Jumbo Rocks Campground

Biking

Road cyclists can access Park Boulevard from the campground entrance, but be prepared to share the road with fast-moving cars. For gravel or mountain bike riding, the nearby unpaved Queen Valley Road makes a great alternative to the busier Geology Tour Road.

Hiking

The 1.7-mile Skull Rock Loop trail starts at the entrance to the Jumbo Rocks Campground, while the trailhead for the 2.5-mile Split Rock Loop hike is just two miles down the road. It’s a 10-minute drive west from the campground to the popular Ryan Mountain trailhead. Bring plenty of water!

Horseback riding

Sometimes, a strikingly beautiful place is just made better by the presence of a good friend. We believe this absolutely applies to horses, and there many paths open to equestrians and their four-legged friends at Joshua Tree. Riders can come for the day, camp at one of two campgrounds that have facilities for horses, or acquire a special permit for camping in the backcountry with livestock. Personally, we think falling asleep under the stars in one of the wildest places in the country with your favorite non-human sounds pretty epic. Check out the trails open for exploration here and, if you are interested in renting horses for the afternoon, you can head over to Joshua Tree Ranch, which offers tours in the park.

Off-roading (OHV)

You KNOW those endless stretches of California desert are calling your name, and you can feel your fingers itching at the thought of revving up the four-wheel drive and hitting those dusty paths. There are, quite literally, nearly 100 miles of road available for exploring this forlorn and mystical land, giving you extensive opportunities to reach toward that horizon and take in some of the truly striking scenery surrounding you. Check out some of our favorite treks , then pack up the 4-wheeler and get some mud (well, dust) on those tires.

Climbing

Joshua Tree visitors, young and old, find the park’s boulders irresistible to scramble upon, and there are plenty of rock features to explore right in the Jumbo Rocks Campground. For technical rock climbing, the park has over 8,000 climbing routes and 2,000 boulder problems. Gear shops outside the park rent crash pads, and various local climbing guides cater to climbers of all skill levels.

Wildlife watching

At Jumbo Rocks, keep your eyes peeled for cottontail rabbits, coyotes, roadrunners, chuckwallas, and the Mojave desert tortoise. The park visitor centers are great places to learn about Joshua Tree’s 350 types of vertebrate inhabitants.