Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree Boulder Weekend
Scramble granite all day, watch the sky go purple at night.
Easy
Difficulty
7 mi
Distance
800 ft
Elevation
3.5 h
Drive time
Oct – Apr
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
Joshua Tree Boulder Weekend — 7 mi · Easy
No coordinates for this one yet — open it on Trailforks by name.
Overview
The easiest big-payoff desert weekend from Phoenix: short trails, endless bouldering, and a night sky that makes people quiet.
Permits: Park entry fee. Campsites reservable on recreation.gov Oct–May.
Where to get your permit
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Hidden Valley loop
Barker Dam
Ryan Mountain at sunset
Cholla Cactus Garden at dawn
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Set camp + Hidden Valley
Claim a site early, scramble Hidden Valley, sunset at Keys View.
Day 2
Ryan + Barker Dam
Ryan Mountain in the cool morning, Barker Dam after lunch, bouldering until dark.
Day 3
Cholla garden
Dawn stop in the Pinto Basin, coffee, easy drive home.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 6 items to sort out.
- 3L water per person per day
- Approach shoes
- Warm layer
- Headlamp
- Camp stove
- Sunscreen
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
2 L
Per person, per day
2 L
Heaviest carry
4.4 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
4.4 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- Breakfast: coffee + breakfast burritos
- Lunch: hummus + pita
- Dinner: foil-packet dinners
Weather & conditions
Trail conditions
We don't have a trailhead pinned for this route yet.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.