Joshua Tree National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joshua Tree National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Cyclops and Pee Wee Formations near Hidden Valley Campground at dawn
Location	Riverside County and San Bernardino County, California, United States
Nearest city	Twentynine Palms
Area	795,156 acres (1,242.4 sq mi; 3,217.9 km2)
Established	August 10, 1936; 89 years ago (1936-08-10) as a national monument October 31, 1994; 31 years ago (1994-10-31) as a national park
Visitors	3,058,294 (in 2022)
Governing body	National Park Service

Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic national park located in sunny southeastern California, USA. It stretches across parts of Riverside County and San Bernardino County. The park gets its name from the amazing Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), a unique plant that grows only in this desert region.

This special park is about 130 miles (211 km) east of Los Angeles. It was first protected as a national monument in 1936. Later, in 1994, it became a full national park thanks to the California Desert Protection Act.

Joshua Tree National Park is huge, covering about 795,156 acres (3,217 km²)! That's even bigger than the state of Rhode Island. Inside the park, you'll find two very different deserts: the higher, cooler Mojave Desert and the lower, warmer Colorado Desert. Each desert has its own special plants and animals, making the park a truly diverse place to explore. The Little San Bernardino Mountains also run along the park's southwestern edge.

Discovering the Park's History

A satellite view of Joshua Tree National Park from 2003

Early People and Explorers

Long, long ago, between 8000 and 4000 BCE, the first known people lived in this area. They were called the Pinto Culture. They hunted and gathered plants, leaving behind stone tools and spear points. Later, other Native American groups like the Serrano, Cahuilla, and Chemehuevi peoples made their homes here. They often lived near water sources, like the Oasis of Mara, which is now in Twentynine Palms. These groups used plants for food, medicine, and making tools like bows and baskets.

The Mojaves also traveled through this land, using its resources as they journeyed between the Colorado River and the Pacific coast. Today, descendants of these Native American groups still live in the region.

The first Europeans to see Joshua trees were a group of Spaniards in 1772. Later, in the 1800s, explorers and fur trappers from Mexico and the United States began to visit the area. After the Mexican–American War (1846–48), California became part of the United States.

Ranchers and Miners

Around 1870, settlers started bringing cattle to graze on the park's tall grasses. Ranchers built wells and special rainwater collection areas called "tanks," like the famous Barker Dam. This dam was first built in 1900 and is now a historic site.

From the 1860s to the 1940s, many miners came looking for valuable minerals. They dug about 300 small mines in the area. The most successful was the Lost Horse Mine, which produced a lot of gold and silver. Another important mine was the Desert Queen Mine on Keys' Desert Queen Ranch. These historic sites show us how people lived and worked in the desert long ago.

Protecting This Special Place

A unique Joshua tree, the park's namesake

A dedicated person named Minerva Hamilton Hoyt worked hard to convince the government to protect this beautiful desert. Because of her efforts, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the area a national monument on August 10, 1936. This protected about 825,000 acres (3,338 km²) of land.

In 1994, the monument was officially made a national park by the Desert Protection Act. This act also added more land to the park, making it even larger. More recently, in 2019, the park grew by another 4,518 acres (1,828 ha). Groups like the Mojave Desert Land Trust have also helped by buying private lands within and near the park to add to its protected areas.

Exploring Desert Landscapes

The Mojave Desert's Unique Features

A Dollarjoint pricklypear cactus near Skull Rock

The higher and cooler part of the park is the Mojave Desert. This is where you'll find most of the famous Joshua trees. They grow in dense groups or spread out across the landscape. The western part of the park also has amazing rock formations. These hills of bare rock, broken into loose boulders, are very popular for rock climbing and scrambling. The Joshua trees and unique rocks create a landscape that feels like another world!

The weather here is best in spring and fall, with warm days and cool nights. Winters are cooler, and sometimes it even snows at higher elevations. Summers are very hot, often over 100 °F (38 °C) during the day.

Besides Joshua trees, you can spot piñon pines, California junipers, and different types of oak trees among the rocks. Sadly, fewer young Joshua trees are surviving today. Scientists predict that much of the park might become too hot for Joshua trees to grow, especially if temperatures keep rising. This is a concern for the park's future.

The Colorado Desert's Wonders

The beautiful Cholla Cactus Garden in 2022

Below 3,000 feet (914 m), you enter the Colorado Desert in the eastern part of the park. This area has different plants like creosote bushes, ocotillo, and various cholla cactuses. Some areas are so full of cholla cacti that they look like natural gardens!

The park is also home to the California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera), the only palm tree native to California. These palms grow in five special oases within the park, where water is naturally available all year. These oases are bustling with wildlife!

Climate and Changes

Joshua Tree National Park has a hot desert climate. This means it's generally very dry and hot. The plant hardiness zone at the Cottonwood Visitor Center is 8b, meaning it rarely gets extremely cold.

The park has become hotter and drier over the years. From 1895 to 2016, the amount of rain dropped by 39%, and the average temperature went up by 3 °F (1.7 °C). These hotter, drier conditions mean more wildfires in the park, which can harm plants and animals.

How the Rocks Were Formed

Giant Marbles

A beautiful view from Quail Springs Picnic Area in 2022

The oldest rocks in the park are about 1.7 billion years old! You can see them in mountains like the Cottonwood and Pinto Mountains. Much later, about 250 to 75 million years ago, hot volcanic material pushed up from deep inside the Earth. This formed the granite rocks that make up the famous Wonderland of Rocks.

Over time, water and wind slowly wore away the softer rocks, leaving behind the harder granite and gneiss. This process created the unique piles of rounded boulders and rock formations you see today. These amazing rock outcrops are called inselbergs.

The park's mountains are part of the Transverse Ranges, which run east to west. Strong forces from the San Andreas Fault system pushed up and shaped these mountains. Even though the San Andreas Fault is southwest of the park, other related faults run right through it, causing earthquakes sometimes.

A panoramic view within the Wonderland of Rocks monzogranite area north of Barker Dam

Fun Activities in the Park

Camping and Hiking Adventures

A campsite at Jumbo Rocks Campground

There are nine official campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park where you can stay overnight. Many hiking trails wind through the park, often connecting to these campgrounds. A long section of the California Riding and Hiking Trail, about 35 miles (56 km), goes through the western part of the park.

One popular spot is Keys View, which offers an amazing lookout point. From here, you can see the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, and even the San Andreas Fault!

Some popular nature walks and longer trails include:

• Hidden Valley
• Fortynine Palms Oasis
• Lost Horse Mine
• Lost Palms Oasis
• Ryan Mountain

Unfortunately, some trails and Native American sites have been closed due to graffiti and damage. Park officials remind everyone to respect these special places.

Rock Climbing Adventures

Climbing the Old Woman Rock

Joshua Tree is a world-famous spot for rock climbing. It has thousands of climbing routes for all skill levels. The rocks are usually not super tall, often less than 230 feet (70 m) high. This means you can do several interesting climbs in one day! The rocks are made of a rough type of granite, which makes for great handholds.

Some climbing routes are closed permanently or temporarily to protect wildlife. It's important to always check with park rangers for current rules and closures.

Stargazing in the Desert

The park offers naturally dark views of the night sky, as seen in this 30-second exposure showing the Milky Way behind a silhouetted Joshua tree (July 2017)

Joshua Tree is an amazing place for amateur astronomy and looking at the stars. Far away from city lights, the park has naturally dark night skies. In 2017, it was even named a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. This means it's one of the best places to see the Milky Way and countless stars!

Park Visitors

Pinto Basin Road at twilight, looking towards the Colorado Desert

More and more people are discovering the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. The number of visitors more than doubled between 2013 and 2019. Many people come to see the beautiful wildflowers that bloom in the spring. In 2022, over 3 million people visited the park!

Amazing Plants and Animals

Wildlife of Joshua Tree

A greater roadrunner

Over 250 types of birds live in or visit the park! You might see desert birds like the greater roadrunner, cactus wren, and Gambel's quail. Many migrating birds also stop here to rest and eat, especially in winter. Look up, and you might spot golden eagles, ravens, or red-tailed hawks soaring overhead.

At night, different kinds of owls come out to hunt small animals. Many bat species also fly around, catching insects and helping to pollinate cactus flowers.

A Desert tortoise at its burrow

Many larger mammals in the park, like bobcats, coyotes, desert bighorn sheep, and mountain lions, prefer to rest during the hottest parts of the day. They are often most active at sunrise and sunset. You might also see black-tailed jackrabbits or kangaroo rats.

The park is home to many reptiles, including several types of rattlesnakes and lizards. The desert tortoise is a special reptile that lives in the lowlands. It gets most of its water from eating plants like the creosote bush and prickly pear cactus. Amphibians, like the California tree frog and red-spotted toad, can be found near water sources, especially after it rains.

Some larger insects and spiders, like the tarantula and giant desert scorpion, also live here. The tiny yucca moth is super important because it helps pollinate the Joshua trees!

Desert Plants and Their Adaptations

Plants and animals in Joshua Tree have amazing ways to survive with little water and hot summer temperatures. Smaller animals and all reptiles hide underground to escape the heat. Many desert mammals use their bodies' water very efficiently. Birds can fly to find water when they need it. The hidden springs and oases in the park are super important for all the animals.

During colder months, many reptiles, amphibians, insects, and small mammals go into a sleepy state called hibernation. Winter is also a great time for birdwatching, as many migratory birds visit the park.

Invasive Species and Their Impact

Some plants that are not native to the park, like cheat grass and red brome, cause problems. They can make wildfires hotter and more destructive, harming native trees and plants. Another invasive plant, fountain grass, competes with native grasses for water and nutrients. Park rangers work to manage these invasive species to protect the park's natural environment.

Wilderness Areas

A large part of Joshua Tree National Park, about 429,690 acres (1,739 km²), is designated as wilderness. This means it's kept as wild and natural as possible. If you want to camp overnight in the wilderness, you need to register at special boards.

When visiting wilderness areas, it's important to follow "Leave No Trace" rules. This means packing out everything you pack in, so you don't leave any trash. Open campfires are not allowed, so you must use a camp stove. While bicycles are not allowed in wilderness areas, horses are, but you need a permit. Cell phone service is often very weak or nonexistent, so don't rely on it for safety.

Panorama of the view south from the Keys View in the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Visible landmarks are the Salton Sea (236 ft (72 m) below sea level) at distant left; towards the center, the Santa Rosa Mountains behind Indio, and the San Jacinto Mountains behind Palm Springs; at distant right is the 11,503 ft (3,506 m) San Gorgonio Mountain; the San Andreas Fault is visible in the valley floor.

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional de Árboles de Josué para niños

• List of national parks of the United States
• California Desert Protection Act of 1994
• Eureka Peak
• Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve
• National parks in California
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Joshua Tree National Park
• Wonderland Ranch Wash