Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Park
Death Valley: Est: 1994 Acres: 3,422,024 2023 Visitation: 1,620,294 Visitation Rank: 8/63
Joshua Tree: Est: 1994 Acres: 794,000 2023 Visitation: 3,270,404 Visitation Rank: 9/63
The desert parks of southern California are the perfect answer to a winter or spring (or fall) trip. If there’s one park that will exceed every preconceived expectation, it’s Death Valley. Its otherworldly landscape of mountains, canyons, volcanic craters, sand dunes and salt pans is home to the hottest, driest and lowest points in North America. And that sky—those sunrises, sunsets and starry nights will stay with you long after the trip is done. Joshua Tree is where the drier, lower elevation Colorado/Sonoran Desert in the east meets the more lush, higher elevation Mohave Desert in the west—and the transition is striking. The giant yucca trees give the park its name.
The nine day itinerary begins in Death Valley, where you’ll explore the salt basin, volcanic craters and sand dunes, and go on hikes up mountain summits and through slot canyons, with action adventure rock scrambles around every bend. The best sunrise and sunset spots are noted for each day. In Joshua Tree, you’ll explore cactus gardens and rock formations on shorter hikes, and enjoy panoramic sunset views each evening. [Death Valley 5 days, Joshua Tree 2 days, Travel 2 days]
Travel tips include airport, lodging and camping information, as well as links to current conditions and travel alerts. The “Short on Time? Don’t Miss” section identifies the three days that are highlights. Trip extensions listed include additional hikes in both parks, as well as some neat places to explore by 4WD.
New: Looking for a shorter introductory overview itinerary? A new 3 day in-park itinerary is now also included in this Guide.
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