Joshua Tree National Park

Directions: 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, 92277. Phone (760) 367-5500. Radio: AM 1610. www.nps.gov/jotr From Interstate 10 near Palm Springs, go north on Highway 62 for 43 miles and turn right on Utah Trail. Drive a quarter of a mile, and look for the main visitor center on the right. Other visitor centers are located at Black Rock (turn right on Joshua Lane in Yucca Valley), in the town of Joshua Tree near the Park Blvd. intersection, and at Cottonwood – about 7 miles north of Interstate 10.

About the Site: Joshua Tree National Park was first established as a Monument in 1936 to protect the incredible diversity of desert plants and animals - over 250 bird species have been recorded. Today, the Park encompasses over 794,000 acres, including over 630,000 acres of wilderness.

Habitats: Mojave Desert (northern) section: Joshua tree woodland interspersed with Blackbrush. At Eureka Peak, Key’s View, and other points above 3,500 feet, you will find pinyon juniper woodland, Desert Agave, and Mojave Yucca. Sonoran or Colorado Desert (eastern and southern) section: creosote scrub, various cacti, ocotillo. A total of 5 palm oases are found inside the park.

Birds and Other Wildlife: Signature Species: Prairie Falcon, Great Horned Owl, White-throated Swift, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay, Northern Raven (prey on young tortoises), Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, LeConte’s Thrasher, Black-throated Sparrow, Joshua Tree, Yucca Moth, Chuckwalla, Desert Tortoise, Coyote, Black-tailed Jackrabbit. Summer: White-winged Dove, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Hooded Oriole, Scott’s Oriole, Black-chinned Sparrow, Nelson’s Bighorn Sheep. Rarities: Burrowing Owl, Bendire’s Thrasher, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Yucca Night Lizard, Mountain Lion.

Best Times to Visit: Fall, and especially spring migration at Cottonwood, Barker Dam, the Oasis of Mara, or Black Rock can be very productive. In wetter years, wildflower blooms occur between February and April throughout the park but be sure to check between Cottonwood and I-10.

Additional Notes: Birdwalks, Christmas bird counts, and Desert Institute courses are regularly scheduled. Call or check the website for details and for wildflower updates.