52 in 52, Episode 8: Hidden Valley Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park
Last Updated on February 25, 2022 by Polly Dimitrova
Last weekend, the United States celebrated President’s Day with a federal holiday and the beautiful gift of an extended weekend! Another extended weekend meant only one thing – quickly packing our camping gear and hitting the road for another adventure in Southern California. As we have been wanting to visit more National Parks, we headed toward “the land where two deserts meet”: Joshua Tree National Park!
Taking spontaneous and unplanned trips seems to be becoming the norm for us. And so with only a general idea of what we would be doing and absolutely no plan of where we would be staying, we arrived at Joshua Tree National Park on a glorious Saturday morning. At this point, we did not even know if we would be able to stay the night or not, but we wanted to get a nice introduction to Joshua Tree National Park. That is the reason why we headed to what seems to be one of the most popular and iconic hikes – Hidden Valley Nature Trail. As part of the 52 hike challenge, this hike became Episode 8 of our 52 in 52 series! Keep reading for the full hiking guide to Hidden Valley Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park!
How to Get to Hidden Valley Nature Trail
Located only 25 minutes away from the West Entrance Station, Hidden Valley Nature Trail is the perfect first stop for the ultimate Joshua Tree Itinerary. Follow Park Boulevard South for about 11 miles. You will notice the “Hidden Valley Picnic Area” sign just before having to take a right. The road will take you to a large, but often totally packed parking area. The trailhead is to the right, while the picnic area is to the left.
When to Visit Hidden Valley Nature Trail
We arrived at around 10 AM on a Saturday and parking was already a challenge. Fortunately, we managed to get a spot only after two laps around the parking lot. Joshua Tree turned out to be a lot more popular national park than we expected and it was a bit too overcrowded for our liking. You would want to visit as early in the morning as possible. The combination of an easier route, being conveniently located, and picturesque boulders make this a heavily trafficked trail. Learn from our mistakes and visit either earlier or on a weekday to avoid the crowds and having to wait for parking. Also, keep in mind that the park provides a minimal amount of shade and temperatures in Joshua Tree become unbearable during the summer months. We visited in the middle of February and enjoyed 70+ F degree weather!
The Trail
Distance: 1 mile
Duration: 30 min – 1 hour
Elevation Gain: 100 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs: Not Allowed
Access: Up-to-date Park fees can be found here; Military gets a free annual pass
Starting Point: 34.0124734,-116.1682978
An information board marks the trailhead for Hidden Valley – a 1-mile loop which will introduce you to Joshua Tree’s best features! Follow the path to climb an initial set of steps while two massive boulders standing tall on either side of the trail, serving as gates to Hidden Valley.
As soon as you enter the valley, an incredible visage will emerge in front of your eyes – A sandy desert valley, home to the distinct Joshua trees, various cacti, and pine trees, is nestled between unique rock formations. As Hidden Valley Nature Trail makes a loop, you will be able to take either left or right from the T-junction you are standing at. We took the left route, because it was less crowded, though there is no wrong way. While the entire footpath is extremely well worn and easy to follow, you can definitely choose your own adventure and scramble over the rock formations.
As soon as you enter the valley, an incredible visage will emerge in front of your eyes – A sandy desert valley, home to the distinct Joshua trees, various cacti, and pine trees, is nestled between unique rock formations. As Hidden Valley Nature Trail makes a loop, you will be able to take either left or right from the T-junction you are standing at. We took the left route, because it was less crowded, though there is no wrong way. While the entire footpath is extremely well worn and easy to follow, you can definitely choose your own adventure and scramble over the rock formations.
With our adventurous spirits, it was not long before we were ready to venture off to the side and explore the boulders on our own. We found an intriguing mount of rocks to the right of the path and quickly started scrambling. Climbing on top of the rocks is not too difficult for thrill-seekers, but as usual, every step needs to be taken with caution in mind! The higher you climb, the more challenging it gets as the boulders get bigger and more spread out. Bigger gaps in between the rocks means a racing heart as you hop from one boulder to another, especially for those with fear of heights. The higher you climb, though, the more spectacular the scenery is!
My husband loves bouldering and he regretted not having his rock climbing gear as he wanted to continue higher past what his hiking boots were suited for. It should be noted that Joshua Tree is a massive destination for bouldering, top-roping, and lead-climbing. I found a comfortable rock and was quite content with the incredible view before my eyes! Being on top of the boulders provides you with a different perspective of the Hidden Valley. High above the ground, you have to wonder how powerful and amazing mother nature is!
After some time, we were ready to continue the journey through the valley so we found a way back down and joined the trail. As we followed the footpath, we passed numerous informational signs revealing the secrets, history, and geology of Hidden Valley. The Joshua tree, for example, is part of the yucca shrub family and only grows in the Mojave Desert. Back in the times, native people would collect its leaves and seeds for various purposes. Nowadays the Joshua tree is an endangered species and, with a real danger of their extinction, it is federally protected. They are quite unique and interesting in their shape and appearance. Feel free to admire them, but do not touch them!
The Hidden Valley is also a transition zone in between two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado Deserts. The Joshua trees, which grow at the centre of the valley, are characteristic of the Mojave while the pinyon-juniper woodland, which grow closer to the bases of the rock mounds, are indicative of the Colorado.The combination of the extraordinary landscape and the marvellous rock formations fully surrounding the valley is absolutely magnificent. I tried capturing what my eyes could see, but photos do not do justice to the incredible beauty of Hidden Valley!
We followed the trail as it curved to the right and then continued straight through the sandy desert floor. The path is fairly flat until the very last section where a set of stairs awaits. They did not bother us, but if you are visiting with smaller children you can follow the loop in a counterclockwise direction to climb down instead. The path narrows for a moment as it winds through the rock formations, before opening up again and taking you back to the beginning of the trail!
As we walked back to our car, my husband and I reflected on the short but easy hike we had just enjoyed. It is the perfect introduction to the landscapes, plants, and experiences the park has to offer while remaining close to the west entrance and the popular Hidden Valley Campgrounds! There is no question this is the perfect start to anybody’s trip to Joshua Tree.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail is an absolute must when visiting Joshua Tree National Park. Regardless if you are feeling adventurous or leisurely, you will enjoy taking this 1-mile loop while immersing yourself into Joshua Tree National Park and its most iconic features.
Have you been to Joshua Tree or taken the Hidden Valley Nature Trail? If so, be sure to let me know your thoughts down below! Make sure to come back next week for another episode of the 52 in 52 series where our journey through Joshua Tree National Park continues!
12 Comments
Jamie Italiane
I have driven past Joshua Tree many times on road trips, but never had time to stop. This seems like the perfect hiking introduction to the park and I hope to get back to try it.
Polly Dimitrova
Joshua Tree really surprised me as well. I was expecting it to be very deserted and similar to Death Valley, but it is so incredible. Definitely worth the stop!
Melinda
It looks rugged and beautiful. Good tips to go on a weekday. Hope you get to see more of Joshua Tree. I’ve only heard of it but have never been.
Polly Dimitrova
We are definitely planning on going back on a weekday when there are less people and explore more of the park 🙂
Linda (LD Holland)
The Hidden Valley Nature Trail looks like a great path for a hike. We would try to visit mid-week and avoid the crowds. It certainly does provide an amazing vista. Fun to see the variety in the rocks and plants. We definitely need to plan to visit Joshua Tree.
Polly Dimitrova
Joshua Tree is definitely worth the visit, Linda! Yes, it is a great hike – not too long and quite flat and easy. Good option even if you are visiting for just one day. 🙂
Ada
Do you think it’s so busy because it’s so close to LA? I’ve been in the general vicinity of Joshua Tree, but didn’t take the time to stop. I didn’t realize you could boulder there, but that totally makes sense. I bet the views from the top of those boulders are amazing!
Polly Dimitrova
Yes, most probably it is. You can actually easily make Joshua Tree a day trip from LA, so I am sure many people try to visit even for the day.
Yes, I did not know either – but it is a popular place for rock climbing and bouldering.
Josy A
Goodness Polly, those rock formations are sooo pretty! We were just in LA last weekend, and I was surprised to find rock formations like this near Saddle Peak. Some of the locals told us it looks a bit like Joshua Tree, and now your post makes me see what they meant!
I guess this would be a good trail to do when you first arrive and need to stretch your legs after the long drive!
Polly Dimitrova
Yes, the Hidden Valley Nature Trail is perfect for that.
Josy, thank you for the suggestions as well! I immediately checked out Saddle Peak – It is already on my list of places 😀
Clarice
I’ve always been interested in visiting Joshua Tree, but your description of it is really the deciding factor for me. The boulders and rock formations are beautiful! I didn’t realize Joshua Tree is where the Colorado and Mojave deserts meet – so interesting!
Polly Dimitrova
Yes, such an interesting location to visit! 🙂