My Best Tips for Winter Camping in Joshua Tree

I just got back from an incredible trip to Joshua Tree National Park a few weeks ago with a good friend of mine. I’d never camped in the desert before this trip and didn’t know what to expect, especially because our trip was slated for December.

I watched several vlogs and read some blogs about other peoples’ winter trips to JT which was really helpful! I definitely still ran into some unexpected situations that I wish I had known about before going, so now I am passing on my tips to you!

 Reserve Your Campsite

This is my biggest advice: do not underestimate just how busy the park gets in the winter. I certainly did! I knew from my ‘research’ beforehand that we were going in the peak season but I really didn’t believe it until we got there and drove around the park for two hours before finding a spot!

We were eventually able to same-day reserve a spot in Jumbo Rocks that night but had to move in the morning because it was fully booked for the next several days. We eventually landed in Ryan Campground the next morning but it took some doing and quite a bit of time.

Most of the campgrounds in the North/West side of the park are first-come first-served, except Jumbo Rocks which is strictly reservation only. It’s really a mad dash in the mornings as new campers swarm the campgrounds looking for open sites, so be prepared to snag one as soon as you find an open site!

Bring More Water Than You Need

Keep water with you at all times! If you are traveling from a humid climate like I was you will naturally be much more thirsty than you are normally. I realized halfway through my first hike in JT that one bottle of water, which would normally be fine for me on a hike, was definitely not going to be enough. You don’t want to realize you don’t have enough water when it’s too late! Be safe and load up on H2O.

Keep in mind Joshua Tree has absolutely no running water, which you probably already know if you are planning a trip there, so make sure to bring more water than you think you’ll need. If you do end up using up all of your water though, you can always run to the many convenience stores located outside of the park.

Research Hikes Ahead of Time

If you’ve been to many National Parks before, it’s probably no surprise to you that there will be no cell service. I would recommend planning your hikes ahead of time so you know where you are going before you get there. The visitors center did not have any hiking maps and the Park Rangers are pretty few and far between once you enter the park. I think it saves time to preplan hikes before leaving your cell service behind.

Layer Your Clothes

Weather in the desert is very strange. The temperatures fluctuate dramatically which makes it very hard to decide what to wear. While I was there the temp got as low as 25˚ with very strong howling winds at night, but then shot up to as much as 65˚ in the sun in the daytime. Even during the day, the difference in temp between hiking in the shade and hiking in the sun is pretty dramatic. Layering will be your best friend! Several warm layers for the morning that are light enough to stow in a backpack or tie around your waist once it gets later in the day are your best bet in my opinion.

 

Joshua Tree was an amazing place to visit and has climbed up into my favorite top 5 National Parks. The juxtaposition of its breathtaking beauty and also its desolate conditions is truly intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and I know you will too. Happy camping!

I would love to hear your own tips and stories from your trips to Joshua Tree. Comment below and let me know!