Here is how to spend one to three days in Joshua Tree, built from the hikes and activities the National Park Service lists and the time it says each takes. Short on time? Do Day 1. Times are for the activity itself; add time for driving, parking and shuttles between stops, and swap anything that is closed or out of season.
Day 1
About 2.5 hours of listed activity time, plus stops with no listed time.
Start at Joshua Tree Visitor Center for maps, current trail conditions and ranger advice.
Morning
- Hike Skull Rock (1 to 2 hours). A relatively flat, 1.7-mile loop trail. (best in winter, spring, fall)
Afternoon
- Stargazing at Joshua Tree (time not listed). Enjoy Joshua Tree National Park's amazing night sky.
- Hike Cholla Cactus Garden (15 to 30 minutes). An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road.
- Attend a Ranger Stroll (30 to 45 minutes). Join a ranger on an educational stroll.
Day 2
About 5 hours of listed activity time, plus stops with no listed time.
Morning
- Hike Lost Palms Oasis (4 to 6 hours). A difficult 7.5 mile hike to an oasis. (best in winter, spring, fall)
Afternoon
- Birding at Joshua Tree (time not listed). Joshua Tree National Park offers a wide range of birds for birders to discover.
Day 3
About 4.5 hours of listed activity time.
Morning
- Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis (2 to 3 hours). A difficult three mile hike to a desert oasis. (best in winter, spring, fall)
Afternoon
- Attend an Evening Ranger Program (45 minutes). Attend an evening program at Joshua Tree National Park.
- Hike Barker Dam Trail (30 to 60 minutes). Enjoy an easy 1.1 mile hike on the Barker Dam Nature Trail.
- Visit the Universal Threads Exhibit (15 to 60 minutes). Visit the Universal Threads Exhibit and learn about the intertwining relationships between plants, animals, earth, sky, and human life.
Make it work
- When to go: February, April, October and November. See the best time to visit.
- Where to stay: 9 campgrounds in the park; see camping and lodging.
- Before you go: check today’s alerts and read know before you go. More ideas: all things to do.
Today at Joshua Tree
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Joshua Tree Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
Sources
- National Park Service: things to do in Joshua Tree National Park (Data API, public domain)
Last checked 1 November 2026.