Southern California has a wildly diverse landscape. Within a few hours, you can see the ocean, Southern California mountains, lakes, forests, waterfalls, and deserts. The slot canyons in Southern California are so beautiful you won’t believe your eyes! Despite the fact that more than half of our region is desert, this is possibly the least explored and most underrated area. Get to know the striking rugged beauty of the desert with Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree. It’s the perfect weekend getaway in Southern California.

Park Boulevard is a 39-mile backroad that gently winds its way through the northern part of Joshua Tree National Park and can be completed in just a couple of hours.
Map data ©2023 Google
The road runs in a semi-loop from the North Entrance Station to the West Entrance Station near the town of Joshua Tree. With its relatively short length, it offers plenty of time to stop along the way to enjoy the scenery or even take some of the hiking trails that start along the road and lead to some of the park’s intriguing features.
National Park Service
You can begin this scenic drive at either end, but travelers say that in general, fewer people enter through the North Entrance near Twentynine Palms, so you likely won’t have to wait in a line to get in the park.
Samantha Koshiol/Google Local
Taking a drive on Park Boulevard is a wonderful way to explore Joshua Tree and see a lot of what makes this national park so special.
Trakarn Pullthanung/Google Local
Joshua Trees, which give this park its name, are most commonly found in the Mojave Desert and are a distinct feature of this desert landscape. These otherworldly trees live for an average of 150 years.
Khorshid Yaghmai/Google Local

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Among the most incredible and defining features of Joshua Tree National Park are the massive rock formations. There are picnic areas and hiking trails around and through a lot of them.
Helen Di Domenico/Google Local
One of the more interesting rock formations is known as Skull Rock, which is easily accessible from the road. A slight detour on Pinto Basin Road leads to a couple of others, including Heart Rock and Arch Rock.
Victor Crespo/Google Local
The desert has its own colorful world of unique flora, from spike cacti to blooming wildflowers.
Jim Van Matre/Google Local
The Mojave Yucca, which some confuse with the Joshua Tree, is another frequent sight in this desert and has beautiful ivory-colored flowers.
Tim dice/Google Local
Be sure to keep your eye out for desert wildlife. With a keen eye and a little slow exploration, you may see coyotes, tortoises, kangaroo rats, or possibly even a fox, bobcat, or mule deer.
Daryll P/Google Local
The Southern California desert is an underrated place of beauty and this scenic drive is a perfect way to discover it.
Annie O/Google Local

If you haven’t explored Southern California’s deserts, drive Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree! It is a wonderful way to start exploring. Have you been to Joshua Tree National Park? What do you think of Southern California’s desert landscapes? We would love to hear about your favorite desert spots in the comments. Joshua Tree’s Park Boulevard is bound to Also, why not check out a few more of our awesomely beautiful backroads in Southern California?

This Joshua Tree National Park scenic drive is so pretty that you’ll almost certainly want to come back and do it again! If you decide to make the drive, take a look at the Best Road Trip Snacks: 50 On-The-Go Food Ideas. Then you will really be prepared!

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Park Boulevard, Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252, USA