What’s the Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree?

The best thing about Joshua Tree is that there’s something to do there year-round. From hiking and stargazing to desert parties, find your best time to visit Joshua Tree below! Spring – best season for outdoor activities Summer – best season for crowd-free stargazing Fall – best for pleasant hikes and festivals Winter – best for rock climbing

Joshua Tree in the Spring

March through early May is when Joshua Tree shines, especially for hikers and climbers. Day temperatures stay below the mid-80s, with pleasantly chilly nights. Most importantly, Spring is wildflower season: color returns to high-altitude areas around March and April, and by June, the desert annuals will be on full display. For those that can swing it, weekdays see reduced crowds on the trails and the rocks. Come in the springtime and watch the park come to life.

Joshua Tree in the Summer

Summer in Joshua Tree can be summed up in one word: heat. Temperatures soar to the hundreds, and they don’t let up at night. So, instead of hiking or climbing in the scorching sun, why not try stargazing? Scoring a campsite is easy, and there’s practically no light pollution in the desert, so the Milky Way is clearly visible on moonless nights. Plus, if you stop by in August, you could witness the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. Just make sure to bring plenty of water and limit physical activity to the early morning and late afternoon.

Joshua Tree in the fall

The fall season, September through November to be exact, is an underrated time to visit Joshua Tree. By mid-September, visitation starts to go down, along with the temperature, but weather is still great and you’ll catch plenty of sunshine. It’s a great time for photographers, too—catch the sunlight as it paints the desert gold without worrying about the heat. The Joshua Tree Music Festival also takes place in October, so it’s a great time to get your party on.

Joshua Tree in the winter

Winter is prime time to rock climb or hike the unshaded classics, granted you prep for the weather. While daytime temperatures fluctuate around 60 and the weather is generally dry and sunny, the nights often fall below freezing, so camping requires warm gear and prep work. Winter is awesome for rock climbing—when the heavy snow hits hot spots like Yosemite, climbers flock to the park in droves and the routes are as lively as ever. Also, if you want to see snow in the desert, stick to the higher altitudes and you might get lucky.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Liz Thomas is thru-hiker and guidebook author best known for breaking the women’s self-supported record on the Appalachian Trail. She’s the author of the National Outdoor Book Award winning Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike, which won the National Outdoor Book Award in 2017. When she’s not backpacking, Liz is a motivational speaker who has presented on Capitol Hill, corporate retreats, national non-profit donor events, and colleges and universities including Yale and MIT. You can find her at www.eathomas.com or @lizthomashiking
and Facebook.