One of the biggest treats of Joshua Tree National Park is the road that you take within and all throughout it. That road is Park Boulevard and no matter where you stop (safely) and explore, you won’t be disappointed. Wether you enter from the North Entrance at Twentynine Palms or the West Entrance, the 28 mile drive is one of the most scenic in the southwest. The trees, the rocks, the mountain tops, it is all so gorgeous. The only problem of course is the amount of people, which when the weather is nice, amounts to a lot. Regardless, you will enjoy the scenery no matter the time of day or year. And as always, get there early and stay for that sunset.

Picnicking on the desert floor, exploring the boulders, or lounging amongst the trees is always a worthwhile experience from anywhere in the park. My wife and I are particularly fond of a specific place that offers an amazing sunset view that’s right off Park Boulevard but oh so hidden.

The Western Entrance area has lots to do from Park Boulevard like the Maze / Window / North View Loop, exploring the Quail Mountain Wilderness, and the Hidden Valley Area.

Then, before you know it, the road turns south at the Barker Dam area. If you take a slight right before the road heads east you’ll be on Keys View Road where you can go to Lost Horse Mine or the amazing Keys View. If you stay on Park Boulevard though, you’ll pass tons to do like Ryan Mountain, Skull Rock, and the fantastic Split Rock hike. Pinto Basin Road is shortly after that and with it Arch Rock and much further down the road lies the Cholla Gardens with lots of scenery in between the two. Be on the lookout for creatures on your way out after sunset at the Twentynine Palms Entrance where my wife and I saw a coyote once cross the steep highway in front of us.

Even though there may be a “Milky Way Season” which offers the best time of the year to view our celestial neighborhood, the stars and night sky are always amazingly bright and beautiful.