Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park was truly deserted, and the roads were breathtaking. Dahu decided to savor the exhilaration of driving on such roads once again. Because of this glitch, I took the passenger seat and focused on the navigation. Naturally, we continued along the same route we'd come from, intently focused on the southbound and northbound route. Arch Rock was behind the cactus, but we didn't realize we were already going the wrong way (southwest, the exact opposite direction). The navigation kept prompting us to turn around, which Dahu would have probably noticed. However, I stubbornly assumed it was a mistake and continued driving. After driving nearly 10 miles, I realized we had definitely made a mistake. Fortunately, we encountered road maintenance personnel on a deserted stretch of road. After checking in with them, we realized we had gone the wrong way and needed to backtrack. Tip: It's always best to double-check your route with the navigation. If you're unsure, ask for help immediately; don't stubbornly go the wrong way. We planned to visit two of the most important attractions along the way: Arch Rock and the Cactus Garden. The Cactus Garden is a little south of Arch Rock, so our route was to visit the Cactus Garden first, then the boulder area. (I still thought I'd entered the park from the south gate as planned, but I was actually going the other way and should have gone to the boulder area first.) Along the way, there were sparse cacti scattered among the sand and rocks. Upon arrival, we saw a dense cluster of cacti growing in a basin, resembling a man-made garden. Unlike the typical cacti, these cacti resembled small, furry teddy bears, particularly small and adorable, making them unique. There's parking at the viewpoint, so there's almost no parking available. If you're interested, you can also hike along the trails. We arrived at Arch Rock. The Cactus Garden is only five minutes away, and I'd passed it before. I'd missed it by accident, perhaps because the boulders were so ordinary that I didn't notice them at the time. Arch Rock is just a jumble of natural boulders, nothing special in itself. We wasted so much time that we didn't really look for the naturally formed arch. There were few tourists at the site, save for a young couple in their RV. The only unique feature was the numerous stone platforms for camping and barbecues, suggesting frequent hiking and camping. We quickly snapped a few photos.

Joshua Tree National Park takes a day to visit because it is so large.

The intensity of the sun here definitely requires sports-grade sunscreen. The Joshua tree, a member of the lily family, is actually a giant yucca. The leaves and branches grow in strange directions, resembling giant succulents from a distance. The park entrance fee is quite reasonable, $30 per car, and valid for seven days, likely designed for campers and rock climbers. Unfortunately, we only had one day, so we could only do a quick drive from east to west. Before entering the park, we saw a row of mailboxes outside many houses. It was so cute that I couldn't resist getting out of the car to take a couple of pictures. Because the park is located in the desert, while the trees are quite large, they offer no shade. Many of the park's attractions require hiking. I think the only national park I've ever visited is Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La. Joshua Tree and Pudacuo are worlds apart, likely due to the completely different vegetation and geological conditions. The vast land of Pudacuo is colorful and full of vitality, while here it is desolate, with only boulders, desert and large velvet orchids. I have the urge to sing out loud "My home is on the Loess Plateau..." Driving in the park feels like driving in a no-man's land, and my heart suddenly feels empty. This trip is still a bit tight, otherwise I really should camp here for a night and lie down to count the stars.

Our first stop was to pick up a map of the scenic area at the visitor center. The friendly staff would recommend routes based on your schedule and explain the highlights of each attraction. We then refined our own guide and set off with great anticipation.

Once we entered the park, we realized that the most interesting thing about Joshua Tree National Park wasn't the trees, but the various boulders. Due to changes in the earth's crust and climate, the mountain was torn apart, forming the huge rocks we see today.

The first hike is called "Hidden Valley," about a mile long, and can be completed in just over 40 minutes, stopping here and there. This section is mostly flat, with clear trails and signs, making it easy for both physical exertion and navigation. Stonehenge surrounds the area, with a vast plain in the center. This is probably where the name "Hidden Valley" comes from.

The second hike was to Barker Dam. This section is highly recommended. The first half of the hike was spent navigating a series of boulders. Mr. Liu and I jumped around like monkeys, feeling like we were kids climbing walls and digging holes in the ground. It was such a joy!

The third attraction is Key View. You'll need to drive south from the main loop for a short distance to reach an observation deck. Parking is located midway up the mountain, and the climb to the top takes just five or six minutes—no stamina or equipment required. From the summit, you can overlook the entire Palm Springs Plain. Across the plain lies a hilly area, formed by the convergence of the Pacific and North American plates. Perhaps in a few hundred thousand years, as the plates shift, it will become a mountain!

The last place is a little off-the-beaten-path. It’s called White Tank on the map, but the most striking feature is a stone arch. The photos taken there look even better than those taken in Arches National Park.

This place is worth visiting! It's perfect for taking photos~~

Many people will make reservations in advance to set up tents here at night

You can shoot all kinds of blockbusters here hahaha, the output rate is very high

The top stone looks like a little man sitting on it, with two eyes looking down at the scenery, hahaha, so cute

Skull Rock: A very magical natural phenomenon, often formed naturally by long-term weathering~~

There is a fee to enter Joshua Tree National Park. Ours was a family car and the fee was $30 per car.

The payment window was marked with "No Drones Allowed"!!

It seems that the plane I carried all the way is destined to be brought home intact, and I feel unhappy.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon a blogger who posted a photo of Joshua Tree National Park. I was immediately drawn to the strange-looking trees there. I looked up information and learned that this place is called Joshua Tree National Park. After three years of searching, I finally made it here.

Later I looked up information and found out that these trees should be called Mexican thorn trees. I thought that the climate here would be very hot because it is a desert. It may also be that we came in the wrong month. The wind was so strong that it could blow us away. Although it was not cold, it still made me cry.

You cannot park your car anywhere in the park. You can only park in places with marked parking lanes. Therefore, even if you see a scenery you like, you cannot just stop the car to take pictures. But there are usually parking lanes every few distances, so just pay attention.

The day we went happened to be the weekend, but we rarely saw tourists. Instead, many locals chose to spend the weekend here.

There are a large number of strange rocks in the park. Due to thousands of years of wind erosion, the various strange shapes of rocks have been formed. It can be said to be a holy place for rock climbers. You can see many professional rock climbers coming here to challenge themselves.

Joshua Tree National Park is very large, but the distance from the entrance to the cactus park is only about 30 kilometers. The original plan was to stay for 3 hours. However, this place is really suitable for taking pictures, and in the end it was far exceeded the time. If you are not in a hurry, you can slow down and wait until the sunset to take a picture of the Joshua tree under the pink sky.

No matter how harsh the environment is, there will always be tenacious life growing. Even if the growth is slow, even after decades, they are still only a few centimeters long, but it still cannot stop their desire for life.

A few dozen meters ahead is the parking validation and payment area. It was just after 5 PM, and the staff had gone off duty. The national park, with no gates or personnel, was open to anyone. We had annual passes, so we had to wait until the next park to get our passes validated. Joshua Tree National Park isn't a popular destination, and since it was midsummer, there were only a few tourists. Only a few cars stopped at the entrance to take photos at the same time as us. Many people think it's just a few strange trees, not worth the scorching heat. But I was awed by the otherworldly and desolate scenery I saw on Google Street View. I had to visit.

From the moment we enter, Joshua trees stretch as far as the eye can see. These remarkable creatures stubbornly thrive in this wilderness, their trees rubbing shoulders with one another, or even living harmoniously in harmony, like a thriving community. What we consider a harsh natural environment is a haven for these trees, nourishing them for generations. Their remarkable ability to adapt and reinvent themselves is truly remarkable.

Following the park road, we soon arrived at the Quail Springs Picnic Area. Parking spaces were marked around a small pile of boulders. This served as a picnic area with a few tables and restrooms, and also marked the beginning of the Quail Springs Trail. The temperature wasn't too high today, and the sun was setting. We disembarked, climbed some rocks, and took photos of the unusually shaped trees. After a half-hour stroll without feeling the heat, we hurried to Keys View, the park's highest point at 1,580 meters. While it's called a high point, it's only a couple hundred to three hundred meters higher than our previous stops. However, from this expansive southwest view, we could see not only Southern California's two 3,000-meter-high peaks and the sweeping mountain ridges in the distance, but also a vast basin tens of meters below sea level nearby. This 3,000-meter drop, combined with the vast, desolate scenery, devoid of birds or animals, which seemed unchanging for eternity, made us contemplate the courage of the pioneers who established their roots here. The weather was not very good today, so we only saw this much. If it were a day with high transparency, it is said that you could use a telescope to see the Mexican mountains 150 kilometers away.

The plants in this park seem to like to congregate with their own kind. As we drove along, we arrived at a unique area: the cactus garden. From a few scattered spots to a dense, almost overwhelming mass, within just a few hundred meters, these spiky creatures, resembling clusters of coral from a distance, stood mostly around a meter tall, some exceeding two meters. In the last rays of sunset, they appeared a furry golden hue. The sharp thorns gave the illusion of softness and comfort, though of course, no one would actually try that, right?

As the sun set, we turned back on the park road, with no other cars in sight. Listening to music, feeling the breeze, and watching the familiar scenery drift away behind us, we quickly toured this first national park in just three hours. It wasn't tiring, and we saw all the flowers we wanted to see quickly, which was quite efficient.

Desert scenery, boulders and Joshua trees, a sense of vastness

Wear sunscreen! Located on the edge of the desert, the wind and sun can be intense. Sunscreen is essential! The park charges a 35 yuan entrance fee, good for seven days. It's a paradise for rock climbers. Camping or RV accommodations are available within the park. There are also various hot spring hotels nearby. Plan your visit with plenty of time.

Desert, cactus, sunset, starry sky, it's all here. Perfect for self-driving!

The park is incredibly pristine. There's no water for sale anywhere, and the weather is incredibly hot, so it's recommended to pack plenty of water and fill up your car with gas before departure. There's no signal inside the park, so it's recommended to download an offline map beforehand. Although you can get a map at the entrance, Google Maps is more practical. Because the desert gets extremely cold after sunset, and there are no streetlights, it's recommended to leave the park before sunset, although the park is even more beautiful at sunset. Joshua Tree National Park has three exits: the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, the Oasis Visitor Center, and the Cottonwood Visitor Center. Expecting to see a desert oasis or other wonders in this national park is likely to be disappointing. The overall tone of the park is cold, creating a sense of loneliness among the vegetation in the desert.

Be careful walking in the park, as you might accidentally prick your foot on a cactus. Wear long shirts and pants, and avoid shoes with cutouts. Another major feature of the park is its abundance of unusually shaped rocks, shaped by wind erosion over thousands of years. The northern part of the park is even more rocky and is said to be a haven for rock climbers.

Arriving at the Joshua Tree National Park North Entrance Visitor Center, I parked inside for a brief consultation, purchased an $80 annual pass, and set off with a map. Driving a short distance south, I arrived at the park's entrance. There were no checkpoints or gates, just a small fee-paying hut opposite a public restroom. For the average visitor, this national park isn't worth a special trip, but when I planned my route, I realized I'd be passing through the park's perimeter, so I decided to just go for a spin. A trip to the United States isn't easy, so why not visit another national park along the way? The park is vast, dominated by desert and Gobi. Its most notable features are the unique Joshua trees and unusually shaped rocks. With its countless pristine trails, it's a haven for serious hikers. However, much of the scenery is repetitive, so driving through the park, as I did, allows for unique views without expending too much time and effort. The legendary Joshua trees are truly majestic and unique. Joshua trees are everywhere! I ran under the tree and took a photo from above. The plump, spherical, spiny leaves gave me a strange feeling. The super panoramic view showed a "rockery" made of various strange rocks. The roadside sign pointed to Skull Rock, a famous attraction in the park, which looked quite similar.

Located near Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Desert National Park offers pristine desert landscapes, home to a fascinating species of tree, the Joshua Tree. This vast park comprises the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, and the fascinating thing is that the plants in these two deserts are completely different.

Because of the bad weather in San Diego, we changed our plans and came here. I like the scenery here.

Joshua Tree National Park, located in southeastern Taiwan, shares the same desert terrain as Death Valley. However, unlike Death Valley's barren landscape, which often evokes a sense of despair, the Joshua trees and clusters of cacti that persevere in the desert offer a sense of hope. Joshua trees grow very slowly, reaching only 10-20 centimeters in their first few years, then 10 centimeters per year thereafter. Their trunks are composed of numerous small fibers and lack growth rings. Despite the harsh desert environment, they can survive for 200 years, reaching heights of around 15 meters. Their leaves are dark green, linear, and edged with spiny thorns. Besides Joshua Tree National Park, we also recommend the cactus garden and various boulder formations, but due to time constraints, we only briefly explored them.

It's right next to Redemption Mountain. I saw some guides previously expressing their disappointment with this place, and I was right there too, hahaha. The main reason for our disappointment was the incredibly bumpy road along the way, which made it easy to get carsick. Plus, the park is so huge that we didn't have enough time (or gas) to explore it completely. And we didn't see a single desert plant near the park entrance, as we'd expected.

Although the sun was shining brightly, the temperature wasn't too high for late April, and there was a bit of wind. We hiked along the mountain range, listening to our guide Xiaomai introduce us to various desert plants we'd never seen before. The wind grew stronger as we climbed to the top, but the exhilaration of braving the wind to reach the summit was as exhilarating as ever.

Annual passes for national parks can be purchased at the visitor center. However, please note that they must be printed with the "NATIONAL PARK" logo to be used. If not, they are not valid and require separate purchase. Later, when we visited Monument Valley, it wasn't part of the national park, so we just took a quick look and left.

The annual pass costs $80 and is valid for one year for four people in a car, granting unlimited entry to national parks. The card can be used by two valid holders. With 59 national parks in the United States, this makes it practically free.

This land is too barren and desolate, but even so, the flowers bloom so beautifully! In the endless Gobi Desert, the tenacious vitality of thorny grass tells us that no matter how harsh the environment, we must have the courage to live on. Nothing can be worse than today.

In fact, Joshua Tree National Park is probably the most unique landscape I've never encountered in my travels throughout China. It's probably a unique feature of the American West. The rest of the scenery can more or less be found in China.

So, China and the United States are really similar.

Every blade of grass, every tree, every bird, and every animal here is sacred and inviolable. Regardless of whether they are beautiful in life or incomplete after death, they must return to nature, which is their final destination. Therefore, nothing here is allowed to be taken away.

My travel notes: http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/9670385.html

After checking the guide and hiking in person, I summarized the following attractions that are most worth visiting

1. Jumbo Rock is one of the most common scenic spots in the park. Balancing Rock is located near the Jumbo Rock Camping Site.

2. Skull Rock is very close to the road, only a five-minute drive from Jumbo Rock. You can also take the trail from Jumbo Rock to Skull Rock, which takes about half an hour each way and offers some pretty scenic views.

3. From the White Tank Camping Site, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the Rock Arch. In my opinion, the photos taken at the Rock Arch are the most beautiful in the park, but the location of the Rock Arch is relatively hidden.

4. Cholla Cactus Garden has a large area of cacti, but this kind of cactus is not quite what I imagined. It is also very nice to take pictures here.

We chose this park because it satisfied my desire to visit a national park and also fit into our week-long itinerary in Los Angeles. Normally, you can visit the park in one day, but since we had plenty of time, we planned two days to take some good wedding selfies in our wedding dresses.

On the day we left Los Angeles, we went to the Great China Supermarket to buy food. We knew there would be no water in the national park and it would be extremely hot, so we bought a case of water, two watermelons, two apples, two boxes of homemade hot pot, two boxes of Sichuan-style skewers, three boxes of broken noodles, and some snacks. Then we headed to Joshua Tree National Park.

There is no signal inside Joshua Tree National Park, so it is recommended that you download an offline map before going there. Although you can get a map when you go, Google Maps is more practical.

Joshua Tree National Park has three exits: the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, the Oasis Visitor Center, and the Cottonwood Visitor Center. We chose the location of our B&B based on our itinerary, allowing the navigation system to guide us through the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center. At the visitor center (which doesn't have a toll booth), I asked the staff for directions. After confirming our itinerary, we followed the road in front of the visitor center. About 30 minutes down this road, we'll reach a toll booth similar to a Chinese highway entrance. This is where we'll collect the entrance fee ($15 per person). Once you've paid, you'll be allowed in.

If you want to go down and take pictures, you can park your car in the empty space on the side of the road. However, I hope everyone will be cautious, as I heard there are scorpions.

The weather is really great and the sky is super blue.

So our plan was to go from Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center to Oasis Visitor Center. Four hours was more than enough time to see all the sights. It turned out there weren't many, but if you were there for photos like we were, it was just the right amount of time.

PS: The sun is super strong, so you must apply sunscreen more frequently.

Overall, this park is quite nice. It wasn't crowded. It was quite windy, so you'll need to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. Actually, there weren't many photo spots, as everything looked pretty much the same. I didn't see the traditional tall cacti I was looking forward to. The photos will tell you for sure.

I passed by without stopping. The park didn't look like a park from the outside. Looking around, it was still a desert. There were relatively more houses here. There were houses along both sides of the road.

This park is best visited in the morning and evening, especially when the sun is just rising and setting. The warm sunlight shining on the stones and plants makes it much more beautiful than at other times. Use backlighting and low angle photography.

This vast national park is famous for its Joshua trees and unusually shaped rocks. Joshua trees are desert conifers, somewhat like cacti growing on trees. Their ability to survive such harsh conditions is truly remarkable. Another major feature of the park is its abundance of unusually shaped rocks. Millions of years of wind erosion have shaped the rocks into their various forms. It's a true rock climber's paradise, with many professional climbers challenging themselves. Of course, spectators like me can also enjoy some rock climbing. A major Y-shaped highway runs north and south through the park, but most attractions are located near the west and north gates. It's said that there's no toll booth at the south gate, so it's a relatively quiet destination.

Joshua Tree National Park is located in Palm Springs. It is a check-in spot for many internet celebrities. It is arguably the most desolate national park in the United States. Even in the most desolate national park, you can still see many people rock climbing. Americans really love outdoor sports.

Joshua Tree National Park takes its name from the abundance of Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) within the park. Joshua Tree National Park lies within two distinct deserts and encompasses two distinct ecosystems. The Colorado Desert, located to the east of the park and below 3,000 feet above sea level, is a natural garden filled with creosote bushes, ocotillo trees, and cholla cacti. The higher, wetter, and slightly cooler Mojave Desert to the west of the park is home to the park's trademarked Joshua Tree.

The Joshua tree, a member of the lily family, is actually a large yucca plant. It was named by Mormon pioneers because its branches, reaching upward, resemble "praying trees" from a distance. Its peak growing season is from February to April.

There's virtually no signal inside the park, so we relied on our car's navigation system. That's why we were able to find a companion. We had to leave before sunset. This is a relatively secluded area, so there weren't many people. Check the map for emergency numbers.

I read several guides and reviews, but none of them nailed the point. The most beautiful and unique spot in Joshua Tree National Park is at White Tank Camping, where a trail leads to the arch. I recommend walking a little further, as the terrain there is truly unique. Another iconic attraction, Balancing Rock, is at Jumbo Rock Camping. From there, there's a short, accessible trail to Skull Rock. Also worth a visit is the Cactus Garden.

When we first entered Joshua Tree National Park, the bare ground and bare mountains beside the road, with a few Joshua trees here and there, made me feel very disappointed. We drove to the parking lot of Keys View without any hope. When we parked the car and climbed up to the viewing platform, the view suddenly opened up. Hidden Valley is an ecological junction. Here, there are not only bare ground and Joshua trees, but also many other species, trees, and cacti. A little further ahead is the Skull Rock Trail, which means skull. If you look closely, you can see eyes and a nose, which looks very realistic. At around 6 o'clock, we entered Joshua Tree National Park for the second time. To be honest, the sunset here is still quite different from that in the Grand Canyon National Park.

It was completely dark, so I went to Boy Scouts to watch the stars. The night was getting more and more beautiful. Just after 9 o'clock in the evening, the sky was full of stars! The Milky Way was brilliant!

This national park has a cute, desert-themed atmosphere. If you enjoy deserts and cacti, this is the closest national park to Los Angeles. Joshua trees are everywhere, and there's nothing else. Some people enjoy camping and stargazing.

Don't walk barefoot in the sand in a desert with cacti.

This is a unique national park. It not only has tall trees, giant rocks, desert plains, but also gold mining relics and other landscapes. There are also various rocks of strange shapes and many desert birds in the park. The night sky in this area is also very dark, so it is also a paradise for rock climbing and astronomy enthusiasts.

You don't need to worry about getting lost here, as nearly every trail has signs reminding you of your current location and the exact distance to the next stop. As long as you follow the signs in the park, you won't get lost. From magnificent sunrises and sunsets to starry nights, Joshua Tree Park always exudes a unique and mysterious beauty no matter the time of year.

It felt like I was walking in a western movie, with a bit of a wasteland feel. There were a lot of interesting stones, and I saw foxes and rabbits!

I read the guidebook before going and it said it wasn't very interesting, but whether it's interesting or not is up to you. The park is very large, so it's impossible to drive around it. If you drive to your destination, go to the information center first. The information center has a map for reference. The park has a set of classic routes, which are perfect for camping and picnics with friends and family in an RV.

Public facilities are very complete, and you can go camping and hiking. Driving is the best choice.

If you have enough time, you can go and see it. Hiking is the best choice. If you just drive, you won’t be able to appreciate the essence.

As we approached Joshua Tree National Park, the dry, scorching heat of the day hit us... We gradually spotted Joshua trees, a type of vegetation that resembles a cactus but is distinct from it. The park charges a per-car fee of $20 for seven days, and a map is provided. The best way to explore all 12 scenic features is to enter through the west gate and exit from the south. However, most of the scenic spots require hiking, ranging in length and duration, depending on your physical fitness. There's no cell phone signal throughout Joshua Tree National Park, so to reach each attraction, I had to rely on the in-car navigation system, carefully observing the road signs. Google Maps completely failed.

Joshua Tree was the last national park on our US trip, and we didn't have high expectations. It was already afternoon when we arrived in Joshua. We drove into the national park and all the way to the top of the mountain, where we had a great view. I heard that Mexico is on the other side of the mountain. I spent a lot of time taking photos at the top of the mountain and watching the sunset. It far exceeded my expectations.

A car costs $25. If you are not a hiking enthusiast, I am afraid you will be disappointed. I was extremely disappointed when I first entered the park. There was nothing bare, only a few lonely trees standing pitifully in the park. Occasionally, a small wild leopard, rabbit, or marmot would whiz by in the wild mountains and ridges.

As someone with no sports experience in China, whose only experience was karaoke and a few bar nights, accepting a barren wilderness and meaninglessly wandering along a path was incredibly difficult. But I did it. The park offers a variety of trails, short, medium, and long. Since the children were still young and I was new to it, my husband chose the shortest and easiest route. We walked and walked, and several times I felt like losing my temper. What was the point of walking in the middle of nowhere? Now I understand: the meaning lies in experiencing different perspectives of life as a family, and the memories become richer. Along the way, we climbed various large rocks, which was an unexpected surprise of this trip.

Not far from Palm Springs, it's very big and you need to drive to see it. You can camp. The Joshua trees are very unique.

It's definitely worthy of being called a national park. The entire route is paved and there are many stops along the way for hiking or camping. Even driving all the way around it takes four or five hours. Be careful with sun protection and thirst prevention, bring plenty of water, and fill up your tank as there are no gas stations in the area.

Its unique landscapes and diverse species create a feeling of being transported to another world. Joshua Tree National Park, nestled in a desert landscape, appears somewhat desolate, with only massive rock faces and Joshua trees (ignoring other small grasses and flowers). While the vegetation (trees and grasses) isn't particularly lush, it still offers its own unique charm.

If you don’t come here, you may believe that the extreme desolation can actually shock you so much!

As we approached Joshua Tree National Park, the scenery along the highway grew increasingly desolate. Greenery diminished, and desert became increasingly barren. Tall trees gradually vanished from view, replaced by various forms of desert plants—hard branches, tough leaves—stubborn and unyielding.

A short distance further, the roadside cacti began to grow more numerous. At first, there were only a few, but then they grew in number, rising higher and higher—we had arrived at the Cactus Garden. The cacti here were not only numerous but also enormous, with some standing more than two people tall. We then reached Keys View Point, the highest point in the park. From here, we could overlook the entire Joshua Tree National Park. On one side lay the boundless, desolate desert. On the other, we could see snow-capped mountains in the distance and hawks circling for ages. We gazed for a long time, letting the wind whistle past our ears. It turns out that even the most desolate of desolations can be beautiful. In this boundless desert, tenacious life thrives. From flowers the size of green beans to cacti two or three people tall, and even Joshua trees towering over ten meters. After driving over a hundred kilometers here, I became increasingly convinced that there is no distinction between noble and humble life. For too long, we have been conditioned to judge whether life is beneficial or harmful based on its usefulness to humans. Here, every life is a tribute to nature. Perhaps every life deserves our awe—because every life is a masterpiece!

Another striking feature of the park is its diverse rock formations. For example, the massive rock formation at Rock Arch resembles a massive natural arch; nearby, a massive rounded rock seems poised to roll towards you at any moment; and Face Rock resembles a human face. Climbing up and looking out from afar, the view feels like something from another planet. Intersection Rock is a paradise for rock climbers. The last few photos were taken nearby. Each rock formation is like a small mountain!

It's a shame we only had one day here. Hidden Valley Campground and other campgrounds are perfect for stargazing. Many areas offer recommended hikes, ranging from 30 minutes to several hours, with varying levels of intensity. The visitor center offers free maps and other resources. If interested, you can also contact the visitor center to visit the indigenous people on the reservation. I highly recommend planning a day camping in this park for outdoor enthusiasts; it's sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Traveling from Palm Springs through Joshua National Park, you'll pass through a massive basin. It's truly spectacular, like a grain of sand darting from the edge of a giant bowl straight down to the bottom. If you go there in the evening, you'll also see magnificent sunsets, a truly spectacular sight.

It's worth a visit, and the one-day itinerary is almost the same. It is recommended to stay in the nearby town of Palm Spring, which is a very beautiful town.

I particularly like this national park, and I fell in love with the Joshua tree at first sight.

A smell of death hahahaha The biggest surprise was seeing a wolf inside! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

It is very hot in the summer, but the unique plants are very shocking.

We spent $80 on a US National Parks ticket, valid year-round, per vehicle. It was a fantastic value. Entering Joshua, we drove along the western route, stopping and wandering along the way. We were thrilled to see the short-leaved yucca (Joshua tree) in the desert, taking countless photos. The sun was scorching, but the air was dry, without a hint of stuffiness. The shade of the trees and the cracks in the rocks provided incredibly cool spots.

This land covers a large area, so you must drive in if you want to travel.

The park is truly breathtaking once you enter it. Looking around, all you see are two or three other tourists, desert and Joshua trees. Just drive along the established roads and you'll see several viewpoints marked on the map, which you can use to track your progress through the park. My mom and I only hiked part of the way there. We parked by the roadside, and inside was a building ruin. The hike took nearly an hour, and since there's no concrete road leading to the actual desert, we almost lost our way back. But we also got to see so many small sights, like tiny lizards hiding under rocks and incredibly colorful flowers blooming in the desert. We marveled at their tenacity (actually, there's not much else to do here besides soaking up the atmosphere and looking at the trees. Wherever there's a large rock, it's given a name and designated as a vista point). Although we didn't experience the warm California sunshine on this trip to California—the temperature was quite low—it still made our trip to the desert a comfortable one.

This natural garden is filled with creosote bushes, ocotillo trees, and cholla cacti. To the west of the park lies the higher, wetter, and slightly cooler Mojave Desert. Five small palm-fringed oases dot the park, signifying the presence of natural water sources and abundant wildlife. The desert park offers more than just stunning natural scenery; visitors can also visit former settlement ranches, mining sites, and Native American ruins. The desert ecosystem is extremely fragile, so avoid wandering around the park. Instead, follow the designated trails for close observation of the plants and rocks. These trails are interspersed with informative signage explaining the landforms, flora, and desert animals, providing a valuable understanding of the local ecosystem. In this regard, I believe the United States excels. Nearly every attraction offers both educational and entertaining experiences, fostering both knowledge and environmental awareness.

The trees in the desert look like this. It was too hot so I didn't get out of the car to take pictures. Actually, I saw on the park website before coming that you can also ride horses and have picnics in the park, but it was too hot so I drove all the way. But it's rare to feel the atmosphere in the desert.

Joshua Tree National Park is named after the large number of Joshua trees distributed in the park.

The Joshua tree is well-suited to surviving in the desert. It lacks broad leaves and its needle-like structure is ideal for retaining moisture.

After arriving in the United States, I fell in love with the unique national parks. Joshua Tree National Park, while not widely known, was worth the trip simply for the sight of these unique trees. Along the way, there was virtually no vegetation, only these eerie, eerie plants sturdily perched in the desert. Desert travel is naturally far from comfortable, scorching under the scorching sun and arid, and I wouldn't dare leave the car to hike without a full bottle of water. But the contrast between the stark blue sky, the green Joshua trees, and the dry desert rock was truly moving. Perhaps this is nature itself. Extreme sports enthusiasts also climb the smooth rock face with their bare hands. Standing atop the rock, you must feel a sense of pride in having triumphed over nature!

Actually, there's not much to see in this national park, just desert and some strange trees. However, it attracts many rock climbers every year. It didn't really matter to us, but since we were there, we decided to take a look. Or maybe just take a stroll. There must be a reason for the "national park" designation, though I haven't really researched it. Since we were here, we couldn't leave without making some notes, so we drove to another exit and looked for the entrance stone marker found in every national park.

Navigating national parks is easy if you haven't done much research beforehand. Upon arrival, find the visitor center, grab a map, and ask the staff for a guide and suggestions. Clear signs throughout the park indicate the next stop, so you won't get lost. I was well prepared and had already planned my route in advance, especially in case of unexpected events like a visitor center closure. The vast expanse of giant cacti here is truly a magical landscape!

While this park lacks the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, the elegance of Zion, or the majesty of Bryce Canyon—it's flat and unremarkable—the endless expanse of desert, dotted with the magical Joshua trees, imbues the park with a vibrant contrast between desolation and life. We drove silently for the 40-plus miles from the south gate to the west gate, pausing occasionally beside the jagged rocks and unusual trees, quietly savoring the beauty of the desert at sunset. It's a feeling you can't experience in any other city or park.

As soon as we were about to enter Joshua, we felt a little weird. There were no mountains, only piles of black rocks and withered, low grass... This place really looked like the planet with no signs of life in the movie "Interstellar".

Joshua is a kind of tree that has become twisted and hideous due to the harsh natural environment... This place is said to be the place with the highest concentration of Joshua trees in the world. There are very few tourists here, and only those who like adventure will hike between the sand and Joshua trees.

The park is open only to those who drive themselves; tour groups are not allowed. Admission is $15 per car. We entered through the south gate and exited through the west gate. The park is situated on two separate deserts, encompassing two distinct ecosystems. The eastern section of the park is the Colorado Desert, and the drive provides the best opportunity to experience the magnificent scenery of the American West. For those of us who had just arrived in the United States, it was a visually stunning experience.

The ticket is $15 per car. We entered the park at noon. The temperature was very high and there were few people along the way. The dry desert is a holy place for hiking and rock climbing in the United States.

This natural park is located in the desert, with various plants and strange rocks in the desert as its main landscape.

You can often see RVs parked in the shade of large rocks, with the owners sitting on rattan chairs reading books comfortably.

The California sun is so hot it can kill you, but Yoshua National Park didn't give us any big surprises. It's just average.

I haven't seen so many clouds in the country for a long time~~The sky here is as blue as it can be~~~

The closer you get to the park, the more different the landscape becomes. It feels desolate, yet shocking. No wonder people say that if you don't go to the United States, you haven't really traveled abroad.

In front of nature, human beings are so insignificant.

This is probably what it means to see all the mountains from a distance.

What were your thoughts on this trip to Joshua Tree National Park? Honestly, the dryness and heat were my biggest impression. Perhaps I went at the wrong time. --How was the scenery? Besides a large field of Joshua trees, there were piles of small, shaped rocks. A bit unusual, but nothing spectacular. For a place with the "National Park" moniker, it's a far cry from Yosemite National Park, which I visited previously. --Is it worth the trip? If your schedule isn't tight and it's on your way, it's definitely worth a visit. After all, seeing is believing.

We arrived at the park at around 2 p.m., when the weather was at its hottest. Joshua trees, the only trees that can survive in the desert, covered the mountains.

Besides the Joshua tree, which stands as a "star" in the park, there is also this "strange uncle tree" that grows in the shape of an inverted triangle... From a distance, its shape looks very unique, so it attracted me to stop and take a photo; but when I got closer, I could see clearly that the branches were densely covered with thick thorns like large needles used to make shoe soles!

It seems that none of the plants in this national park are easy to mess with.

In Joshua Tree National Park, besides the famous Joshua trees, the second most famous thing is the various strange rocks and boulders from the Ice Age. I looked at these boulders left over from the Ice Age, which were piled up so casually by nature. I thought to myself, for God, this is probably as simple as blowing away the dust on the table!

After that, we headed south and then west, visiting Jumbo Rocks (a huge natural stone formation. It is easy to climb to the top along the cracks in the rocks. There are often some small lizards on the rocks, which are very agile).

Keys View (as the name suggests, it is a commanding height from which you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire southwestern part of the park. I heard that when the weather is good, you can even see Mexico at a glance. The weather is very good today, but which part is considered Mexico?) Barker Dam (a circular hiking route. At the far end is an abandoned dam, a well and Native American carvings. There are many desert plants and cute little gerbils along the way. All hikers are very friendly and keep greeting each other along the way, so you don’t feel lonely even though there are few people).

The wind here can blow you away in the winter, and the heat can kill you in the summer. It's about 2.5 hours east of downtown Los Angeles. It's a desert park, completely devoid of any large trees.

Joshua Tree National Park is covered in Joshua trees. Other small, cactus-like plants also exist. We originally planned to spend three hours in the park, but after 30 minutes, we gave up and decided to just climb some rocks out of boredom.

Joshua Tree National Park: This is a desert with cactus-like Joshua trees growing here. You can choose not to go there.

Joshua Tree National Park lies three to four hours southeast of Los Angeles. Perhaps the least popular of California's eight national parks, it lacks the stunning scenery of Yosemite or the magnificent volcanic landscapes of Lassen. Death Valley, also a desert region, is also notable for being the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Perhaps Joshua Tree National Park's most notable feature is the Joshua Tree.

This national park is best known for its Joshua Tree, a desert plant, and its many bizarrely shaped rocks. Upon entering the park, all you see is the barren mountains and Gobi Desert. No signs of human habitation, a vast expanse of desolate ground.

Joshua Tree National Park is named for the Joshua trees that grow in the desert. The vast wilderness is practically uninhabited. Fortunately, we drove during the day, so traffic was scarce. If we had crossed at night, we'd have worried about where the end lay. We felt we were nearing the reserve because we saw these peculiar trees along the way. Their thick, stick-like branches, with gladiolus-like leaves only at their tips, stood out against the scorching sun, standing out gracefully among the low, spherical desert vegetation. We were even more impressed by their vitality; they were as rare a plant as the panda, a remnant from ancient times.

The entrance fee here is still $15 per car, valid for seven days. Compared to Jiuzhaigou, where you have to buy a second entrance fee of 220 RMB per person and a 90 RMB electric car ticket, isn't it quite cheap and user-friendly? You can often see people rock climbing in the park, but we're not that skilled, so we opted for a less challenging and shorter hiking route. The desolate route truly felt like exploring the desert.

The journey from the outlet mall to Joshua Tree National Park took about four hours. Along the way, we saw a forest of massive windmills. Although my previous company produced these wind turbines, this was my first time seeing one in person, and they were many times larger than I'd imagined. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry to catch the sunset in the park, so we didn't stop to take photos. Each Joshua Tree tree has a unique appearance, juxtaposed against the desert and rock formations, creating a desolate scene. Besides the trees, Joshua Tree National Park is filled with countless weathered boulders of various shapes, stacked together in bizarre formations. Many of these massive rocks have gradually weathered and collapsed in the dry environment, the tallest ranging from tens to hundreds of meters high. This is why this is a famous American rock climbing destination. We saw two skinny guys, carrying a pile of equipment I couldn't name, preparing to climb.

In addition to Joshua trees, the park also boasts some of the most intriguing geological displays in the California desert. Five tiny palm-fringed oases dot the park, highlighting the abundance of natural water sources and wildlife. Beyond its natural wonders, the desert park offers visitors the opportunity to explore former settlements, mining sites, and Native American ruins. The most distinctive attraction is Desert Queen Ranch, a historic ranch preserved in its pristine condition. Tours require guided tours from the visitor center. Other notable attractions include Cholla Cactus Garden, Hidden Valley, Keys View, and the 18-mile Geology Tour Road.

We entered through the west gate and exited through the east gate, minimizing detours. We visited most of the tourist spots, except for Hidden Valley. We brought two GPS devices, a Tomtom and a Garmin. I later discovered that GPS is essentially useless once you enter the national park, so you rely on maps. But that day, I couldn't find the location marked on the map. I searched back and forth three times before finally giving up.

Personally, I feel this national park isn't particularly special compared to many other national parks in the West; it's worth visiting. In the park, under the scorching sun, we hiked from the roadside to the water's edge, a 1.5-hour round trip that nearly killed us. The temperature wasn't particularly high that day, only around 32 degrees Celsius.

It's just that I'm allergic to sunscreen, and I was wearing long sleeves and long pants, and the desert geology didn't provide any cover, so it felt even hotter.

A brief research into the arid landscape, the bizarre Joshua Trees, and the renowned rock climbing spots—none of them seemed particularly appealing. Since we were on our way to Phoenix, and the area seemed quite unique, we decided to explore a few of the park's famous attractions. We found a simple, easy-to-access route on the GPS, and after four or five hours of walking under the scorching sun, we finally reached the visitor center on the south side of the park. Upon entering, we were stunned to discover that the park's most iconic attractions were all located in the north, with virtually nothing to see to the south. Since we needed to arrive in Phoenix by dinner that day, time didn't allow us to detour north to enter the park. While we hadn't had high expectations, the situation was still a bit disheartening. We had no choice but to wander around briefly, taking in the desert scenery, and then continue on our way!