This month we’re getting a ton of snow in Colorado and are day dreaming of an escape to one of our favorite national parks, Joshua Tree. With an outer space like feeling, there’s nothing better than escaping to a warm out of this world park.
Camping
Joshua tree has many things to offer and if we wanted to touch base on them all, this blog would have to be 100 pages long. We thought we’d go over where to camp and what to hike. The first thing we wanted to touch on is where to camp, there are over 10 different campsites within the park. There are also two dispersed campsites that are AWESOME, on both the north and south side of the park.Jumbo Rock Campground
One of our favorite campgrounds in the park is the Jumbo Rock Campground. With 124 sites available, this is a great option for people who want to be right smack dab in the middle of the park. This site is all first come first serve so it is best to take a “sick day” on Friday to get there on a Thursday night. This way, you’ll have a bit more options for which exact site you want in the campground. For $15 a night, you get one site that can fit anywhere from 1-2 cars, 3 tents, and maximum 6 people. There are trash collection areas, picnic tables, bathrooms, and fire rings here which is everything you need for a few days in the park. There are no water wells so make sure you pack a lot of water for your trip.Dispersed Camping
On a busy weekend, Joshua Tree fills up quick. But, lucky for us, there is plenty of dispersed camping on both sides (north and south) of the park. Last year when we were there we spent a night in the park, a night in the south dispersed camping, and a night in the north dispersed camping. I personally loved the dispersed camping at the south end of the park and wish we had stayed there all 3 nights. With one major dirt road cruising through the campground with slight off turns, you get a ton of room and feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. With the extra room, you have plenty of space to pop open our new Condor model, spread out with the Family, and enjoy the epic amount of stargazing.Hiking Ryan Mountain
For a moderate hike with an insane view, Ryan Mountain is the spot you need to hike while in Joshua Tree. Located right in the center of the park this hike is 3 miles round trip but packs a punch with just over 1,000 feet of elevation in a short distance. There is not a ton of tree coverage so expect to get quite the tan, pack some sunscreen and a hat, and bring more water than you think you’ll need. There are endless hikes to explore in Joshua tree and you won’t be disappointed no matter where you explore here. But, make sure to come prepared, respect the natural features, and watch out for the jumping cactuses.Have fun soaking up the fun and catching a winter tan out in Joshua Tree and make sure to tag us in all of your adventures on Instagram @roofnest or #roofnest.
Cheers, Flock.
