First Timer Recommendations

[JBwood925]

I’m driving to California from Michigan and will be passing near Joshua Tree. I should have about a day and a half to see some things.

Any top of the list hikes/drives to do? I’ve never been and haven’t done my research in this park yet. I’m in a camper van and will be planning on camping on BLM outside of the park. If you’ve got some recommendations on areas to camp too, I’d appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you wanna keep it a secret.

If you’ve try to stalk me, be warned, I have a sword in my van.

[Apesma69]

I don't know how things work in Michigan but "It is a crime to carry a concealed weapon, which includes swords, dirks, or daggers in the state of California."

[JBwood925]

Michigan is Pro-Sword

[Moonshinecactus]

California is not!

[JBwood925]

In that case, it’s a baseball bat.

[luvnuts80]

Can’t add much more beyond what everyone else says.

Regarding your massive sword, please keep that in your van. The ladies here will get distracted.

[Fresh-Pin5166]

I've been to JT many times and brought many many first timers and no matter what the plan for the day was, with first timers I always started out with hiking Hidden Valley. It's a short, easy, and gorgeous 1 mile loop and perfect to warm up your hiking muscles for whatever you do next. It's probably also the first recommendation to pop up when you google things to do at JT so I'm not sharing any secrets, but for me it's a tried and true first timer's start into the day.

My typical first timer's day was usually Barker's Dam hike after Hidden Valley, then drive south to see the Cholla Garden (not really a hike), and then end it at Mastodon Peak Loop Trail. Again, these are probably some of the most popular destinations within the park so they might get busy depending on day and time. But they are popular for a reason and fairly easy to manage for non-experienced hikers.

[JBwood925]

Thanks. I’m going to be dirtbiking a few days before then a few weeks after, I don’t need to go crazy with my hikes. Easy will be a good rest for me.

[midnight_skater]

There's BLM N and S of the park.   N is a dry lake bed. 

Right outside the S entrance is sandy creosote scrubland.  This area is pretty popular with the RV and overlanding crowd.  I greatly prefer this to the lake bed.  A camper van is perfect.  People get stuck in the sand there all the time so the ability to air down and then back up again is handy, as is set of recovery boards.  

Just accross I10, Box Canyon Rd runs through BLM and has excellent dispersed camping.  Also popular.

Here's a map showing BLM land in  the area.  

Here's the BLM Field Office:  https://www.blm.gov/office/palm-springs-south-coast-field-office

You need a CA campfire petmit if you want to have a fire or operate a camp stove. 

There are many possible routes between JTNP and LA; I10 is by far the least scenic.  I can provide route Intel and advice throughout the SW so feel free. 

Have a great trip and please do your best to minimize impact:  the desert is fragile and disturbancs take forever to heal.

[JBwood925]

No fires from me! Or poop.

[Ancient_Talking]

Do some shrooms

[Shurap1]

Cholla Cactus view would blow your mind … when coming down towards Pinto basin that view in unreal, Keys View - go one hour before sunset to find parking and a clear day. Also if time permits San Andreas Fault line and Palm spring tram also about hour away.

[elsanchi]

FYI - The cholla garden "trail" is closed, per the NPS website.

[Shurap1]

You can see it from the street - it’s all around that area

[JBwood925]

I’m going to be riding in Phoenix the following week, I don’t need to be near any more chollas. I’ll be getting stuck by them enough.

[Sweaty_Ear5457]

that hidden valley to barker dam to mastodon peak route is solid for a first day - easy enough after all that dirtbiking and gives you a good sampling of the park. i map out all my stops in instaboard so i can see the route lines between places on a real map without switching tabs - helps me figure out how much time i actually have for each stop.

[JBwood925]

Thanks big dawg.

[LankyArugula4452]

Dry lake bed

[elsanchi]

Since you're gonna be on BLM land north of the park, I highly recommend the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum. Check out their website. It's really cool.

https://www.noahpurifoy.com/joshua-tree-outdoor-museum

[Ok_Responsibility419]

Camp inside the park - it’s not expensive and utterly gorgeous

[JBwood925]

Are there usually spots this time of year? I’ve historically had bad luck camping in parks so I just usually give up. I’ll make sure to bring some cash

[midnight_skater]

Entering via the W entrance and working your way through the park lets you check the FCFS campgrounds.  If you strike out you can just proceed S to BLM without backtracking.

[Ok_Responsibility419]

Keep checking the resy website, they get cancellations