travel guide: joshua tree
the coffee with maggie guide
One of the things I miss the most about living in Los Angeles is how easy it was to visit Joshua Tree -- just a few hours to one of my favorite National Parks, and such a unique surrounding town. When Mark and I visited in May I got a ton of requests for recommendations, so I finally sat down and rounded things up for you! While I’ve been out to JT a bunch, most of my discovery came with heavy recommendations from friends - especially my friend Annie. Whether you are planning a day trip or to stay for a while, I’ve put together all my favorite spots and most recommended places for hiking, food, coffee and activities to help you plan your next adventure in the desert.
LODGING:
Joshua Tree has a few different parts, including the actual town / surrounding area (Yucca Valley, JT, Twenty Nine Palms, etc) as well as the actual National Park area. You’ll want to choose where you stay based on what you’re looking to spend your time doing — we have camped in the park as well as staying in town and loved both.
CAMPING IN THE PARK:
Joshua Tree has a few different parts, including the actual town / surrounding area (Yucca Valley, JT, Twenty Nine Palms, etc) as well as the actual National Park area. There are amazing drive up campgrounds in the park, and reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. I would strongly advise you also plan ahead for when you are planning to visit in terms of weather. July - September can have extreme heat, winter can have extreme cold, and you need to plan ahead!
AIRBNB’S, VRBO’S, Etc.
Outside the National Park in the surrounding area there are a ton of great airbnb’s and other short term rentals, although sometimes you have to look hard to find ones that aren’t super expensive / overly trendy. We enjoyed Avalon, on the Yucca Mesa a lot -- definite JT vibes with great outdoor space, and incredible stargazing (but still within our budget for the weekend) We picked up groceries for the weekend at the Vons in town for breakfast and lunches to make use of the full kitchen.
FOOD, ETC.
There is so much good food in JT! I was extra surprised and delighted by just how many healthy / veggie friendly options there were at pretty much every spot we’ve been. This is just a list of spots we love— you really can’t go wrong at any of them.
Joshua Tree Coffee Company: my personal favorite coffee in JT. I like the nitro cold brew and always grab an extra bag of the Ethopian coffee beans.
Natural Sisters Cafe: really incredible healthy food - great vegan / veggie friendly options, delicious smoothies and juices, breakfast sandwiches etc. it can get pretty crowded at breakfast and lunch so be ready to wait or order ahead.
The Dez Fine Foods: a cute little grab and go spot with pre-made picnic ready food (and tons of healthy options), coffee and baked goods. We got some of the sandwiches and salads for lunch in the park, and don’t sleep on the flat whites and homemade vanilla date bites.
Date Shakes: Stop at Hadley Fruit Orchards (It’s a combination grocery store with a cafe in it) on the way back to LA from JT / Palm Springs. Date Shakes are delicious - sweet and creamy and perfect for enjoying when you inevitably get stuck in traffic. I loved their new vegan offering, which has a coconut almond base. Hadley’s can close early, so if you need a back up check out Windmill Market & Produce in Palm Springs.
Crossroads Cafe: On the main street in JT, definitely make sure you try the homemade chocolate chip cookies! Recommendation from my personal cookie connoisseur, Annie, she says they are the best cookies EVER -- have chocolate chip, coconut, and maybe macadamia? Tons of stuff but *so* good.
Country kitchen: is an amazing spot on the main street with classic American diner food. Amazing for a big breakfast, we’ve been a few times after morning hikes.
Copine: Seasonal + Local American food on the Yucca Mesa. I haven’t been but have heard nothing but rave reviews. They have limited hours/ days of the week , so plan ahead and make a reservation. Last time I checked their site they were doing dine in, take out and a “cook at home” option for meal kits which looked fun too!
HIKES & NATURE
Joshua Tree National Park is one of my all time favorite places for hiking and exploring nature -- it is so unlike anywhere else I have ever been, with something for everyone. Some hikes I love:
49 Palms Oasis: one of my favorite hikes, contains some of the best of the entire park: huge boulders, good views, amazing cacti and a beautiful oasis at the end. There is some pretty crazy wildlife (lizards, etc) if you are there on a quieter day!.
Hidden Valley Loop: a really pretty and easy warm up for the day. Busy sometimes but cool terrain.
Jumbo Rocks / Skull rock: exactly what it sounds like -- big rocks! Right off the main park road, the area can be a quick visit to look around after a longer hike, or a few hours of climbing around and exploring. The rocks can be sharp, so be careful!
Arch rock, at White Tank campground. Not a big hike but it’s a beautiful spot! Reminds me a lot of Zion or Bryce Canyon. There can sometimes be a line / crowds so I’d recommend avoiding peak hours.
Ryan Mountain: A mid-length hike with great views (we did this hike on our last visit!). There is no shade, so be sure to bring enough water / don’t go during peak afternoon to avoid heat.
Cholla Cactus Garden: a personal favorite! Located near the North entrance to the park. Lots of wild plants to see, and a pretty different environment from the rest of the park (more actual cacti and less scrubby type plants).
A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:
The National Park has three entrances: Main Entrance (near downtown JT), the Twentynine Palms entrance (to the west) and the South entrance. I personally like the Twentynine Palms entrance best, regardless of what hike we’re doing -- it’s usually a shorter wait time, and the drive isn’t substantially longer to the hikes in the middle sections.
The entire park requires a per-vehicle fee to enter each day, unless you have a National Parks Pass.
Always plan ahead and bring plenty of water, stay on the trail, and be safe in the heat.
Watch out for the plants! The cactus along most trails are no joke (I once spent 30 minutes pulling spines out of my calf after I walked into some of them on the 49 Palms Oasis hike! Be careful!!). if you think you’ll be going off trail at all, consider wearing high socks just to be safe!
Like most national parks, you can’t bring dogs on most trails. If you’re planning on bringing a pup, make sure you double check where you’re planning to hike. (And of course — don’t let your dogs overheat / burn their paws on hot asphalt!)
OTHER ACTIVITIES (ARTS, CULTURE, EXPLORATION, ETC):
Full disclosure, I haven’t done all of these (a handful so far!) , but many of these recommendations came from my BFF and JT explorer extraordinaire Annie so I can share them with you in absolute confidence.
Sky Village Outdoor Market: A local swap meet (kind of like a big flea market!) that’s really fun. There’s also miniature crystal cave nearby that’s fabulous.: The crystal cave was made by a man named Bob. In the past, Bob had to invite you in (and he doesn’t invite any old tourist) but he passed away in early 2019. I’m not sure how it works now but if you’re able to kindly ask your way in there, the little bit of magic and desert quirk is worth it. Here’s a link!
Pioneertown: Used to be an old western film set that’s still up and it’s also a neighborhood where folks live. You can walk around the old set and even stay there!. They turned the saloon into Pappy & Harriet’s, which Annie says is the best bar around for live music (The house band is incredible but during awards and festival season they get HUGE acts coming to play scheduled) and they have pretty good food!
Integratron: a “resonant structure” that is described online as "the fusion of art, science and magic”. There are public and private sound baths, meant to promote relaxation, rejuvenation and healing.
Art Queen: An amazing hideaway in downtown JT. Attractions include the world’s smallest crochet museum, and places to shop original art, vintage and upcycled pieces. All of the art is made by one incredible artist, Shari Elf. Bring cash because if she isn't around, you can still buy the artwork by calling her and leaving $ under a rock :) pretty sure you can Venmo her too !
Salton Sea: A barren man-made sea. Kind of cool and spooky to see, lots of dead, salt cured fish and bones.
Slab City / Art Commune: A lot of folks live here out of a desire to be pretty remote, so visiting the area can be a little tricky to navigate (in other words: it’s important to respect their privacy!) , but some of the art is very cool to see.
Salvation Mountain: a very large fairly famous outdoor art sculpture / man-made mountain. It’s covered in something like 100,000 gallons of paint.
East Jesus: an eco-themed desert art installation. .
Cabazon Dinosaurs; big cement dinosaurs right by the highway!
Cabazon Dinosaurs: Big, kitschy cement dinosaurs right by the highway. Pretty close by to the outlet malls if you’re looking to shop.
Okay! I think that’s it for my recommendations! Did i miss any of your favorites?? Let me know, and enjoy your travels!
While I am sharing my personal experiences in Joshua Tree, it is your responsibility to evaluate your own outdoor knowledge and abilities, as well as your medical and physical conditions, and independently determine an appropriate level of intensity for your own outdoors experience. When visiting public lands please follow Leave No Trace Principles. Respect and preserve the parks by packing out your trash, staying on marked trails, following proper safety guidelines, and being responsible with fire. Finally, educate yourself on the history and native peoples of the land you are enjoying, and what you can do to support their use of the land today.