Discovery Trailhead

NPS/Samantha Laarman

Quick Facts

Location:

Joshua Tree National Park

Amenities

1 listed

Trailhead

The Discovery Trail is a 0.7-mile (1.1km) loop hike with 70ft (21.3m) of elevation gain and diverse views of the jumbo rocks area. Hike this trail through sandy washes, boulder piles, and unique rock formations. Along the trail, you will find educational signs that are great for learning more about the desert! There is also a vista point offering scenic views of jumbo rocks, skull rock, and elephant rock. This trail is nice choice for families looking for an easy and educational trail with light rock scrambling opportunities.  

The Discovery Trail begins across the street from Skull Rock. It connects to the Split Rock Trail and Face Rock. To access this trail, park near Skull Rock along Park Boulevard. The area can be congested so watch out for pedestrians while driving. When parking, watch out for deep sand, park completely off the road, and do not park on vegetation. When walking from your car to the trailhead, do not walk in the road and use the crosswalk when crossing.