Joshua Tree National Park - California

Address:74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, California
Tel: (760) 367-5500

In the high Mojave Desert the peculiar-looking Joshua Tree thrives along with more than 200 different bird species and six different species of rattlesnakes. Joshua Tree National Park also preserves part of the Colorado Desert and five fan palm oases. There are many popular walking tours that lead to stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
The park has earned a reputation as being one of the premier rock climbing sites in the country. If balance and coordination are not your forte, you'll be surprised to realize how entertaining it is to watch others scale the massive granite walls. You can also explore the park on horseback, mountain bike, or the really old-fashioned way - on foot. There are numerous hikes at varying levels of difficulty.

Two deserts, two large ecosystems whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation, come together at Joshua Tree National Park. Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert encompasses the eastern part of the park and features natural gardens of creosote bush, ocotillo, and cholla cactus. The higher, moister, and slightly cooler Mojave Desert is the special habitat of the Joshua tree. In addition to Joshua tree forests, the western part of the park also includes some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California's deserts. Five fan palm oases also dot the park, indicating those few areas where water occurs naturally and wildlife abounds.