The Ideal Palm Springs & Joshua Tree National Park Weekend Getaway
Palm Springs, California is the perfect place for a weekend getaway and in this article we outline how to make the most of your time in Palm Springs & nearby Joshua Tree National Park. We also have amazing restaurant and pool/spa recommendations. Palm Springs has it all for those who want to hike/explore AND for those who want to relax/unwind. If visiting during the summer, you may want to modify your plans as Joshua Tree National Park easily reaches over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with very little shade. The good news is that this itinerary is recommended for all other times of year including Fall, Winter, and Spring. We visited during March and the weather was mild and honestly perfect for enjoying the outdoors during the day. This guide will outline a weekend itinerary from Friday evening to Sunday evening, but can be adjusted as your own timeline allows.
Friday Evening:
Sunset at Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
Assuming you arrive early enough, try to catch a sunset at Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park. This viewpoint is perched on the top of the Little San Bernardino Mountains and provides a panoramic view of the Coachella Valley. The overlook faces West making for the perfect sunset vantage point.
Saturday:
On Saturday, spend your time exploring Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park is named after the park’s iconic population of Joshua trees. However, Joshua trees are actually more similar biologically to succulents than they are to true trees. They do not have tree rings so it’s difficult to determine their age, but the oldest Joshua trees are estimated to be about 900 years old. Joshua Tree National Park is unique in that 2 different ecosystems actually meet within the park including the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Of these two deserts, the Mojave is higher and cooler. It is in this part of the national park where you will find giant piles of smooth boulders and joshua trees. Comparatively, the lower Colorado desert makes up the eastern side of Joshua Tree National Park. The landscape here looks vastly different with cholla cacti and grasslands. Even wildlife differs from one side of the park to the other. Here are a few highlights not to be missed in Joshua Tree National Park:
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is one of the most picturesque areas of Joshua Tree National Park. There are a few different things to see in this area. You can park in the Hidden Valley Picnic Area and walk the easy 1 mile Hidden Valley Loop Trail. We also recommend driving across the road to the Intersection Rock parking area to check out more boulders and rocks with less people.
Hall of Horrors
The Hall of Horrors trail is an easy 0.8 mile loop trail around several giant stacks of boulders. While you are here, you can spend some time rock scrambling and searching for hidden slot canyons. Apparently there are two slot canyons in the pile of boulders that run parallel to each other, but are tricky to locate and require rock scrambling. When we went, we were unaware of these slot canyons but we saw others who were having difficulty finding their way.
Skull Rock Trail
This easy 1.7 mild loop is one of the best short hikes in the park that connects Skull Rock with the Jumbo Rocks Campground. This hike is great for all ages and ability levels. For most of the hike, you will travel past enormous boulders and unique rock formations. You can also rock scramble near Skull Rock.
Arch Rock Trail
If you have enough time, you may want to consider this 1.8 mile easy hike. On this trail, you get to see two of the most iconic rock formations in the park including Arch Rock and Heart Rock.
Cholla Cactus Garden
End your day with a walk around the Cholla Cactus Garden at golden hour right before sunset. Cholla cacti are also known as “jumping cholla” or “teddy bear cholla” for good reason. All the spikes glow in golden hour at sunrise or sunset appearing cute and fuzzy. But don’t get too close, because even the slightest brush can result in their spikes latching onto anything that comes near.
If you have more days or are looking for more strenuous hiking options in Joshua Tree National Park, you may want to consider any of the following hikes: Ryan Mountain Trail, Mastodon Peak, Warren Peak, or Forty-Nine Palms Oasis. Overall, Joshua Tree National Park is uniquely fun with its desert scenery, hiking trails, rock climbing routes, scenic drives, and trees that look like they have been plucked from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book.
Sunday
Coachella Valley Preserve
Start your morning with a stop at Coachella Valley Preserve. We loved the easy 1.8 mile McCallum Trail that leads to the 1000 Palm Oasis. It’s amazing to find such an assortment of life amongst beautiful palm trees in a fertile region that is surrounded by desert. We highly recommend arriving at the nature preserve early as parking can be more difficult later in the day.
Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa Oasis
After all of the adventuring, take some time to rest & relax. Majestically perched overlooking Mount San Jacinto and the Coachella Valley, the Azure Palm Hot Springs offer the complete hot springs spa experience. You can book a spa service and then afterwards soak in the rich healing mineral spring waters of their pools of various temperatures.
4 Saints
End your weekend with a reservation at 4 Saints, a delectable rooftop bar & restaurant in Palm Springs. At seven stories above vibrant Palm Springs, 4 Saints serves absolutely delicious foods with the added plus of incredible views. We absolutely loved our meal here and will 100% go again if we return to the Palm Springs area.
We hope you have a fabulous weekend full of adventure, relaxation, and good food. There is so much more to see in the Palm Springs area if you do have more time, but it is possible to have an amazing experience with diverse activities over the course of a weekend.
