Experience the beauty of the desert at this national park in Southern California
Experience the beautiful vastness of the desert in Southern California by visiting Joshua Tree National Park. It’s about 2.5 hours east of Los Angeles and about three hours west of Phoenix.
What to do here? Well, if you’re not sure where to start, stop by the visitor’s center so a friendly, knowledgeable park ranger can make some worthwhile suggestions. A day will actually be sufficient time to see a decent amount of sights at the park, including a few hikes if time is allocated wisely. It’s a great place to admire two different desert ecosystems – the Colorado and Mojave deserts – and unique vegetation, including Joshua Trees and Cholla cactuses (there’s a garden for the latter at the park, so be sure to check that out).
Photographers and aficionados alike will also enjoy this park. Be sure to bring a lot of water, especially if you’ll be hiking and most especially if it will be hot. If you get hungry or need more water, Twentynine Palms is located north of the park and offers a few convenience stories and eateries. Also be sure to check out Keys View (a viewpoint) and Barker Dam (a short hike). It’s also nice to stay and watch the sunset, as well as until night time for a light-unpolluted stargazing experience. There’s a park entrance fee of $20 that’s good for seven days, but it’s absolutely worth every dollar!
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