However, photos almost never do justice to reality.
Come on out to the desert this Spring Break to see the real thing for yourself!
I also recommend that you follow the link below to my Joshua Tree Page, where you'll find links to a great deal of information about the park and the surrounding area.
DIRECTIONS: (Click here to see a map page)
From San Diego, take I-15 North to the I-215 split. Continue on I-215 to Highway 60 East. Highway 60 soon ends and merges with I-10. Continue on I-10 about 25 miles beyond Indio and watch for the signs to Joshua Tree National Park.
Enter the park at Cottonwood Spring. You'll soon arrive at the Cottonwood Visitor Center, and the Cottonwood Campground is adjacent to the Visitor Center.
We will be at Cottonwood Campground, Site #3. Check-in and check-out times are noon.
You can read a bit about the campground by clicking here.
Disclaimer: I assume absolutely NO liability or responsibility for your safety either associated with transportation to and from the park or during any activities in which you choose to engage during your stay.
WHAT TO BRING: Bring whatever food and drinks you will need to sustain you for the duration. There ARE drinking water and restrooms with sinks and flush toilets at the campground.
Unless you are an extremely rugged individual with a sense (or lack thereof) for truly "roughing it", you will probably want to bring a tent and a sleeping bag. A good beach or lawn chair is handy as well.
If possible, bring some firewood so we can have that good ol' campfire experience that is so essential for a complete outdoor adventure. A bundle from Vons or Ralphs will suffice quite well.
This isn't Black's Beach where we're going, so you'll want to have some clothing. The days can be quite warm and the nights can be rather cool, so pack your duds accordingly. Include a hat to shelter your cabeza from the rays of the nearest star to us. The elevation where we'll be camping and frolicking is about 3000 feet above sea level, so the starlight (both night and day stars) is more intense than it is at the beach. This brings me to my next item of recommendation: don't forget the sunscreen!
Other than these items, bring whatever else will make your stay pleasant (within reason, no firearms or lawyers please). There are no electrical hookups, so forget the hair dryer, OK?
Here is weather information for Joshua Tree National Park.
Click this link for a ten-day weather forecast for the Indio, CA area, which is near the south entrance of the Park.
Keep in mind, however, that our campground is 3000 feet in elevation higher than Indio. For that reason, to get an estimate of the weather at the campground, you'll need to subtract 5-10 Fahrenheit degrees from the information you learn about Indio. These two links will provide you with an idea of what kind of weather to expect before you leave.
If you pack it in, then make sure you pack it out!
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