The Colorado Desert and the Mojave come together within Joshua Tree National Park's 558,000 acres. Campers here enjoy dozens of hiking trails, high overlooks, strange and jagged rock formations, cacti and desert plants, and of course, wide vistas sprinkled with Joshua trees. In addition, according to the National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park protects 501 archaeological sites, 88 historic structures, 19 cultural landscapes, and an impressive museum collection. There are nine separate campgrounds in this park, the closest national park to Palm Springs. These include White Tank, Indian Cove, Belle, and Cottonwood. Each campsite is limited to six people, who can bring two cars and three tents between them.
Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
760-367-5500
nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
A five-minute drive from Palm Springs, this 710-acre park at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains and Mount Jacinto brings swimming, picnicking, and fishing to the desert. Hiking and horseback riding are other excursions you can add to your camping trip here. Individual campsites have electricity and water and are available both by reservation and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lake Cahuilla Park
58-075 Jefferson Street
La Quinta CA 92253
760-564-4712
riversidecountyparks.org/locations/regional-parks/lake-cahuilla/
This park is based around Mount San Jacinto, which stands 10,834 feet above sea level, making it the second tallest mountain range in the area. Two drive-in campgrounds are accessible at the base of the mountain, where campers can enjoy mountain meadows and subalpine forests, as well as miles of wilderness to hike through. Palm Springs is located at the base of the park, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway lifts passengers up to the edge of the Mount San Jacinto wilderness, where they can enter a hiking trail system and get information at the state park visitor center.
Mount San Jacinto State Park
P.O. Box 308
25905 Highway 243
Idyllwild, CA 92549
parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636
