Joshua Tree National Park in Winter
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The combination of cooler temperatures and clear skies make for perfect conditions during a visit to Joshua Tree National Park in Winter and it is one of the most popular times in the park.
Having recently visited Joshua Tree National Park in Winter we wanted to share our experience and our tips for visiting Joshua Tree in Winter.
Joshua Tree on our most recent December visit
Where to Stay in Joshua Tree in Winter
There are lots of accommodation options in Joshua Tree, ranging from basic hotels to luxurious Airbnb’s. We recommend staying in TwentyNine Palms. It is right beside the quieter North entrance to Joshua Tree National Park and is within easy reach of many of the main sights in the park.
- M&L Desert Cottage AirBnb: the perfect desert escape just 5 minutes from the north entrance. The bright and airy interior is super stylish and there are twin hammocks outdoors for watching the magical Joshua Tree sunset – check prices now!
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Twentynine Palms – clean and comfortable motel well located for exploring the park. The hotel has a small pool and there is a grocery store just across the road for supplies – check prices now!
- Camping in Joshua Tree: there are 9 campgrounds with a total of 500 campsites located within Joshua Tree National Park. Most are advance reservation during the winter months with 3 of the smaller campgrounds (Belle, Hidden Valley and White Tank) remaining first come, first served.
Click here for the best Joshua Tree AirBnBs!
Joshua Tree National Park Winter Weather
Winters tend to be cool and pleasant in Joshua Tree National Park. Many choose to visit the park during these months to avoid the stifling summer temperatures – during July and August temperatures in Joshua Tree can reach 100°F.
- Temperatures: On average, daytime temperatures tend to reach between 60°F and 70°F from December through February. Winter temperatures drop significantly at night, with an average low temperature of around 37°F during the same period.
- Rain: rain is relatively infrequent during the winter months with one or two days of rainfall.
- Snow: although rare, snow is not unheard of in the winter months.
Joshua Tree National Park Winter tip: having spent most of our winters between Ireland and New York, we loved the winter weather in Joshua Tree. Our days were warm and sunny but it was cool, even cold, in the mornings and evenings. Make sure to bring layers to wrap up when the temperature drops.
Joshua Tree under a layer from fresh snow
Getting to Joshua Tree in Winter
Joshua Tree is one of the best National Parks near Las Vegas to visit in winter and it is a 3 hour drive from the city. Many visitors also arrive from LA (3 hour drive), Palm Springs (45 minute drive) or the town of Joshua Tree (10 minute drive).
The park covers 800,000 acres and, in the absence of any public transport, driving is the only real option for navigating the park. We drove through Joshua Tree in our rental car (we recommend usingRentalCars.com to reserve your car. They have the best selection and prices that we’ve found –click here to book now!) but, if driving is not an option, there are some guided tours which depart from Palm Springs.
Most of the hikes are located off one of the park’s three main roads which connect the three entrances to Joshua Tree. You will find yourself driving on Park Boulevard, Pinto Basin Road and Cottonwood Springs Road the majority of the time you are in Joshua Tree National Park.
There are parking lots with limited spaces at most of the major sights in Joshua Tree National Park. When a car park is full you have to wait for a space or move on to the next thing on your list. We found that most parking lots had spaces early in the morning and some in the middle of the afternoon. Late morning and late evening seemed to be the busiest times in terms of parking.
With the winter weather reaming pleasant there are no issues with driving in Joshua Tree in winter.
Our rental car in Joshua Tree National Park
National Parks Pass America The Beautiful
If you’re planning to visit a couple of the US National Parks we highly recommend purchasing an America The Beautiful pass. The pass grants you access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites across the US, including all the National Parks. We purchased a pass before we began our trip across the US and it’s one of the best value tickets out there!
Buy your National Parks pass now!
America The Beautiful National Parks Pass is a fantastic deal
Joshua Tree National Park Trails in Winter
Due to the moderate weather conditions it is rare to have seasonal trail closures in Joshua Tree. Our favorite things to do in Joshua Tree National Park in Winter include:
- Check out the Rock Formations: Arch Rock, Skull Rock and Heart Rock
Skull Rock
- Explore the old mining trails: Desert Queen Mine, Wall Street Mill and Lost Horse Mine
- Visit: Cholla Cactus Garden
Cholla Cactus Garden
- Hike: Barker Dam, Ryan Mountain
- Take a tour: Keys Ranch
- Enjoy the views: Keys View
Sunrise at Keys View is epic
Joshua Tree National Park in Winter: one of the great things about visiting Joshua Tree is the amazing variety of things to do near Joshua Tree National Park. In the towns surrounding Joshua Tree there are quirky and kitsch art installations, a crochet museum and an old Wild West Town.
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum near Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree in Winter tip: there is no/extremely limited cell phone service in Joshua Tree National Park so make sure to plan your hikes before arriving in the park.
Visiting Joshua Tree National Park in Winter
Some things to consider for visiting Joshua Tree National Park in Winter:
Crowds remain high during the winter months
The winter months are among the most popular to visit Joshua Tree and the trails and sights remain busy. Joshua Tree is also a popular bouldering and rock climbing spot and, with winter closures in other national parks, becomes even more so in winter.
Joshua Tree National Park in Winter: Joshua Tree was the opposite experience of our winter Utah National Parks road trip where the parks had lower crowds and quiet trails. Joshua Tree is actually at its quietest from June to September when the extreme summer temperatures make the park a challenging place to explore.
Winter clothing and gear
Despite the moderate temperatures in Joshua Tree you are still going to need to pack some additional gear to stay warm in winter. Pack lots of layered clothing for early morning and late afternoon adventures.
Despite the cooler temperatures, make sure to always carry water when exploring Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree National Park in winter: we spent long days in the park, arriving before sunset and leaving well after the sun had set. The early mornings were cold, even freezing at times and the temperature dropped noticeably as the evening progressed. On our most recent December visit we found that it only really started to warm up by 10am.
Layering is essential outside of the midday sun
Shorter days
With 10 hours of sunlight there is still time to squeeze plenty of Joshua Tree adventures into a winter day. Joshua Tree is a designated International Dark Sky Park so, even after the sun goes down, it’s worth hanging around to check out the twinkling skies.
Make the most of the shorter days and grab the best parking spots by getting out on the trails as early as possible.
The night skies in Joshua Tree are spectacular
Photography
Winter is a lovely time of the year for photography in Joshua Tree National Park. The soft morning and evening light is spectacular and we’ve caught some amazing sunrises and sunsets during our winter visits.
Joshua Tree National Park: Keys View is one of our favorite spots for both sunrise and sunset.
Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park is breathtaking
Wildlife
LIke most national parks there’s lots of wildlife in Joshua Tree and the park is home to some venomous animals, namely rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders. Apparently, they make less frequent appearances in winter but we still wouldn’t stick our hand under a boulder without checking first!
While driving take care for the desert tortoise which can cross the roads occasionally and many are killed by speeding cars.
What to Pack for Joshua Tree National Park in Winter
- Hiking boots: If you’re planning to hike in Joshua, then we highly recommend a good quality pair of hiking boots. The trails can be rugged in place and with all the rocks it’s worth having a quality pair of boots to avoid any slips or falls. We purchased ours in REI – check prices now!
- Water: No matter what length of hike you’re planning in Joshua Tree Natioal Park make to take enough water. The exposed nature of the park and the temperatures (even in winter) means it is very easy to get dehydrated. We use ourCamelbakfor all our longer hikes and it works great – check prices now!
- Hiking poles: If you’re planning longer hikes (especially with gear) you should consider hiking poles – check prices now!
- Sunscreen and sunglasses: the sun is still strong in winter so sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended
- Sun protection: you will still need sunscreen, water and sunhats for when the temperatures start to rise later in the morning.
Sunscreen is essential when the temperatures rise
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