Joshua Tree National Park

  October 7, 2025

I woke up a little before 7 a.m. and opened the window. It was hazy outside, even though I had been lying in bed for almost eight hours trying to get some rest physically, but mentally… not so much. Falling asleep has been hard lately; I think my brain was entirely awake the whole last night; it might be time for some sleeping pills.

Sleepless, I put my things together and headed down for breakfast.
Walked to my car, it was Tuesday, and everyone else seemed to be on their way to work.

I left Riverside City for Joshua Tree National Park, about an hour and forty minutes away. Stopped at Walmart for snacks and water. As I drove toward the park, Joshua trees began to appear, along with the first signs of that wide desert landscape. I entered the park at 10:04 a.m., and it was already 72°F. Surprisingly, rangers were available to answer questions; I grabbed a map and changed in the parking lot to get ready for the day.

Joshua Tree National Park sits at the meeting point of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, home to its iconic trees, dramatic rock formations, and diverse wildlife. It’s a top destination for hiking, climbing, and stargazing thanks to its night skies. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when temperatures are far more forgiving.

Looking at the map, there seemed to be so much to do.

My first hike was the Boy Scout Trail, an easy trail that splits toward Willow Hole and Campsite #7. I decided to hike about two and a half miles.
On the way back to the parking lot, I spotted a snake swallowing a lizard, slowly constricting its prey. I watched for nearly 10 minutes, fascinated by the rawness of nature. The process was slow, and I didn’t want to distract the snake from completing its mission, so I moved on.

Driving through the park, I stopped at the Hidden Valley Nature Trail loop. A sign in the parking area read “Do Not Die Today,” giving tips about mid-day heat safety. The loop was nearly a mile and a half. I spotted a few rock climbers, and the park was getting busy with visitors arriving.

Hidden Valley ended up being one of the highlights of the visit, a beautiful loop through a valley surrounded by amazing rock formations. The trail was perfectly maintained and easy to follow.

My third stop was the Cap Rock Nature Trail, just under a mile. The top boulder looks like a hat, hence the name Cap Rock. Nice formations, clearly marked paths, and a few benches to enjoy the views. Educational signs about local plants were scattered throughout, along with a large park board full of information.

Today was definitely shaping up to be a day of short hikes.

About nine miles driving from Hidden Valley, there was the fourth hike at the lookout point of Keys View, a little under half a mile. Keys View was incredible; you can see the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and even the Salton Sea being a clear day. There was plenty of parking, but on weekends it can be tough to find a spot because of the crowd.

On the drive back, I stopped at the Hall of Horrors Area and hiked a little over half a mile. The rock formations were too interesting to ignore. This area is almost across from Ryan Mountain. I was too tired to attempt Ryan Mountain’s three-mile round-trip, so I decided to explore other places instead.

Next was the Jumbo Rocks area, where I parked and hiked to Skull Rock via the Skull Rock Nature Trail, about two and a half miles. At Skull Rock, crowds were bouldering and taking photos everywhere. The formation truly looks like a skull, a masterpiece sculpted by nature.

Next was to continue to Heart Rock, but I drove to the Split Rock Loop Trail area. Countless trails are branching toward Desert Queen Mine and Pine City; however, I decided to rest in the car instead and recharge before my next hike at Heart Rock.

At 3:19 p.m., I began the hike to Heart Rock, about a mile each way. The trail was scenic, and I met a few people and helped swap cameras for photos. After returning to my car, I realized I had missed Arch Rock, which was on the same trail system. Finding the right path there is tricky, with lots of false trails and people wandering everywhere. I decided to go back and see it. It was worth it. I had to scramble over rocks to reach it, and I spent some time bouldering and chatting with hikers.

Some places in Joshua Tree I didn’t get to visit:

• Desert Queen Mine
• Barker Dam
• Wonderland Ranch Ruins
• Wall Street Mill

Completed almost 10 miles of hiking today. I returned to my car around 4:30, and it was time to plan the rest of the day. The next national park on my list was Death Valley. Looking at the map, I leaned toward staying in Las Vegas for the night since it was almost on the way, and it’s Las Vegas, hard to pass without stopping. I also thought it would be a good place to take a rest day, especially since I was a day ahead of schedule.

The drive to Vegas ended up being surprisingly interesting. My GPS took me through Amboy via Amboy Road, then National Trails Highway, then Kelbaker Road. The route passed through Mojave National Preserve and went through countless landmarks such as Boulder Viewpoint, Kelso Dunes, Vulcan Mine, Mitchell Caverns, Edgar Peak, all the way to the Mojave Freeway. The area was extremely remote, with no service. I could have been stranded out there; I had only about 10 miles of extra gas when I finally reached the Chevron station at Yates Well. During the entire two-and-a-half-hour drive, only one car was on the road: the one behind me, which never passed until we reached the freeway. At least I had some company.

I arrived at Oasis at Gold Spike Hotel in downtown Las Vegas at 8:15 p.m. and checked in for two nights; tomorrow would be my rest day (yay). After a much-needed shower, I walked around hoping to find a good restaurant. I realized I was in the heart of downtown, right by the Fremont Street Experience, also known as the old strip. I enjoyed the lights and walked back and forth several times, surviving the showgirls, performers wanting pictures, and the people trying to sell me every kind of ticket.

I couldn’t find a restaurant I liked, but I was starving and could not afford to be picky. I also didn’t want to drive anywhere else, so I ended up at Hennessey’s Tavern. Watching people walking through the busy street while enjoying my beer and sandwich with French fries. By nearly 11 p.m., I was exhausted. I walked straight back to the hotel, ready for what I hoped would be the best sleep.