I decided to finally add a Gear List to include what I always pack for a camping or backpacking trip. Of course, what I shoot with. You’ll be surprised that I’ve only been shooting with a kit lens all this time.

Since I did a post on spending 48 hours in Death Valley, I might as well write a post on how I spent my time in Joshua Tree National Park. I'm also pretty certain I didn't quite spend 24 hours in the park because time was limited for me. It's also when I wish I get more PTO from work but apparently I only get about a week's worth of PTO during my first year of employment (yuck and yikes).

I did make it work though. I stayed at Indian Cove campground. Quick note: Indian Cove is part of Joshua Tree but if you're planning to drive, there is no road that connects the campground with the park. The quickest way is to drive out to Twentynine Palms and into the park. Don’t forget your Interagency Pass, you’ll need one. If you're feeling adventurous and plan ahead, you could hike 8 miles on the Boy Scout Trail into the park. The trail starts somewhere in the campground. It's best to do that if you plan ahead - if you have two cars in the group, you could park one car inside the park and one car at the campground, swap keys and meet up after the hike. Another option would be setting up a shuttle that would pick you up. I'm not sure about the details about the second option but I know certain parks have a shuttle system during peak season.

The third option would be spending a night in the backcountry. Perhaps the third option would be part of my plan next time. The preferred way to experience Joshua Tree is do the hikes and also go into the backcountry. The park was significantly more crowded than Death Valley. It's comparable to Arches National Park in Utah so you really want to plan ahead and start your day early. I knew I wasn't going to be able to beat the crowd on Saturday (and yes, Saturdays are super busy so don't expect too much solitude). But I decided to head to the Black Rock Canyon campground because I know that's where the Panorama Trail started. As the trail sign describes, you'll hike through a dense forest of Joshua Tree's, and one of the reasons why people head there is because of the trees. Aside from that, you can see a lot of people bouldering and rock climbing because you guessed, it's a haven for enthusiasts of that sort.

Unfortunately, as adventurous as I want to be, I don't do bouldering and rock climbing (another thing to learn and get ready for before I head out for my next trip). Prior to setting out for Black Rock Canyon, I decided to just pull off road (again) and enjoy lunch with a view. Nothing beats looking at a ton of Joshua Trees and rock formations while enjoying a good ol' taco stuffed with tuna in a bag. I most certainly that aspect of the trip. It wasn't the most delicious meal ever but it got me through the day, it was efficient and filling. After lunch, I headed towards Panorama Trail - just in time for a sunset hike. There wasn't a lot of people on the trail. I did see a few folks here and there but it offered a good amount of tranquility and solitude and those were things I was looking for. I even spotted a jackrabbit and a roadrunner on the hike.

The highlight of the hike was when the sun was starting to set below the horizon. It was great seeing the Joshua Trees glowing under the sun when they were hit by the harsh lighting but watching these funky trees come to life in low-light setting was probably my favorite. Plus, you'll see the the light reflecting off the mountains from afar. The sky was filled with a plethora of different shades of purple, pink, orange and red. I just stood there enjoying the show and once again, I felt pretty emotional. Emotional to an extent that I feel so thankful for being able to be out there and enjoy such beauty. After the sun set, I had about 0.5 miles to go and I feel like I was starting to get used to hiking in the dark. It used to be spooky but I think I've slowly worked my courage up to do that more often. Plus, it becomes handy when you have a headlamp.

“We need so little to be happy. Happiness does not come from things. Happiness comes from living a full and exciting life.”

— Ken Ilgunas, Walden on Wheels

After the hike, I returned to camp and fired up some freeze dried food and enjoyed a beer. Indian Cove is similar to Jumbo Rocks, where you're essentially camping alongside these gigantic boulders and rocks stacked on each other. It felt like I was in Mars or somewhere in space. It was surreal. Joshua Tree is not as dark as I anticipated it to be mainly because it's situated right next to Twentynine Palms and the town of Joshua Tree. While it wasn't a full moon, the boulders were somewhat glowing in the dark. I felt so small sleeping in my tent under the boulders but I assure you, it's probably one of the best places you can fall asleep in.

It was chilly at night. My sleeping pad was barely functioning to its full ability. I know there are holes but I tried my hardest to patch it up. I slept cold the entire night so who knows how many hours I actually slept. But that didn't deter me from waking up at 4:30am to see sunrise at the Cholla Cactus Garden. Prior to the trip, I've heard that it's one of the best spots for sunrise so I knew I couldn't miss out on that. I started driving at 5:00am. The sun was set to rise at 7:00am and it was about a 1.5 hour drive from Indian Cove to the garden. Tip: force yourself to get up for sunrise. You'll be beating most of the crowd and be rewarded with some of the best lighting to enjoy the Joshua Trees and the cacti. I'm not even a morning person myself but I know for sure in order to experience the park at its prime time, sacrifices have to be made. I got to Cholla at about 6:30am and man, it did not disappoint. Cholla Cacti are also known as the 'Teddy Bear Cacti' - their dense spikes make them look furry. It's such a great spot for sunrise because as the sun rises behind them, the cacti literally turns into a bunch of fuzzy plants. It was quite a scene.

After taking a million photos, I decided to head back to the main section of the park because I knew time was running out. I had to head back to Vegas eventually to catch my flight. I opted for the Split Rock Trail. It was a random decision. Perhaps it was because I was also the only car parked at the trailhead. The trail was a pleasant surprise and showcased all the things the park is known for. It has lots of Joshua Trees, rocks and boulders, and an almost panoramic view of the park. I know most people head over to the Ryan Mountain Trail but I'm sure you know the theme here now, if you're looking for a more secluded and isolated spot, then do the Split Rock Trail. It won't disappoint and it's only about 2 miles round trip. I went further and went to see the famous Skull Rock (which was a little bit underwhelming) but I did the entire loop and it was amazing. You'll get to see all the various geological features Joshua Tree is known for.

It was about 10:30am when I completed the hike. After that, I just did the most popular view points and snapped some pictures. I headed back to camp, packed up and headed for Vegas.

I definitely felt like there wasn't enough time spent in Joshua Tree. But at least the drive between Vegas and Twentynine Palms was enjoyable. You'll be driving through the Mojave Desert and be welcomed with views of mountains and sand dunes. If you're planning to do that drive, remember to fill up at Twentynine Palms because you basically won't get any services for about 100 miles. Plan ahead and you'll be all good to go. I really enjoyed my time at Joshua Tree because like Zion, there's a certain type of energy and aura I was feeling (I'm also not superstitious by any means) but perhaps it was because I was really out there, letting myself soak in the nature around me. I've always told people this, you're never in bad company when you're out there with nature.

There's so much to feel even though you're in total silence but I suppose that's also the best time to really listen to yourself. I hope you enjoyed this post and I promise I will bring you along for my next adventure wherever I end up. Until next time 🤙

For more photos of this trip, check out my Instagram.

24 Hours in Joshua Tree