February 9, 2012
Cottonwood Campground Reopens at Joshua Tree National Park
Cottonwood Campground is once again open for camping and visitor use. A small portion of the canyon below Cottonwood Spring remains closed for visitor safety, but all Cottonwood-area maintained trails and other visitor facilities are now open.

February 3, 2012
Cottonwood Spring and Trails Reopened
The fan palm oasis at Cottonwood Spring, Lost Palms Oasis Trail, and the Mastodon Mine Loop Trail are once again open to park visitors. Cottonwood Campground is being repaired and is scheduled to reopen by February 17.

January 11, 2012
Park Entrance Free January 14, 15, and 16
To commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Joshua Tree National Park, along with other national parks across the country, will waive entrance fees (though not camping fees) from January 14 through 16.

January 11, 2012
Photos by Michael Kenny Featured at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Drive Thru, by photographer Michael Kenny of San Francisco, has opened at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. Kenny was a spring 2011 participant in the park's Artist-In-Residence program.

December 16, 2011
Rock Climber Falls 30 Feet
William Becher, 65, fell 30-feet in a climbing accident in the Saddle Rock area of the park and sustained injuries to his lower extremities. 

November 29, 2011
National Parks Economic Symposium Slated for December 6
The National Parks Economic Symposium will highlight economic relationships between national parks and their surrounding communities. The event is free to the public and is scheduled from 1 to 4 pm at the Twentynine Palms Community Center, 74325 Joe Davis Drive, adjacent to Luckie Park in Twentynine Palms.

November 23, 2011
Crossroads Conference Agenda Released
At the December 2 Crossroads Conference, park staff and a panel of accomplished speakers will shed light on some of the park's pressing issues. On December 3 participants will visit Joshua Tree National Park.

November 21, 2011
Hiker Dies of Apparent Heart Attack
Frederick McMichael, 39, of Irvine, California suffered an apparent heart attack and stopped breathing while hiking the Lost Horse Loop Trail on Saturday, November 19. Emergency resuscitation was not successful.

November 15, 2011
Crossroads Conference Will Feature Challenges to the Park
The Crossroads Conference will be held December 2 at the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center Auditorium. On December 3 participants will take a guided tour of Joshua Tree National Park.

November 7, 2011
Base Jumper Injured
William Fleming, 23, received minor injuries when he was blown into rocks after parachuting from a cliff in the Oyster Bar.

November 1, 2011
Pinto Basin Road Reopened
Pinto Basin Road is now open from Park Boulevard to Interstate 10. Cottonwood Visitor Center has also reopened, however the campground, Cottonwood Spring, and area trails remain closed.

October 25, 2011
Rock Climber Falls 25 Feet
A rock climber visiting from Japan sustained severe head trauma from a 25-foot fall while climbing on Cyclops Rock.

October 24, 2011
Park Suspends Work On GMP
The National Park Service has announced that further work on a new General Management Plan (GMP) at Joshua Tree National Park has been discontinued.

October 17, 2011
Park Clarifies Position On Tribal Casino
As with any land-use proposal for an activity on private lands outside the park, the National Park Service cannot, and does not, support or oppose the casino proposal.

September 27, 2011
Pinto Basin Road Will Partially Reopen
A portion of the flood-damaged Pinto Basin Road will reopen at Noon on Friday, September 30. The nine miles from White Tank Campground to the Ocotillo Patch pullout will be open to visitor traffic, which will allow visitors access to Cholla Cactus Garden.

September 15, 2011
September 16 Public Meeting Rescheduled
The public meeting to present the "proposed action" for the reconstruction of Pinto Basin Road has been postponed from September 16 until September 30.

September 13, 2011
Volunteer On Public Lands Day!
Saturday, September 24 is National Public Lands Day, a day when people across the country will turn out to take part in volunteer projects to benefit America's shared heritage, our public lands. Entrance fees for all park visitors will be waived that day but only those who volunteer will receive a coupon for a future entrance-fee day.

September 13, 2011
Pinto Basin Road Flooded
Torrential rains caused widespread flooding in the Pinto Basin and Cottonwood Spring areas of the park on Tuesday morning, September 13. Pinto Basin Road was closed from Interstate 10 on the south boundary to White Tank Campground.

August 19, 2011
Proposed Action Selected For Road Reconstruction
A public meeting will be held on Friday, September 16 from 9 to 11 am at park headquarters in Twentynine Palms. The purpose of the meeting is to present the "proposed action" selected for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Pinto Basin Road in Joshua Tree National Park.

August 19, 2011
Artists Chosen For Residency Program
Three visual artists, a poet, and a musician/composer were invited to participate in the park's fourth year of offering a unique residential opportunity to artists from around the nation.

August 2, 2011
Park to Celebrate 75th Birthday August 10
Birthday events begin at 8 am at park headquarters in Twentynine Palms and last throughout the day at multiple locations across the park and Morongo Basin communities.

July 18, 2011
Light Plane Crashes in Rugged Terrain
A home-built aircraft flying from Lake Havasu City, Arizona to Compton, California crashed in a hilly area of the park at about 9:20 this morning. The pilot was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

July 12, 2011
Public Comments Sought on Road Project
The Environmental Assessment of the proposed reconstruction of 23.5 miles of Pinto Basin Road to improve road safety is now available.

July 5, 2011
Pinto Basin Road Meeting Set For July 8
A public meeting to discuss alternatives for work associated with the proposed reconstruction of a 23.5-mile portion of Pinto Basin Road will be held on Friday, July 8, from 8 to 10 am at park headquarters in Twentynine Palms.

June 16, 2011
Park Entrance Will Be Free on June 21
Free admission, warmer weather, and longer days make this a great time to visit a national park. To celebrate the start of summer, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at all parks on June 21.

June 9, 2011
Park Seeks Public Input on Black Rock Improvements
Public input is being sought regarding the National Park Service's proposed plan to conduct drainage and erosion control improvements, along with redesign of the road and campground layout at Black Rock Campground. A public meeting will be held at 5 pm on June 28, 2011 at Black Rock Nature Center to present the plan.

June 7, 2011
Friends of Joshua Tree Donate Rescue Vehicle
Search-and-rescue operations just got a little bit easier thanks to the donation of a utility vehicle by the non-profit Friends of Joshua Tree to Joshua Tree National Park. The vehicle will be used by the park's search and rescue program, JOSAR, to support rock climbing accidents, searches for lost hikers, and other rescue activities.

May 27, 2011
Lee Research Grants Awarded
Joshua Tree National Park, in partnership with the Joshua Tree National Park Association, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Robert Lee Graduate Student Research Grant at Joshua Tree National Park. This year the park received many highly competitive research applications and after careful review has awarded grants to four applicants.

April 21, 2011
Public Invited to Joshua Tree's First Biodiversity Hunt
On April 29 and 30, scientific experts and community naturalists will race to identify every type of plant and animal within the 58 acres of Joshua Tree National Park's Oasis of Mara. Public programs and activities designed for kids and adults will take place between 10 am and 4 pm each day.

April 18, 2011
Park Regulations Revised
Joshua Tree National Park has issued revised park regulations contained in the Superintendent's Compendium. The Compendium includes park-specific regulations that National Park Service superintendents are authorized to issue under the Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations.

April 16, 2011
Entrance Fees Waived During National Park Week
Entrance fees have been waived at all national parks during National Park Week, April 16-24, providing an excellent opportunity for all Americans to get outside, be active, and have fun. Camping and special-use fees will still be collected.

February 11, 2011
Retrospective Exhibit Opens at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
As part of its 75th Anniversary celebration, Joshua Tree National Park announces the opening this week of a new exhibit featuring the work of past participants in the park's Artist-in-Residence program. The show covers a span of 15 years.

February 11, 2011
Park Seeks JOSAR Volunteers
Joshua Tree National Park will host an informational meeting to recruit new volunteers for its volunteer search-and-rescue team, JOSAR. The meeting will be held on February 18 at 7 p.m. The location for the meeting is the park's Black Rock Visitor Center at 9800 Black Rock Canyon Road in Yucca Valley.

January 13, 2011
Public Invited to Park Anniversary Celebration
Joshua Tree National Park will host a public ceremony on January 29, 2011 to commemorate its 75th anniversary. Huell Howser will be Master of Ceremonies.

January 11, 2011
Pinto Basin Road To Be Renovated
The National Park Service is exploring alternatives for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of approximately 23.5 miles of Pinto Basin Road at Joshua Tree National Park. The proposed action is part of a phased effort to rehabilitate many of the park's roadways in accordance with its 1995 General Management Plan. The primary objective of the project is to improve road safety conditions for Pinto Basin Road.

January 7, 2011
2011 Student Research Grant Applications Available
Applications for the 2011 Robert Lee Graduate Student Research Grants at Joshua Tree National Park are available on the park's website at: www.nps.gov/jotr/naturescience/research.htm. The application deadline is February 25, 2011.

January 6, 2011
Free Entrance Days for National Parks in 2011
The National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011. The first fee-free days are centered on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, January 15, 16, and 17.

December 22, 2010
Keys Ranch Tour Goes Reservation Only
Beginning January 1, 2011, reservations will be required for the Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour. The park will no longer admit participants at the ranch gate on a first-come, first-served basis.

December 13, 2010
Mark Butler Named Superintendent
Mark Butler is the newly appointed superintendent for Joshua Tree National Park. He replaces Curtis Sauer who retired in September 2010.

December 8, 2010
Joshua Tree Will Celebrate Its 75th in 2011
In 2011, Joshua Tree National Park, in conjunction with numerous community partners, will carry out a year-long celebration of its 75th anniversary as part of our nation's National Park System.

December 1, 2010
Kevin Hendricks Named Acting Superintendent
Currently the chief ranger at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Kevin Hendricks will become the second interim superintendent at Joshua Tree.

November 5, 2010
National Parks Will Waive Entrance Fees on Veteran's Day
To honor America's service men and women, national parks will not charge entrance fees on Veteran's Day, Thursday, November 11.

October 22, 2010
Paintings by Dianne Bennett Featured at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Paintings by 2009 Artist-In-Residence Dianne Bennett will be on display at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center through the winter holidays.

October 19, 2010
Open House to Discuss Black Rock Flood Study
The National Park Service will hold an open house November 3 to discuss drainage and run-off at Black Rock Campground and the adjacent community.

October 1, 2010
Lizette Richardson Appointed Acting Superintendent
Lizette Richardson, currently the chief of maintenance at Lake Mead, will take over for Curt Sauer, who retired September 30. Her appointment is expected to last 60 days.

September 30, 2010
Missing Hiker Rescued
Edward Rosenthal, missing since last Friday, was spotted alive at 10:30 a.m. Thursday by a San Bernardino County Sherriff's helicopter crew.

September 29, 2010
Missing Hiker's Tracks Located
Search operations shifted focus today after clear indications of Culver City resident Edward Rosenthal's presence were discovered in a location south of the original search area. Foot prints believed to be Rosenthals were followed off-trail into a rugged region of the Little San Bernardino Mountains.

September 29, 2010
Search Continues for Missing Hiker
The National Park Service will temporarily close hiking and equestrian trails in Black Rock Canyon while the search continues for Edward Rosenthal, missing since last Friday. The campground will remain open.

September 28, 2010
Search Expands for Missing Hiker
Efforts by search-and-rescue personnel to locate missing hiker Edward Rosenthal were expanded on Tuesday. Rosenthal has been overdue from a day hike in the Black Rock Canyon area of the park since last Friday afternoon.

September 27, 2010
Search Underway for Missing Hiker
Edward H. Rosenthal, 64, of Culver City, California has been missing since Friday evening when he failed to return from a hike near Black Rock Campground inside Joshua Tree National Park. Rosenthal was reported missing to park rangers on Sunday afternoon.

September 22, 2010
Joshua Tree Recognized by Riverside County Office of Education
On September 16, the Riverside County Office of Education honored Joshua Tree National Park as a Distinguished Partner, recognizing the park's efforts at job placement and career development for Transition Partnership students.

September 22, 2010
September 25 is National Public Lands Day
Entrance is free on National Public Lands Day. People all across the country will take part in volunteer projects to benefit America's shared heritage, its public lands.

August 28, 2010
Keys Fire Fully Contained
Firefighters achieved full containment of the Keys Fire on Saturday at 6 p.m. A few firefighters will continue to check for hotspots in the 110 acre fire.

August 27, 2010
Progress Made on Keys Fire
The Keys Fire has grown to 110 acres and crews from four agencies are working to contain it.

August 26, 2010
Lightning Ignites Three Fires
Of the three fires that were ignited during a thunderstorm today, the largest and most active is the Keys Fire.

July 12, 2010
Curt Sauer Announces His Retirement
Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer announced that he will be hanging up his flat hat September 30, 2010 after 35 years of federal service.

July 2, 2010
Daily Search for William Ewasko Suspended
After seven days, Joshua Tree National Park will suspend daily search operations for missing Georgia resident William Ewasko.

July 1, 2010
Search for Hiker Enters Sixth Day
Efforts to locate missing hiker William Ewasko entered the sixth day on Thursday. Teams of agency and volunteer ground searchers continue to comb the Quail Mountain area of Joshua Tree National Park in an effort to locate the Marietta, Georgia resident who was first reported missing last Friday.

June 29, 2010
Search for Missing Hiker Continues
Personnel from multiple agencies continue to search Joshua Tree National Park for missing hiker Willam Ewasko, 65, from Marietta, Georgia. The search began on Friday evening.

June 15, 2010
Some Campgrounds Closed for Summer
Joshua Tree National Park will once again close some camping facilities for the 2010 summer season. 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.

June 2, 2010
Entrance to Joshua Tree Waived June 5 & 6
Free admission, warmer weather, longer days, and fewer crowds make this weekend a great time to visit a national park. To celebrate the coming of summer, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at all parks on June 5 and 6.

May 28, 2010
Designs Sought for Joshua Tree Anniversary Logo
Designers with skills in graphic arts, logo development, and branding campaigns are invited to submit conceptual designs as described in the submittal guidelines.

May 28, 2010
Park Artist to Exhibit at Riverside Art Museum
Open Studio: New Paintings From the High Desert by Artist-In-Residence Mike Shankman opens June 3 at the Riverside Art Museum.

April 27, 2010
Public Views Sought For Park Management Plan
The public is invited to attend one of a series of planning open houses to be held in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, or Joshua Tree from May 17 through May 21. 

April 13, 2010
Early Photos of Historic Park Structures Sought
There are old photos out there of the historic structures in the park that would help fill in gaps of knowledge about these old buildings.

April 12, 2010
Entrance Fees Waived During National Park Week
Along with the waived entrance fees, National Park Week will be celebrated with special programs culminating in Jr. Ranger Day on April 24.

April 7, 2010
Art Exhibit Opens at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Paintings by Joshua Tree National Park Artist-In-Residence Erin O'Connor are on display at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. The exhibit is open to the public at no cost. 

March 23, 2010
Mojave Max Contest Winner Announced
Third grader, Garret Zartler, made the closest guess of February 13 at 2:05 p.m., just 25 minutes before the desert tortoise, Mojave Max, actually emerged from her burrow.

March 22, 2010
Joshua Tree Hosts 18th Annual Art Festival
Art and nature come together on April 2, 3, and 4 at Joshua Tree National Park's Eighteenth Annual Art Festival. Held at the Oasis of Mara Visitor Center, show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

March 18, 2010
Warmer Days Spur Spring Wildflowers
Ample winter rains and gradually warming temperatures are stimulating growth of annual desert wildflowers and local concentrations of up to 50 species are starting to appear in some locations.

March 10, 2010
Park Offers Living History Ranch Tours
Visitors to Joshua Tree National Park can now step back in time when they take a tour of Keys Ranch with a costumed guide.

March 9, 2010
Revised Park Rules Issued
Joshua Tree National Park has revised some park regulations contained in the Superintendent's Compendium.

January 27, 2010
Contract to Preserve Park Roads Awarded
Cactus Transport was awarded a $3.1 million contract to treat approximately 58 miles of park roads beginning February 1, 2010.

January 19, 2010
Two Survive Plane Crash In Park
Two individuals survived the crash of their small aircraft in a remote area of Joshua Tree National Park. The crash victims had a variety of injuries and were experiencing hypothermia but both were expected to survive.

January 8, 2010
Ranger Ohlfs Receives STAR Award
Joshua Tree National Park District Ranger Jeff Ohlfs received a Special Thanks for Achieving Results, or STAR, Award for his ongoing project to document details of every Park Service employee who has died on duty.

December 14, 2009
Christmas Bird Count Scheduled January 1
Joshua Tree National Park will hold this year’s Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, January 1, 2010. The Count is held each winter as part of the international Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the National Audubon Society.

November 4, 2009
Entrance Fees Waived On Veterans Day
To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that areas managed by the department (including Joshua Tree National Park) will not charge entrance fees on Wednesday, November 11th.

October 27, 2009
Joshua Tree Will Close 22 Mines
The National Park Service announced plans to close 22 abandoned mines at Joshua Tree National Park using American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds. Starting in mid-November, eight mine sites will be closed by park staff to remove public safety hazards. An additional 14 sites will be closed using contractor services.

September 30, 2009
Campgrounds to Open for Fall Visitor Season
Park campgrounds that were closed for low summer visitation will be fully open again on Friday, October 2.

September 17, 2009
Volunteer on National Public Lands Day
Park Superintendent Curt Sauer encourages local community residents to turn out on Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 26, to assist Joshua Tree National Park with a variety of needed work projects. Participating volunteers will receive a coupon good for a “fee-free” day at national parks and other federal agency sites.

September 11,2009
Public Invited to Preview Film About National Parks
Joshua Tree National Park will offer a public preview of Ken Burns’ latest documentary film, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 26 in the Blak Box Theater.

September 4, 2009
Painting Exhibit Opens at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Paintings by Artist In Residence Jessica Dunne will be on display at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center from Labor Day weekend through Thanksgiving.

August 24, 2009
Artist Program Selections Made
Four visual artists, a composer, and a video artist were invited to participate in the program’s second year of offering a unique residential opportunity to artists from around the nation.

August 10, 2009
Search and Rescue Volunteers Needed
Joshua Tree National Park is seeking new volunteer members for JOSAR, the park’s search and rescue team. JOSAR volunteers may participate as rescuers, field searchers, or in a support capacity for team operations.

August 7, 2009
Trail to Reopen; Campground to Remain Closed
The Lost Horse Mine trail will be re-opened for public use on Monday, August 10. However, Jumbo Rocks Campground, closed on July 7 due to swarming bees, will remain closed until Friday, August 28. Ryan Campground will continue to be open for camping in lieu of Jumbo Rocks Campground.

July 8, 2009
Bees Force Campground Closure
Jumbo Rocks Campground was closed today due to safety concerns raised by the presence of swarming bees. The closure will remain in force until noon on August 10. To compensate for the campsites closed at Jumbo Rocks, Ryan Campground, located approximately six miles west of Jumbo Rocks will be re-opened.

June 2, 2009
National Parks Offer Fee Free Weekends
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will offer fee-free weekends on June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16, 2009 to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit their national treasures. There are 391 national parks located across the country in 49 states.

June 1, 2009
2009 Summer Campground Closures
As in past years, Joshua Tree National Park will close some campgrounds for the 2009 summer season. Visitation decreases during the hot summer months so there is a reduced need for camping sites. Seasonal campground closures allow impacted areas to recover and also helps to reduce the cost of maintaining these facilities.

May 26, 2009
Lost Horse Fire Fully Contained
Joshua Tree National Park announced this morning that firefighters had achieved full containment of the 450-acre Lost Horse Fire. A few firefighters will continue to check for any remaining hotspots.

May 25, 2009
Lost Horse Fire Burns 450 Acres
A wildfire ignited from unknown causes within Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday afternoon, May 24. The fire was 80% contained by Monday evening with 100% containment set for Tuesday morning.

May 22, 2009
Photography Exhibit at Visitor Center Extended
The Miles of Wonder photography exhibit at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center has been extended through July 8, 2009. Over 230 stunning color photographs by local nature photographer, David Jesse McChesney, depict the scenery, plants, and wildlife of Joshua Tree National Park.

April 23, 2009
Recovery Act Will Fund Park Projects
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 will fund a variety of needed projects at Joshua Tree National Park. Under the Recovery Act, Joshua Tree will receive $5.3 million to fund projects to improve park roads, trails, picnic and camping areas, and water storage systems.

April 15, 2009
April 25 is Junior Ranger Day at Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park will offer a special slate of children’s activities on April 25 for National Junior Ranger Day. All Junior Ranger activities are free and are open to children from ages 4 to 14.

April 14, 2009
Mojave Max Contest Winner Announced
The 2009 Mojave Max Emergence Contest winner for San Bernardino County is Ryan Blankenship. Ryan and his classmates will receive Mojave Max T-shirts and a pizza party.

April 10, 2009
Photography Exhibit Opens at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Over 190 stunning color photographs by local nature photographer, David Jesse McChesney, depicting the scenery, plant life, and wildlife of Joshua Tree National Park, will be on display at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center until June 8, 2009. The exhibit is free to the public.

April 2, 2009
Hearing at Joshua Tree to Explore Effects of Climate Change
Washington, D.C. – In an effort to better understand how the National Park Service (NPS) and the new Administration are preparing for the impacts of climate change on federal lands, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, led by Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), will hold an oversight hearing at Joshua Tree National Park in California on "The Impact of Climate Change on America’s National Parks."

March 26, 2009
Revised Park Regulations Issued
Joshua Tree National Park has issued revised park regulations contained in the Superintendent’s Compendium. The Compendium is a list of park-specific regulations National Park Service superintendents are authorized to issue under the Code of Federal Regulations.

March 16, 2009
Riverside Man Dies in Climbing Accident
Curtis Woodrow Stark II, 67, suffered fatal injuries during a fall while climbing a rock formation called the Great Burrito. A second climber, Alfred Kuok, 44, of Claremont, California also sustained injuries during the accident.

March 10, 2009
Desert Managers Seek Funds For Tortoise Conservation
In partnership with the National Park Service, the Desert Managers Group has applied for a grant from California State Parks Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Commission. The grant would be used for education and safety messages focusing on conservation of the threatened desert tortoise.

February 26, 2009
Mojave Max Emerged February 24, 2009
California’s Mojave Max emerged from hibernation on February 24, at 1:52 p.m. Eight-hundred and fifty California students participated in the 2009 Mojave Max Emergence Contest this year.

February 13, 2009
Volunteers Sought to “Hold the Mustard”
Sahara mustard is a non-native plant that is capable of crowding out native Mojave Desert annuals. Please join one or more Hold the Mustard weed pulls that are scheduled on the following Saturdays: February 21, February 28, and March 7, to pick and bag this invader.

December 19, 2008
Bird Count Scheduled For January 3
Joshua Tree National Park will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, January 3, 2009. Birdwatchers who would like to participate should plan to meet at 7:30 a.m. at either the Indian Cove Ranger Station or the West Entrance Station.

December 3, 2008
Desert Managers Group and The Living Desert Form Partnership for Mojave Max
This year California will have its own desert tortoise to mark the beginning of spring. California’s Mojave Max will reside at The Living Desert in Palm Desert California.

October 3, 2008
Public Invited to Open House on Future of Oasis Visitor Center
Joshua Tree will conduct a design workshop on the future development of the Oasis Visitor Center from October 20 through 22 with a public session on October 21.

October 3, 2008
DesertArc Lends Joshua Tree a Helping Hand
October is National Disability Awareness Month. To raise awareness about one local program to benefit the disabled, Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer made a presentation Thursday morning about DesertArc at the Basin Wide Foundation’s monthly breakfast meeting at the Helen Gray Center in Joshua Tree.

October 1, 2008
Research Grant Applications Available
Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer announced today that applications for the park’s 2009 Graduate Student Research Grant program are available on the Joshua Tree National Park website.

September 17, 2008
Volunteers Sought for Public Lands Day
Superintendent Curt Sauer invites local community residents and park visitors to “Get Down and Dirty for America” by joining park staff to work on Public Lands Day projects at Joshua Tree National Park.

September 17, 2008
Paul DePrey to Manage USS Arizona Memorial
Paul DePrey has been chosen as the next superintendent of the USS Arizona Memorial. He will be moving from Joshua Tree National Park, where he is chief of resources management, in October.

September 4, 2008
Reward Offered for Information About Tortoise Death
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of a desert tortoise in Joshua Tree National Park.

August 25, 2008
Temporary Road Closure Planned
The five-mile stretch of Park Boulevard between North Entrance and the turn-off to Cottonwood Spring will be closed for repairs from September 2 until September 4, 2008.

August 19, 2008
Park Seeks Information About Dead Tortoise
On August 4, 2008, Joshua Tree National Park staff discovered a tortoise that had apparently been burned to death in Black Rock Campground. If you know anything about this incident, please call 760-367-5541.

August 6, 2008
Flooding Causes Temporary Closures
Strong thunderstorms moved across the north central area of Joshua Tree National Park on the afternoon of Monday, August 4. Storm damage has forced park officials to temporarily close a number of park facilities. 

June 3, 2008
Summer '08 Campground Closures
Some campgrounds will be fully or partially closed for the summer. They will reopen in October.

June 3, 2008
Park to Host Public Forum on Cultural Heritage
A visiting group of scholars will discuss perspectives related to the park's history and cultural heritage on June 11 at the Black Rock Nature Center.

April 14, 2008
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
After months of anticipation Mojave Max, the famous southern Nevada desert tortoise who resides at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, officially emerged from his burrow at 11:27 a.m.April 14, 2008.

March 21, 2008
Joshua Tree Revises Park Regulations
Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer announced that park regulations contained in the Superintendent's Compendium have been revised.

March 12, 2008
Park Will Host the National Parks America Tour
Volunteers from Boys & Girls Clubs, Scout troops, and local high schools will work on projects to enhance the park landscape at the sixth annual National Parks America Tour on Saturday, April 12.

December 18, 2007
Park Will Hold Bird Count on New Year’s Day
On Tuesday, January 1, 2008, Joshua Tree National Park will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count, which is held each winter as part of the international Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the National Audubon Society.

November 29, 2007
Joshua Tree Displayed at the White House
An ornament depicting Joshua Tree National Park is prominently displayed on this year’s White House Christmas Tree. The tree is the centerpiece of elaborate decorations celebrating the theme of “Holiday in the National Parks.”

November 9, 2007
Joshua Tree Free To Veterans This Sunday
Veterans and active military personnel, along with their families, will be admitted free to Joshua Tree National Park on November 11, 2007.

October 2, 2007
Park Ready for Fall Visitor Season
Park campgrounds and visitor centers will be fully open by October 5, in time for the Columbus Day holiday weekend.

September 25, 2007
Volunteers Needed for Public Lands Day
Joshua Tree National Park is looking for volunteers to participate in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), on Saturday, September 29, 2007.

September 21, 2007
Park Extends Temporary Road Closure
Visitor travel on Keys View Road will remain limited to weekends and holidays until October 16, 2007.

August 7, 2007
Temporary Road Closures Update
Beginning Sunday, 8/12/2007 Keys View Road will be closed from 10 p.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. Friday. In addition, visitors may be delayed due to repairs on Park Boulevard, between Hidden Valley and Cap Rock.

July 24, 2007
Campground Closed Due to Bees
Jumbo Rocks Campground is temporarily closed due to increased bee activity. During the closure the current dumpsters will be replaced and bee activity will be monitored.

June 14, 2007
Joshua Tree Employee Receives Award
Joshua Tree National Park Trails Supervisor Kenneth Hornback received the Jed Davis Leadership Award in ceremonies held in Washington D.C. on May 24, 2007.