A weekend in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree has to be the nearest national park to a major US city that is known to the fewest people.

Just an hour and half from our home in Pasadena, Joshua Tree is a winter-only kind of place due to the extreme Summer heat in the Mojave Desert.

Uncrowded beauty

Its seasonality means it doesn’t enter the minds of LA people who are focused on the LA Basin and things along the highways north and south of Los Angeles. That works out well for having peace and tranquility in a park so close to 17 million people.

Joshua Tree is named for its peculiar trees that are so concentrated there but present all over the Mojave. Up close, they don’t appear to be trees at all and are lousy as fire wood (don’t worry, we only tried to burn pieces we found on the ground).

A dangerous playground

For us, Joshua Tree is like the biggest adult playground we know. The rock formations that emerge from the sand beg us to scramble, clamber and harness up to climb.

There are great top rope areas like The Thin Wall and Short Wall and more complex climbs that require more skill and equipment known as ‘leads’ all over the park.

The most important thing before you consider any risk is to know how to climb. There are usually courses at your local REI or other outdoor store. You can also first go with an experienced climber. We don’t recommend that you start climbing without the right gear and knowledge. We have both and are still extremely careful every time.

Being ready

Joshua Tree has very limited amenities for campers. There are bathrooms and places to get water, but this is desert camping and shade and firewood are in short supply. We bring our sun shelter so that we can escape the sun.

There are reservation-required campsites and first-come, first-served as well. Sites used to be free but now range from $10 to $15. This is a perfect place for a weekend getaway, provided you check the weather forecast first.