[HEAT] Extreme summer heat
Daytime temperatures often exceed 100 F. Avoid hiking from 10 am to 5 pm. Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day. Rest in shade and eat salty snacks.
FIELD GUIDE / SUMMER 2026
Joshua Tree National Park
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Conditions change. Follow signs and ranger orders.
Current conditions
Daytime temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and you must carry at least one gallon of water per person per day. An annual campfire ban is in effect from June 15 until October 1.
[WATER] No water in the park interior
There are no restaurants, grocery stores, or gas stations in the park. Fill water before you enter. Interior picnic areas and most campgrounds have no drinking water.
[CELL] Do not depend on cell service
Cellular service is very limited and is absent in many areas. Open this guide before you leave town. Do not rely on rideshare to leave the park.
[FIRE] Summer campfire ban
An annual campfire ban is in effect from June 15 until October 1. Check current campground status before you arrive.
[CAMP] Reserve a campsite
Most campgrounds require a reservation on Recreation.gov. Hidden Valley, Belle, and White Tank are first-come, first-served. Belle and White Tank close in summer. Do not sleep in a vehicle outside a designated campsite.
NPS conditions (large page)
Services by place
Major places list all five services. Seasonal services may be closed.
- Joshua Tree Village / West Entrance
Food: Yes Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: Yes Signal: Strong - Twentynine Palms / North Entrance
Food: Yes Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: Yes Signal: Strong - Hidden Valley
Food: No Water: No Toilets: Unknown Fuel: No Signal: Weak - Jumbo Rocks / Skull Rock
Food: No Water: No Toilets: Unknown Fuel: No Signal: Weak - Cottonwood / South Entrance
Food: No Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Limited
Joshua Tree Village / West Entrance ↑
Do this: Buy food, fuel, and all drinking water in the village before you enter. Fill bottles again at the West Entrance station.
- Food: Yes in Joshua Tree Village. Cafe at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. No food inside the park.
- Water: Yes in town. Drinking water at the West Entrance station.
- Toilets: Yes at the village visitor center.
- Fuel: Yes in the village. No fuel in the park.
- Signal: Usually available in the village. Weak or none after the entrance.
The Joshua Tree Visitor Center is at 6554 Park Boulevard. The West Entrance is 5 miles south of Highway 62.
Twentynine Palms / North Entrance ↑
Do this: Use the town visitor center for water, toilets, and current conditions before you drive south into the park.
- Food: Yes in Twentynine Palms.
- Water: Yes at the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, park headquarters, and in town.
- Toilets: Yes. Flush toilets at the visitor center.
- Fuel: Yes in Twentynine Palms. No fuel in the park.
- Signal: Usually available in town. Weak or none inside the park.
The visitor center is at 6533 Freedom Way. The North Entrance is 3 miles south of Highway 62 on Utah Trail. Oasis of Mara is next to the visitor center.
Jumbo Rocks / Skull Rock ↑
Do this: Bring all water. Plan short walks before 10 am in summer.
- Toilets: Pit toilets at the campground.
- Signal: Weak or unavailable.
Skull Rock is on Park Boulevard just east of Jumbo Rocks Campground. Reservations are required for the campground.
Cottonwood / South Entrance ↑
Do this: This is the reliable south water stop. Fill bottles here before any interior drive.
- Food: No dependable food. Bookstore only.
- Water: Yes at the visitor center and campground.
- Toilets: Yes. Flush toilets.
- Fuel: No. Use Indio or another I-10 town.
- Signal: Limited. Do not depend on it.
Cottonwood Visitor Center is about 7 miles north of I-10 exit 168. The campground has water, flush toilets, and a dump station.
Other places
- Black Rock Canyon — Enter from Yucca Valley. Fill water here if you will camp. There is no through-road to Park Boulevard. Food: No dependable food. Bookstore at the nature center when open. · Water: Yes at the campground. · Toilets: Yes. Flush toilets. · Fuel: No. Use Yucca Valley. · Signal: Limited. Do not depend on it. 99 reserved sites. Nature center summer hours are Thursday through Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, through August 28.
- Indian Cove — Enter from Highway 62. Carry water for the campground. The ranger station is the water stop, not the campsites. Water: No water at campsites. Drinking water at the Indian Cove Ranger Station. · Toilets: Pit toilets at the campground. · Signal: Weak or unavailable. A separate north district with 101 reserved sites. Losing the ranger-station water stop changes an overnight plan.
- Keys View — Drive here only after you have water and fuel. The overlook is exposed and has no supplies. Toilets: Unknown. Do not depend on toilets here. · Signal: Weak or unavailable. A short, steep paved loop with views of the Coachella Valley. Check current road status before you leave Park Boulevard.
Drive times
Summer estimates without long stops. Traffic, wildlife, weather, and road work can cause delays.
Joshua Tree Village to West Entrance
Joshua Tree Village → 5 miles south on Park Boulevard → West Entrance
Buy food, fuel, and water in the village. The West Entrance station has drinking water.
West Entrance to Hidden Valley and Jumbo Rocks
West Entrance → Park Boulevard → Hidden Valley → Jumbo Rocks / Skull Rock
This is the main interior road. There is no drinking water at Hidden Valley or Jumbo Rocks.
Twentynine Palms to North Entrance
Twentynine Palms → 3 miles south on Utah Trail → North Entrance
The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is in town at 6533 Freedom Way. It has water and flush toilets.
I-10 to Cottonwood
I-10 exit 168 → 7 miles north → Cottonwood Visitor Center → South Entrance
Cottonwood is the south access. It is about 25 miles east of Indio. Water and flush toilets are at Cottonwood.
Highway 62 to Black Rock or Indian Cove
Yucca Valley → Black Rock Canyon Road → Black Rock · Highway 62 → Indian Cove Road → Indian Cove
These districts do not connect to Park Boulevard. Do not use GPS dirt shortcuts. High-clearance dirt roads can be impassable.
Help
Emergency: call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle, and problem.
Park information: 760-367-5500
This independent guide is not the National Park Service and is not an emergency service.
Permits
Entrance pass
Every visitor needs an entrance pass. No timed-entry reservation is required to enter. A private-vehicle pass is $30 for 7 days.
Campground reservations
Reserve Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, and group sites on Recreation.gov before you lose cell service. Hidden Valley, Belle, and White Tank are first-come, first-served.
Backpacking
A permit is required for every overnight stay in the backcountry. The permit is $6 for 1 to 12 people for up to 14 nights. Book on Recreation.gov or at the Twentynine Palms permit office.
Keys Ranch tour
A reservation on Recreation.gov is required for Keys Ranch tours. Other ranger programs do not need a reservation.
Vehicle camping
Sleeping in a vehicle is allowed only in a paid, designated campsite. Roadside and trailhead overnight parking is not allowed.
Short hikes
Distances are one way unless marked as a loop. Check trail closures.
- Hidden Valley / Hidden Valley Trail: 1 mile loop. Sandy and rocky. Start before 9 am in summer.
- Jumbo Rocks / Skull Rock / Skull Rock: 1.7 mile loop. Boulders and washes. Carry all water.
- Hidden Valley / Barker Dam: 1.1 mile loop. Historic water tank. Watch for bighorn sheep.
- Twentynine Palms / North Entrance / Oasis of Mara: 0.5 mile loop. Easy oasis walk. Pets on leash are allowed. Water is at the visitor center.
- Cottonwood / South Entrance / Bajada Nature Trail: 0.25 mile loop. Easy Colorado Desert plant walk near the South Entrance.
- Keys View / Keys View: 0.25 mile. Short, steep paved loop. Exposed. No shade.