Heading to Joshua Tree? Be prepared for lots of traffic and crowded trails

If you’ll be heading to Joshua Tree to escape the city and celebrate the New Year, national park officials are warning people to be prepared for especially high traffic.

Joshua Tree is what's referred to as a “winter park,” with current temperatures rivaling summer and spring in other parts of the country. The peak season is October through May, but long weekends and holiday breaks usually bring an even bigger influx of visitors. The Joshua Tree Visitor Center alone, for example, can see more than 4,000 people each day.

Donovan Smith, park ranger, told LAist it's best to plan ahead, but be flexible and explore all the desert has to offer, not just the known favorites.

“Go into the park with not super high expectations, but with a sense of wonder and a sense of adventure — while doing it safely,” he said.

Tips for a successful trip

First, collect all the information you’ll need before you head in.

That includes maps, sightseeing stops, trailheads, and parking information, which you can find online, at the visitor centers, or through the National Park Service app (which you can download for offline use when you lose cell service inside).

Figure out what your top stops are going to be, but don’t get too caught up trying to stick to the plan.

Parking lots will be full, and Joshua Tree could become drive-through only, so don’t waste an hour waiting for a spot to open up. That’s one of the biggest ways you can ruin a trip, Smith said.

Instead, explore a bit further down and look for a parking spot on the side of the road, which you are allowed to do in many areas.

“You might find something, you know, just as magnificent as what you would have seen on that trail,” he said.

The peak entrance times are typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so arrive early if you want to beat the crowds as much as possible. You can also buy a digital park pass and save yourself some entrance time.

If there’s a trail or overlook you really want to cross off the list, head there first thing. You’ll have a better chance at finding parking and could always hike out from there. But don’t be afraid to check out the second, third, or fourth option on your list if they’re less crowded.

What about camping?

You definitely need to plan ahead for camping reservations, which can fill up six months in advance. A majority of the spots were full for the New Year holiday week and weekend.

There are first-come, first-serve campgrounds, but those can be extremely competitive. People arrive early and hunker down for the allotted two weeks at a time, Smith said, so there might not be any turnover.

And although the weekends are usually a bit busier, the weekdays will likely be just as crowded, with New Year’s Day falling on Wednesday.

Other highlights to try

If you’re just planning to see the sunset in Joshua Tree, the spots along Park Boulevard will still be your best option. But Smith noted that one of the best things about the national park is that you can get a good look from just about anywhere.

“Joshua Tree is a vast open landscape, which means that you can get some similar views at one of our popular trailheads that you can also get right on the side of the road at certain pull offs,” he said.

How to respect the park during peak times

If parking lots and roadside spots are full, don’t just pull into an empty patch of desert and make your own. It could harm the plants and animals that call Joshua Tree home.

If you do end up exploring a bit off the beaten path, don’t forget to stay safe and let others know where you’ll be.

“ If you go off in areas unknown and you're unprepared, then search and rescues and things like that can occur, people get hurt,” Smith said.

Trash cans will fill up quickly with so many people in the park, but that doesn’t mean you should leave any behind. Staff will empty the cans several times a day, Smith said, but be prepared to take out what you brought in.