Joshua Tree National Park

desert · California · unique trees · rocks

Joshua trees everywhere. The park is named after the Joshua tree, a unique desert plant that grows nowhere else in the world naturally. These twisted trees with their spiky leaves look like they're reaching up to the sky.

Two deserts meet here. Joshua Tree sits where two different deserts come together: the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Each desert has its own plants and animals that make it special.

Amazing rock formations. The park has thousands of giant boulders and rock formations that look like nature built a giant playground. Climbers and hikers love exploring these unique stone shapes.

Close to Los Angeles. Even though it feels like the middle of nowhere, Joshua Tree is only about 130 miles east of Los Angeles. You can drive there from the city in just a few hours.

Became a national park recently. Joshua Tree started as a national monument in 1936, but it didn't become a full national park until 1994 when Congress decided to protect it better.