Covering over 1,200 square miles east of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree is the second largest national park in California, trailing only Death Valley. The terrain encompassed by the park's boundaries is vast and forbidding, with large portions lacking any roads or trails. The six trails featured in this guide provide some of the easiest ways to get off the road and up close with this desert park's flora, fauna, and geology.

Situated near the park's southern border, this 2.5-mile loop gains about 400 feet as it runs through the Colorado Desert and climbs the flanks of Mastodon Peak. A spur trail climbs to the summit, offering lovely views to hikers who put in the extra effort to stand atop the granite peak. Shade is absent on this trail, so carry lots of water and avoid this hike in the middle of the day.

Interpretive signs line this one-mile loop as it winds through a cleft in the rocks to an open area ringed with granite outcrops. With its trailhead just off the park's most-traveled road, this hike can get busy at times and parking is often limited. Avoid the crowds and the heat by hiking early in the morning or late in the day.

This five mile circuit takes hikers deep into the jumbles of Joshua Tree's granite boulders, passing plenty of the park's namesake yuccas along the way. There are steep and sandy sections, and hikers need to stay focused so as not to follow a social trail and stray from the main route. Avoid this hike in summer heat: the trail is too long, with very little shade and no water.

This easy, 1-mile loop winds among the rocks en route to the historic Barker Dam. The dam was built in 1900 and raised in 1949, all in an effort to store water for ranchers operating in the area. Hikers who time their visits just after substantial rainfall may be treated to a filled reservoir attracting wildlife and reflecting the blue skies above. An ancient rock art site is visible along the trail, too, serving as a reminder that this desert has been inhabited for millennia.

This 2.5 mile loop gains 150 feet of elevation on its circuit through the landscape around Split Rock. The notable feature for which the trail is named is easily viewed from the trailhead, while the hike into the desert provides views of the rock formations and mountain ranges that define the area. Following trail markers is crucial to staying on the right path, and it's wise to avoid this essentially shadeless trail during the heat of summer.

A paved, half-mile path crosses the alkaline soils where mesquite and saltbrush grow at the feet of California fan palms. This is the easiest spot to view palm trees in the park, and interpretive signs along the trail provide insights into the area's natural and cultural history.