• Sunrise at the Cholla Cactus Garden

    Joshua Tree

    National Park California

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  • Pinto Basin Road Renovation

    Pinto Basin Road is being renovated. On weekdays you may encounter travel delays of up to 30 minutes. Cholla Cactus Garden is closed on weekdays. Cottonwood Visitor Center hours are 9 to 4 on weekdays, 8 to 4 weekends. More »

  • Rattlesnake Canyon Remains Closed

    To provide additional time to mitigate the vandalism, Rattlesnake Canyon will remain completely closed to the public until further notice. More »

Some Campgrounds To Close For Summer

Beginning June 1, Joshua Tree National Park will close some camping facilities for the 2012 summer season. Also, on June 5 from 7 am to dusk, the Lost Horse Mine Road will close for scheduled maintenance.

Summer is the slow season at Joshua Tree, and there is a reduced need for overnight camping during the hot summer months. Seasonal campground closures allow impacted areas to recover and also helps reduce the cost of maintaining these facilities.

The following closures will take place on Friday, June 1:

  • Belle Campground: closed entirely at the access road.
  • Black Rock Campground: east side closed; west side remains open.
  • Cottonwood Campground: B-loop closed; A-loop remains open.
  • Indian Cove Campground: west side closed; the east side, group campsites, and picnic area remain open.
  • Ryan Campground: closed entirely at the access road.
  • White Tank Campground: closed at the access road. The campground restroom and Arch Rock Nature Trail remain open for hikers.

These facilities will reopen in October for Columbus Day weekend, or earlier if park visitation warrants. All other park facilities including visitor centers, picnic areas, and other campgrounds remain open for normal visitor use.

Did You Know?

Red Spotted Toad

The red-spotted toad is a true denizen of the desert, where it spends most of its life underground. Found from one end of the park to the other, it appears after good, soaking rains. More...