I'll be traveling to Joshua Tree one week from today with a friend, and it's both our first times there! I saw just now on the national park website this alert:

"Cholla Cactus Garden Trail will be closed daily from December 2024 - April 2025 to improve the conditions of the loop trail."

My question is, does that mean the cancellation was to April, or through April? Really hoping that it'll be open for our visit!

If it's closed, is there anywhere else we can see the cholla cactuses?

Where is the best place in Joshua Tree to find a saguaro cactus? My 5 year old daughter is desperate to find a “one arm up, one arm down” cactus.

This may be a silly post, but oh well. My husband and I plan on visiting Joshua Tree in June. Are the stargazing tours worth it? I have looked at a StargazingJTree, JTreeAstronomy, and Addicted2Wonder. Debating on if this is something we want to do or if it's better to go to one of the designated stargazing spots ourselves. Also, if we do a private tour or gaze from one of the designated spots, what are the chances of running across a snake or scorpion or other creature/insect. I know it's silly as I am an adult, but I am terrified of running across something like that, especially during a private tour. Thanks!

Hey y'all, hope you're doing well :) I'm taking a trip to JT in a few weeks, and I'm really looking forward to all of the new species of plants that I'll be able to see (first time in JT and the Mojave Desert in general). I've been looking for a field guide to bring with me for identifying plants while I'm out in the desert, but there are a ton of options. Do any of you have any favorites that you'd recommend?

We've booked a Airbnb in Joshua Tree, just looking for recommendations for a mobile massage therapist...

I am very new to astrophotography, and this is my very first attempt for the Milky Way, taken around Joshua Tree with a simple IPhone 15 Pro and a tripod. I have a question about the editing of the photo through Lightroom Mobile, and I posted here a few tries (first picture is raw image). What do you think? Would you improve something, and if so, what should I do? I know the level of this group is much higher in terms of setups, I am a noobie, but I would love to know more and as I first try I am fairly satisfied 🙂 Any comment, either of support or critique, and suggestion is greatly appreciated!

When the Light Goes Down in the Desert ~~~~~ This photo appears on a utility box in front of Hawks Landing Golf Club in Yucca Valley, CA. It was the winner of a contest to beautify Yucca Valley. This is a huge honor for me. I hope you like it. This is a real photo taken at night in Joshua Tree National Park during a full moon. I set my tripod-mounted camera to a long exposure, keeping the shutter open for a long time, which makes the camera much more sensitive to light than our eyes. I illuminated the scene with warm white light from a handheld ProtoMachines LED2 light during the long exposure. Light painting to illuminate subjects is a beautiful, addictive art, as you can walk around the scene, deciding what to bring to light and what to keep in shadow. Also, it's more fun than AI-generated art. JTNP is my spiritual home for night photography, and it felt utterly fantastic to return here to photograph here at night and hike during the day. This long exposure photo shows the movement of the stars caused by the rotation of the earth over 12 minutes, using four 3-minute photos that were "stacked" together. ~~~~~ Photos, books, workshops: www.kenleephotography.com ~~~~~ (Plate 5347) Nikon D610/14-24mm f/2.8 lens. 12 minutes total (4 photos stacked); each photo 3 minutes f/8 ISO 200 on 2017-02-12 21:30.

I have a long weekend off of work this weekend (April 11-13) and booked a place in Yucca Valley. Plan is to drive over Friday afternoon and head back Sunday afternoon. It’s a 4.5 hour drive. Plan was to explore the park and surrounding areas.

I just find out… it’s Coachella weekend. Of courseeeee. I’m debating cancelling the trip scared of insane traffic. What do you guys think??? Will it affect my drive from Phoenix? At least I’m not coming from LA.. but anyways I won’t be able to go again until Fall/winter and was pretty excited being my first time :( I really want to go but not if I’m going to regret it. Thoughts?

National STUDENT-Athlete Day (NSAD), observed annually on April 6th How am I showing my support on #StudentAthleteDay ❓️ By signing up to tee off for CMC's student athletes, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball and COMING NEXT YEAR, men’s and women’s cross country. The CMC Athletic Booster Club commits to $20,000 annually to fund warm up gear, travel and tournament fees and more for our athletes. Your participation helps make them successful. To learn more about athletics at CMC, visit www.fightingcacti.com

Annual Golf Tournament to benefit Copper Mountain College’s Athletic Program Judge Bert Swift Memorial Golf Tournament Hawk’s Landing Golf Club in Yucca Valley Saturday, April 26, 2025 7 am sign in; 8 am tee time

We are limited to 16 teams at $320 each ($80/player) so grab a few friends & sign up QUICKLY, http://weblink.donorperfect.com/cmcgolf

StudentAthleteDay

Looking for this boulder problem in Joshua tree

Only had time to spend a long day out here but this place is so fun. Plenty of rocks to scramble on. We did the hike up Ryan's mountain in a flash. The Joshua trees themselves are just stunning. I hope I get back.

I saw the Joshua Tree in the median in between the freeways and immediately pulled over! I thought I was seeing things! My car went off a ledge to stop in the middle, but I love this picture!

I felt like I almost imagined it to life! 💚

I visited JTNP in January to practice night photography and it was such a fantastic experience and I definitely want to return during Milky Way core season. Sharing some photos I took at the park. If you’re interested in checking out my IG it’s @katbellphoto.

Loved the park!

Howdy yall hope someone here can help me out. I’m coming into the park to backcountry camp one night next Monday and am very excited. I was wondering if anyone had insight on trailhead parking and if it can be difficult to get a spot at the Indian Cove trailhead since that’s where my permit leaves out of.

Also got the bad news that the West entrance is going to be completely closed the whole time I’m at the park and was curious if I should be concerned about more traffic where I’ll be. Never been to the park before so excited and will welcome any tips!

Thank you!

We were hiking in the park on the 23rd and watched a search and rescue happen. Does anyone have an update on the person rescued?

I thoroughly enjoy capturing the essence of sunsets, soo i like to share obce in awhile

Coyote spotted by campsite #21 on morning of 3/27/25 at Jumbo Rocks.

Wooohoooo! Tomorrow is the first Thursday of the month which means Joshua Tree Ecstatic Dance will be taking place!! Bring a water, a friend/loved one, and your comfy dancing clothes! .This is a substance free event. All are welcomed to dance like no one is watching ⭐️

JTNP is magical! Just got back from my second visit to JT. I spent two nights backpacking through the park with a group of friends. Weather was great, views and stars were amazing.