JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK DAY HIKES | National Geographic hiking mapguide

Two deserts, two large ecosystems primarily determined by elevation, come together at Joshua Tree National Park. Few areas more vividly illustrate the contrast between high and low desert. Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert, occupying the eastern half of the park, is dominated by the abundant creosote bush. Adding interest to this arid land are small stands of spidery ocotillo and jumping cholla cactus. The higher, slightly cooler and wetter, Mojave Desert is the special habitat of the undisciplined Joshua tree, extensive stands of which occur throughout the western half of the park. A rich cultural history and surreal geologic features offer additional opportunities for exploration.

The Joshua Tree National Parks Day Hikes Topographic Map Guide contains detailed maps for 16 of Joshua Tree's finest day hikes. It includes well-known hikes and some off-the-beaten-path trails. They range from easy strolls to strenuous climbs, selected to give you a sampling of all the park has to offer. Together, they cover over 60 miles of adventures. One-third of the selected hikes are less than 3 miles long, two-thirds are less than 6 miles, and two hike are longer than 7 miles long.

Each of the 16 maps include directions to the trailhead, the total distance to complete the hike, and an estimate of the degree of difficulty. Also provided are elevations of key points on the trail, an elevation profile for the hike, and a calculation of the hike's total elevation gain. Concise trail descriptions will help you find the hikes that best suit your interests, conditioning, and available time.

Every Trails Illustrated map is printed on "Backcountry Tough" waterproof, tear-resistant paper. A full UTM grid is printed on the map to aid with GPS navigation.