Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, California

Right where the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge lays Joshua Tree National Park. A place of unmistakable beauty and haunting peacefulness, this protected area provides a getaway for nearby residents and a haven for visitors. Located off of Highway 62 from the 10 Freeway, and approximately 140 miles from downtown Los Angeles, this National Park has three entrances and visitor centers that beckon traveling visitors on their way in. These centers include Oasis Visitor Center, Cottonwood Visitor Center, and the Joshua Tree Visitor Center being the main entrance station. Park Entrance fee is $15, but is valid for 7 days, so if you choose to camp inside the park or lodge nearby, then you will only need to pay once during the remainder of your stay that week. There are many sites to see here, including: Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Lost Horse Mine, Ryan Mountain, Keys Ranch, Geology Tour Road, Indian Cove, Cholla Cactus Garden, Cottonwood Spring, and the Oasis of Mara are the most popular.

Hidden Valley used to be a legendary cattle rustler hideout, and a one mile trail offers scenic views of the many massive boulders that inhabit the park. Barker Dam was built around the turn of the century and was used for cattle water and mining use. There is also a one mile loop trail allowing park visitors to catch a glimpse of this historic site. Lost Horse Mine sports a four mile round trip trail that allows hikers to view the once used gold mine site. Ryan Mountain offers a moderately strenuous 3 mile round trip trail to its 5,458 summit with lookout points of the neighboring valleys. Keys Ranch was once owned by homesteaders Bill and Frances Keys. A ranger-guided walking tour in this area is available at set times. The Geology Tour Road is an 18 mile driving tour that leads you through geological sites. 4-wheel drive is recommended. Indian Cove is a campground area that is home to many comet and meteor shower viewings. Cholla Cactus Garden offers an insight to visitors to the "jumping" Cholla which tends to stick to those nearby. Cottonwood Spring was used by Cahuilla Indians for many centuries. Miners and other prospectors later inhabited the area. The Oasis of Mara was first settled by Native Americans, then gold mining prospectors, then homesteaders, and now houses the park's headquarters.

What Joshua Tree National Park is most famous for is for its rock climbing opportunities. Special rocks or cliffs are designated for climbing and even those who are not "frequent" or more "professional" rock climbers can take to "bouldering" where they can tackle smaller boulders which can be also fun and challenging.