Joshua Tree is located about one hour from Palm Springs, where the Mojave and Lower Colorado deserts join to form the park.

If you have part of a day, begin your tour at a one of the Visitor Centers.  With limited time you may want to confine your sightseeing to the main park roads. Many pullouts with wayside exhibits dot these roads. There are 12 self-guiding nature trails. and on clear days the vista from Keys View extends beyond Salton Sea to Mexico.

If you plan to spend the day, there will be time to sample more hiking trails. Join a  ranger program, or hike to one of th paark's five palm oases.  October through May, call ahead and reserve a spot on the popular Keys Ranch guided walking tour. You can plan an all-day hike into the backcountry, or experience the desert from the seat of a mountain bike. Joshua Tree is also a popular rock climbing area.