Joshua Tree National Park is 800,000 acres wide and is undeniably the best place for outdoor activities. It is home to 74 moderate to difficult trails that range from 0.3 to more than 25 miles. Each trail is rich in rock formations, unique landscapes, and panoramic views.

Many of its popular hikes are short, which is perfect for all ages of hikers. These short trails should not be underestimated, but the mesmerizing panoramic views at the peaks of these hikes are worth the adventure and tedious climb. Along with these spectacular views, you can also witness wildlife, like unique bird species, near reservoirs.

Pick up a hiking stick and get ready! Here are the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park.

10 Arch Rock Nature Trail

This is a short 0.37-mile trail that leads to the most famous rock formations of the park. Although, if you plan on hiking this trail, you might want to look for an alternative campground. This is because the White Tank campground, where this trail starts, will likely be crowded due to the number of people wanting to see the rock arch.

This trail is short, yet still worth the hike because the beauty of these rocks make for some wonderful photographs. Be sure that you don’t miss the sunset! When the sun sets, the rock formations look their best when it casts reddish hues which make the visit more worthy for a stop.

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9 Discovery Trail

The Discovery Trail offers the quickest tour to some of the most interesting landscapes in Joshua Tree. This trail placement was built by high school students and provides the finest ways to get around the park. It is a 0.7-mile trail, which is perfect for families with toddler members. As they say, it is built by kids for kids.

8 Barker Dam Trail

This 1.1-mile trail is the most popular hike in the park because of its perfect trail system, giant boulders, and the famous Barker Dam. This is the best trail for stop by hikers who do not have the luxury of time to stay longer in the park.

You can find beautiful Joshua trees and cactuses on the way to the Barker Dam. The best time to visit the dam is during the spring and winter seasons where there is more water in the reservoir. Visiting the dam at the perfect time will create opportunities perfect for reflective photographs.

7 Ryan Mountain Trail

This trail is the perfect trail for muscle heads out there. Ryan Mt. trail is a 3-mile-long workout in a trek. It offers a sweeping 360-degree view of the park because it’s over a thousand feet higher than the mountain itself. From the top, you can get a view of the Horse Valley, Queen Valley, Pleasant Valley, and the tallest peak in Southern California, the San Gorgonio.

The trail leads to the north face of the Ryan Mountain, so during summer, it is best to start the hike early to get shade for most of the trek and conversely, start in the afternoon during winter.

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6 Keys View

Key View is the hiking trail for a family trip. With little elevation and a short distanced trail, kids can easily join the trek. Despite the short journey, the trail offers the greatest reward with its views of the San Andreas Fault, Salton Sea, Coachella Valley, San Jacinto, and San Gorgonio mountains.

Keys View is also known for its romantic sunrise and sunset, so there are usually more tourists who visit at these times. So, remember to arrive early if you want to catch these spectacular views.

5 Skull Rock Nature Trail

This trail is ideal for hikers who want both a stunning view and physical exercise along the way. The trail leads to the popular skull-shaped rock, which is perfect for a photo spot. It is only a short walk compared to the trail’s original length of 1.7 miles. Giant boulders along the way are the perfect spots for rock climbing, and if you visit in the spring, the area is perfect to check out some wildflowers.

4 Ryan Ranch

If you want a slightly different trail destination than giant boulders, this hike is for you. This trail leads to the popular 100-year old abandoned estate built by Jepp and Tom Ryan. The building was ruined by a fire in 1978 and only a portion of the building remains intact.

Along the trail, old pieces of machinery are littered around, and a number of gravesites can be seen.

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3 Wall Street Mill

Joshua Tree National Park holds more historical sites than one would think. The Wall Street Mill served as the crusher of precious metal in the first half of the 20th century. It is where Worth Bagley was shot by Bill Keys due to land conflicts. More than the history, the trail leads you to interesting locations with railroad tracks and old equipment that are perfect for photographs.

2 Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a flat trail that guides you to real-life bedrock, like from the popular show “The Flintstones”, and piles of white monzogranite. Despite the flat elevation, the trail offers a huge pile of rocks perfect for rock climbing even without climbing equipment.

They say this is the famous hideout for cattle rustlers because of how the boulders were stacked. See for yourself when you visit the Hidden Valley Nature Trail!

1 Warren Peak

Warren peak stands at a thousand feet elevation and isrou5.5-miles long. If you are an avid fan of long hikes, this is the best hike for you. It can take up to 3 hours to reach the peak and western edge of the Little San Bernardino Mountains.

The trail starts at the Black Rock Compound and can get challenging along the way, but you can always prepare and familiarize directions before your trek.

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