![]() NPS / Hannah Schwalbe With stunning landscapes, scenic vistas, and hundreds of square miles of designated wilderness, Joshua Tree National Park offers outstanding backpacking opportunities. It gives visitors the chance to find solitude, view seldomly seen areas, and experience nature on its own terms. By observing the guidelines below, you can help protect the national park and have a safer experience. Backpacking is only recommended for those with the proper backcountry skills and gear. It not recommended for unprepared campers who could not find a site at a campground. Camping is only permitted in specified backcountry areas and designated campgrounds. Camping is not allowed at trailheads, along roadsides, and in day-use areas. If you have questions, ask a ranger. It is your responsibility to know and abide by park regulations.
The new recreation.gov webpage for booking backpacking permits is currently live. Visitors may now book permits for March 1, 2023 and beyond. The information below describes our current permit system. For information on the new permit system, scroll down the webpage. Current System (expires February 28, 2023):To backpack, you must park and register at a backcountry registration board—there are 13 within the park. Each location provides parking space for your vehicle, an information panel featuring a map of the adjacent area, and the self-registration permits. To register, fill out the permit form, leave the bottom portion of your permit in the drop box, and take the top portion with you. An unregistered vehicle or a vehicle left overnight somewhere other than at a backcountry board is subject to citation and towing.
For more information, see the Rules and Regulations section below. New System (effective March 1, 2023):
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Rules and Regulations
No Fires
Campfires are illegal in the backcountry. Joshua Tree is susceptible to destructive wildfires. Most Joshua trees do not survive fires and have a hard time repopulating in burned areas. You are welcome to use backpacking camp stoves.
Food and Water
Bring all your own water. We recommend at least one gallon per person per day; more if you're hiking on hot days or strenuous trails. Natural water sources are rare and delicate biological resources and should not be taken from. You are welcome to cache water. If you do, please write your name, number, and date of pick up on it. Do not leave any containers behind.
If caching food, it must be in a car or hard-sided container able to withstand access from wildlife. Though we don't have bears, bear cans work well for caching food.
Secure your food at night. If you leave it out in the open, rodents, ravens, and coyotes are likely to get into it.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Good campsites are found, not made. Do not set up your tent on vegetation. Look for previously established campsites or durable surfaces like rock slabs, hardened soils, and sandy washes. Washes (dry sandy stream beds) are great leave-no-trace spots and tend to have fewer spiky things. However, if it's summer monsoon season or there is a chance of significant rain, do not camp in washes, because they can flow with water. For more information, view our Flash Flooding webpage.
Camping in historic sites, rock shelters, and alcoves is prohibited.
Do not camp near water sources (seeps, springs, or oases).
Avoid camping near animal burrows or nesting sites.
Do not tie tents or hammocks to vegetation or Joshua trees.
If hiking off-trail, it is best to hike in washes, on game trails, and on rock slabs. Avoid stepping on plants, animal burrows, and cryptobiotic soil crusts. Cryptobiotic soil is a living soil composed of algae, fungi, and bacteria. It may appear bumpy and dark-colored. It helps prevent soil erosion and promotes nutrient rich soil and plant growth. A misplaced footstep can take years to heal.
Dispose of waste properly
Pack out all trash and left-over food.
Pack out excrement or bury it at least 6 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from water sources and campsites. Do not leave it under a rock or bury it in washes because it can get unburied when the washes flow. Pack out your toilet paper. With a dryer, less organic soil, toilet paper breaks down very slowly in the desert.
Leave What You Find
Collecting natural and cultural objects is strictly prohibited. All plants, rocks, wildlife, and historic and prehistoric materials are protected in the park including wildflowers. Leave everything just as you find it. This helps scientists and archeologist better understand the park's ecosystems and history and allows other visitors to share in the experience of discovery. Let photos, drawings, and memories be your souvenirs.
Group Size and Camping Limit
The maximum group size is limited to 12 people. If groups larger than this are separated into multiple, smaller groups, then groups must hike at least 10 minutes apart and camp at least 1 mile apart. The designated campsites in the Boy Scout zone have different capacity limits: 1-4 people, 5-8 people, and 9-12 people. You are allowed to backpack up to 14 consecutive nights in one trip.
Proof of Permit
You must carry your permit with you. It may be a printed copy or an electronic copy on your phone.
Pets
Dogs and pets are not allowed in the backcountry. This is for the protection of our animals and yours. The presence of carnivores, such as domestic dogs, impairs the feeding, travel, and reproductive cycles of animals struggling to survive in the wild. Even leashed dogs cause extra stress on wild animals and are only allowed in campgrounds and within 100 feet of designated roads.
Be Considerate of Others
Because we share park lands with people who have different recreational pursuits, a cooperative spirit is required. Loud music, excessive noise, and bright lights disturb those recreationists who wish to enjoy the dark night sky and listen to nature’s sounds. Please minimize their use in the backcountry.
Please maintain a low profile when hiking and camping in groups. Taking rest breaks a short distance from the trail and breaking up into smaller camping groups will minimize the impact of your group.
Moving off-trail when you encounter horse riders (they have the right-of-way) and talking quietly will reduce the likelihood that the horses will be frightened by your presence.
Look for campsites that are out of view of trails and roads.
To learn more about low-impact backcountry travel, check out the Leave No Trace guide to deserts and canyons.
Your Safety is Your Responsibility
Arrive Prepared
Joshua Tree weather can range from blistering hot to freezing cold and can include gale-force winds, heavy rain, and snow.
On hot days, avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day, take shade breaks, and carry plenty of water. In the summertime, extreme heat poses a very serious safety risk.
The sun and its ultraviolet radiation can be very intense in Joshua Tree. Pack sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and light, loose-fitting clothing that covers the skin.
The Essentials
We recommend carrying a first aid kit, map, compass, and satellite communication device with you and know how to use them. Check out our maps webpage for links to USGS topographical maps. Also, download the official NPS app. On the app, you can download detailed "offline" maps to use in the park when there's no cell phone signal.
Communication
Tell someone your plan before heading out into the backcountry. There is very little cell phone service if there’s an emergency. When you register for a permit, please provide a detailed itinerary. This will help us located you in the event of an emergency.
A Rescue is Not Guaranteed
A search and rescue team may take hours or days to reach you. Plan ahead and prepare, make sound decisions, and know what to do in case of an emergency.


Last updated: January 31, 2023