12 Unique Things To Do In Joshua Tree California
Are you looking for unique things to do on a trip to Joshua Tree? If so, this article’s for you.
Joshua Tree is home to the famous national park, and has a quirky little town outside of the north entrance, with restaurants and souvenir shops. It is also near many interesting natural attractions, many of which are completely free to visit!
This article will cover all of the interesting things to do in and around Joshua Tree. From sound bath experiences to free museums, there’s something on this list for everyone!
Here are 12 unique things to do in Joshua Tree California.
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1. Visit The World Famous Crochet Museum
The World Famous Crochet Museum is a tiny little museum filled with crochet items, from animals to unique art pieces.
This museum was created by Shari Elf, an avid lover of crochet, who has been collecting crochet pieces since the 90s!
It’s completely free to visit, and the crochet items within the museum are available for purchase.
It’s located in the downtown area of Joshua Tree (10-15 min.drive from the park), and within walking distance to cafes, souvenir shops, and restaurants.
2. Go Rock Climbing
If you’re looking for something adventurous to do, go rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.
There are large boulders scattered throughout the park that are perfect for rock climbing, and you can take rock climbing lessons inside of the park.
These tours are beginner-friendly, and they’ll provide you with all of the equipment needed.
3. Visit Pioneertown
Pioneertown is a charming old wild west ghost town, created in 1946 as a film location for cowboy movies.
It’s only a 30 minute drive from Joshua Tree, and it has a motel, restaurant, petting zoo, and a variety of interesting little shops.
This is a great place to stroll around, and stop by Pappy + Harriet’s for barbecue and live music.
Just keep in mind that many of the shops are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the weekend is the best time to visit.
And if you’re looking for somewhere unique to stay near Joshua Tree, the Pioneertown Motel is located inside of the town, and has outdoor hammocks for stargazing!
4. Experience A Sound Bath In The Integratron
The Integratron is a 38 foot tall white dome, sitting in the desert 35 minutes north of Joshua Tree.
It has a fascinating history, and was built by a UFOlogist named George Van Tassel in 1959, who claimed it was designed by aliens.
Now, the Integratron is owned by three sisters who host sound bath experiences inside of the dome. They use singing bowls to create binaural beats that are said to have meditative properties.
You can reserve a sound bath experience here, or shop for crystals and other unique gifts at their gift shop.
5. Visit The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum
The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum is another hidden gem, located just 20 minutes north of Joshua Tree.
It’s an outdoor art museum in the middle of the desert, surrounded by a bunch of eclectic art pieces.
This museum was constructed out of a variety of reused materials by the artist Noah Purifoy, between 1992-1995.
It’s completely free to visit, and surrounded by interesting exhibits, so I highly recommend checking it out!
6. Go Birdwatching At Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is an amazing place to hike and bird-watch, 35-40 minutes east of Joshua Tree.
It’s a 30,000 acre nature preserve at the base of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, and an internationally recognized birding site. It’s completely free to visit, and has several excellent hiking trails that open from sunrise to sunset.
This is a great place to go birdwatching, or enjoy a more relaxed hike outside of the national park.
7. Watch The Sunset From Keys View
Drive up to Keys View for an unbeatable view of the mountains and valleys during sunset.
Keys View is a popular overlook with views of the Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and potentially even Signal Mountain in Mexico when the skies are clear enough!
It sits at an elevation of 5,185 feet, and is less than a half hour drive from the park’s north entrance.
8. Visit San Andreas Fault On A Jeep Tour
Visit the San Andreas fault and learn all about California’s unique geology on a Jeep tour. This tour departs from Palm Desert, which is around a 45 minute drive from Joshua Tree.
On the tour, you’ll get to visit the San Andreas Fault, walk through slot canyons, explore a palm oasis, and learn all about California’s earthquakes from a naturalist guide.
9. Stop By The Cabazon Dinosaur Museum
The Cabazon Dinosaur Museum is a fun roadside attraction of two huge dinosaurs that can be seen from the freeway, on the route from Joshua Tree to Los Angeles.
You can stop to take a picture in front of the dinosaurs for free, or pay an entrance fee ($15/adult, $13/kids) to explore the inside of the dinosaur museum.
If you’re traveling with kids, this is definitely worth a stop.
10. Go Stargazing In Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park is a designated Dark Sky Park, and it has exceptional opportunities for stargazing at night. Whether or not you’re camping in the park, I recommend returning at night to go stargazing.
The park is open 24 hours, and there’s 4 designated stargazing locations at the parking lots for Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, Ryan Mountain, and Quail Springs.
Additionally, the skies are the darkest along Pinto Basin Road, on the eastern side of the park.
11. Go On A Day Trip To Palm Springs
If you’re spending a long weekend in Joshua Tree, I recommend going on a day trip to Palm Springs. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Joshua Tree, and has dozens of fun and interesting places to visit.
In Palm Springs, you can ride the Aerial Tramway, a rotating tramcar that travels to the top of Mount Jacinto, or hike the Tahquitz and Indian Canyons.
Palm Springs also has a variety of museums, botanical gardens, and a hip downtown area with the famous Forever Marilyn Statue and Walk of Stars.
12. Try A Date Shake At Shields Date Garden
Shields Date Garden is a date garden and cafe located in Indio, which is just a half hour drive from Joshua Tree’s South Entrance.
It has been open for a century (Christmas of 1924), and was one of the first places to popularize the date shake in Coachella Valley!
You can stop by their cafe to try the iconic date shake, or shop for assortments of dates and chocolates at their gift shop. If you’re entering/exiting Joshua Tree from the South Entrance, this place is definitely worth checking out.
Joshua Tree Attractions Map
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