Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• Joshua Tree National Park (Pass by)

  Explore Joshua Tree National Park on a self-guided driving tour through its two distinct desert ecosystems. GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you drive, with stops at scenic overlooks, rock formations, historic sites, and optional hiking trails along the way.

  Admission ticket free
• 1
  Quail Springs Trail

  Quail Springs is a trailhead and picnic area. It's a great place to get out and walk around, explore some boulders, and take some pictures. An optional hike can take you to a nearby homestead site with rock carvings.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Hidden Valley

  The Hidden Valley Trail is a relatively easy one-mile loop that circles a secluded valley surrounded by towering rock formations. It’s a particularly scenic hike, especially given how short and level it is.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Barker Dam Trail

  Take a short loop hike to a natural tank that was artificially fortified by ranchers in the early 1900’s to collect rain and runoff for livestock. On the way back, keep your eyes out for some petroglyphs and rock art.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• Wall Street Mill (Pass by)

  Optional hike from the Barker Dam area to visit the Wall Street Mill, which processed ore that was extracted from nearby mines. Also along the way are the Wonderland Ranch homestead ruins.

  Admission ticket free
• 4
  Keys View

  Stop at this scenic overlook that provides a sweeping panorama of the Coachella Valley. On a clear day, you can see for miles, from the Salton Sea to the south, to Mount San Jacinto which towers above Palm Springs at an elevation of 10,830 feet.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Ryan Ranch Homestead Site (Pass by)

  Take a short hike (optional) to this old homestead site of a wealthy rancher turned mine operator.

  Admission ticket free
• 5
  Hall of Horrors

  Get out and explore a mini slot canyon tucked into the boulders!

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Ryan Mountain (Pass by)

  Optional but challenging hike to the top of Ryan Mountain. Because of its central location within the park, the views from the top can be stunning.

  Admission ticket free
• 6
  Skull Rock

  Located right along the road, Skull Rock is a natural rock formation and popular photo spot.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Split Rock (Pass by)

  Another optional loop hike that gets a little less traffic than some of the other sites in the park.

  Admission ticket free
• Arch Rock Nature Trail (Pass by)

  Relatively easy and popular hike that lets you visit 2 natural rock formations on one hike, Arch Rock and Heart Rock.

  Admission ticket free
• 7
  Cholla Cactus Garden

  Get a taste of Joshua Tree's lower desert ecosystem, the Colorado Desert. You'll be surrounded by fuzzy-looking Teddy Bear Cholla, but you don't want to touch them!

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Boy Scout Trail (Pass by)

  Boy Scout Trail provides hiking access to Indian Cove as well as Willow Hole, which is an oasis tucked into the Wonderland of Rocks area. The rock formations and unique landscape can make this a mesmerizing place to hike, especially at the right time of day.

  Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Works entirely offline once downloaded—no cell service required
• GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you approach featured locations
• Start from either the West or North park entrance and follow the route shown in the app

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