcanoes, wander the canyons in several mountain ranges; drive hike or walk through the world’s largest Joshua Tree forests. And that’s the short list. You may also just drive north on your way to or from McCarren airport in Las Vegas. Skip I-15 for the scenic route through the Preserve.

Visit the official Mojave National Preserve website for additional park information.