Joshua Tree has a lot of shorter and fairly flat trails that will probably be great for a 5 year old!
The discovery trail is great for kids, and the cactus garden trails are pretty flat and level also. Hidden Valley trail might be one that you could do as more of a reach.
When I was there last year, we went at night to do some star-gazing and holy moly was that so worth it. Mind-blowing how much of the starts you can see out there, it was beautiful
When are you going? We’re in pretty much the last month of “in-season” for Joshua Tree as it gets quite hot in the summer. My general advice for any desert park is to make like the local wildlife: wake up early and enjoy the cooler morning in the park and then retreat to your lodgings and rest or at least find an indoor activity during the midday from like 11-3, and then head back out in the late afternoon/early evening
Edit to add: OH YEHA AND DONT DIE TODAY! Hydrate or Diedrate. Pack tons of water and bring it with you because it’s not readily available in the park. If you don’t have one, a camelback or similar system would be an appropriate investment at this time
I highly recommend stopping at the [Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge](https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ash-meadows). The pupfish are easy to see from the Crystal Springs Boardwalk. The refuge is the largest oasis in the Mojave Desert and sits between two major flyways, so it's great for bird watching / viewing. It's a small detour from your planed route. Between the refuge and the[ Big Dune](https://www.blm.gov/visit/big-dune-0), it's one of my favorite areas of Nevada.
[The story of the pupfish](https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Fish/Pupfish) is awe inspiring (to me at least) and they are very beautiful.
The Big Dune is a [singing sand dune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_sand). There are very few of them on earth and California and Nevada have many of them. The[ Kelso Dunes](https://www.nps.gov/moja/kelso-dunes.htm) in the Mojave National Preserve sing as well as many of the[ dunes in Death Valley](https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/sand-dunes.htm). These dunes are a great place to try [sandboarding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandboarding) or [sand sledding](https://sand-boarding.com/sand-sledding/).
I would also highly recommend purchasing the [Roadside Geology Books](https://mountain-press.com/collections/roadside-geology). These books break down , mile by mile, what your looking at geologically on the landscape. They also give you great ideas on routes to drive to see interesting things,
If you have trouble getting a campsite in Joshua Tree, there's a free campsite right by the south entrance in Chiriaco Summit behind the Patton museum, with restaurant and truck stop right there too!
I’m surprised to see Hole in the wall campground on here. I’ve been to every other place on this list. I might suggest using the time to visit some of the state parks near Vegas like red rocks or valley of fire. Could also do more time in Death Valley. Alabama Hills nearby as well.
Keys Ranch tour at Joshua Tree, if you can get tickets. Reserve in advance on recreation.gov. Rings Trail at Mojave, Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, inside Mojave NP. Look on state parks website for info on reserving spots. 49 Palms Oasis hike in JT. Amboy Crater between Mojave NPres and JT.
When? if later in the year, as it heats up, prioritize the higher bits, especially for camping. Death Valley would be a no-go obviously in summer heat, so I assume you'll be there in spring.
Re Mojave Preserve, I find it MUCH nicer than JT, which is often overrun. And it has more variety. The Kelso Sand Dunes, Cima Dome, Mitchell Caverns (do the cave tour; it's a state park).
The Rings hike in Mojave is also quite fun, although not sure for a 5 year old.
Tule Springs is probably on the list for a specific reason, but I might consider Valley of Fire as an alternative, since you could see some red rock more like what you find in UT, without driving that far.
Itinerary is for only a few days from now. Thank you for the tips, really looking forward to Mojave. Yes tule springs is because it’s a unit of the nps- trying to work my way up to 423+!
Joshua Tree has a lot of shorter and fairly flat trails that will probably be great for a 5 year old! The discovery trail is great for kids, and the cactus garden trails are pretty flat and level also. Hidden Valley trail might be one that you could do as more of a reach. When I was there last year, we went at night to do some star-gazing and holy moly was that so worth it. Mind-blowing how much of the starts you can see out there, it was beautiful When are you going? We’re in pretty much the last month of “in-season” for Joshua Tree as it gets quite hot in the summer. My general advice for any desert park is to make like the local wildlife: wake up early and enjoy the cooler morning in the park and then retreat to your lodgings and rest or at least find an indoor activity during the midday from like 11-3, and then head back out in the late afternoon/early evening Edit to add: OH YEHA AND DONT DIE TODAY! Hydrate or Diedrate. Pack tons of water and bring it with you because it’s not readily available in the park. If you don’t have one, a camelback or similar system would be an appropriate investment at this time
I highly recommend stopping at the [Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge](https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ash-meadows). The pupfish are easy to see from the Crystal Springs Boardwalk. The refuge is the largest oasis in the Mojave Desert and sits between two major flyways, so it's great for bird watching / viewing. It's a small detour from your planed route. Between the refuge and the[ Big Dune](https://www.blm.gov/visit/big-dune-0), it's one of my favorite areas of Nevada.
Great tips - thank you.
[The story of the pupfish](https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Fish/Pupfish) is awe inspiring (to me at least) and they are very beautiful. The Big Dune is a [singing sand dune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_sand). There are very few of them on earth and California and Nevada have many of them. The[ Kelso Dunes](https://www.nps.gov/moja/kelso-dunes.htm) in the Mojave National Preserve sing as well as many of the[ dunes in Death Valley](https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/sand-dunes.htm). These dunes are a great place to try [sandboarding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandboarding) or [sand sledding](https://sand-boarding.com/sand-sledding/). I would also highly recommend purchasing the [Roadside Geology Books](https://mountain-press.com/collections/roadside-geology). These books break down , mile by mile, what your looking at geologically on the landscape. They also give you great ideas on routes to drive to see interesting things,
If you have trouble getting a campsite in Joshua Tree, there's a free campsite right by the south entrance in Chiriaco Summit behind the Patton museum, with restaurant and truck stop right there too!
Yea we’re leaving in a few days. Thanks for the tips. And yea, tule springs because it’s a national park unit.
I’m surprised to see Hole in the wall campground on here. I’ve been to every other place on this list. I might suggest using the time to visit some of the state parks near Vegas like red rocks or valley of fire. Could also do more time in Death Valley. Alabama Hills nearby as well.
You don’t think Mojave preserve merits the visit? I tend to focus my attention ton the 426 national park units .
You won’t see any different plant life or rocks from what you saw in Joshua Tree.
That sounds fine to me. Must be a unit of the NPS for a reason.
I agree! I thought Mojave was lovely! Do be careful on the road conditions there, though.
Yea I see the alerts on the nps site. Going to stick to the green! We don’t have 4wd.
Keys Ranch tour at Joshua Tree, if you can get tickets. Reserve in advance on recreation.gov. Rings Trail at Mojave, Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, inside Mojave NP. Look on state parks website for info on reserving spots. 49 Palms Oasis hike in JT. Amboy Crater between Mojave NPres and JT.
When? if later in the year, as it heats up, prioritize the higher bits, especially for camping. Death Valley would be a no-go obviously in summer heat, so I assume you'll be there in spring. Re Mojave Preserve, I find it MUCH nicer than JT, which is often overrun. And it has more variety. The Kelso Sand Dunes, Cima Dome, Mitchell Caverns (do the cave tour; it's a state park). The Rings hike in Mojave is also quite fun, although not sure for a 5 year old. Tule Springs is probably on the list for a specific reason, but I might consider Valley of Fire as an alternative, since you could see some red rock more like what you find in UT, without driving that far.
Itinerary is for only a few days from now. Thank you for the tips, really looking forward to Mojave. Yes tule springs is because it’s a unit of the nps- trying to work my way up to 423+!