What To Pack For Joshua Tree: 20 Essentials You’ll Be Glad You Brought
Post Summary: The essential list of what to pack for Joshua Tree.
A trip to Joshua Tree National Park will surely be a delight for anyone who loves unique landscapes and desert vibes. If you’ve planned your trip and have your itinerary set for Joshua Tree, the next step is to make sure you’re prepared with all the right gear for your Joshua Tree packing list. Don’t be like us and realize that maaaaybe we should have brought a sweater when it started snowing!
Before you hit the dusty trails of Joshua Tree, let’s dive into what to pack for Joshua Tree for all the changing seasons. This is our experience-based guide to the best Joshua Tree essentials. The list has 20 items, including the best gear, what to wear, and items you might not have thought to bring (hint: tweezers!), but are essential for a packing list for Joshua Tree National Park.
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WEATHER IN JOSHUA TREE
Before jumping headfirst into what to pack for Joshua Tree, let’s talk about visiting the park in the different seasons. We have been to the park several times, and we were still surprised by the light snowfall in March, since we had only ever visited in the summer months.
Spring and fall are the most comfortable months, with average highs of 85 degrees and lows of 50 degrees. In the summer, daytime temperatures reach 100 degrees, while nighttime temperatures fall to 75 degrees. In winter, the average temperature is around 60 degrees, with nighttime temperatures below freezing. It does snow in the higher elevations of the park, but rarely more than a few inches.
Those are averages, and the park could be different the day you visit! It’s important to remember that the park spans an elevation range from 536 feet to 5,814 feet atop Quail Mountain, so your weather app might not be accurate across different sections of the park.
Rainfall is scarce; the park averages 4.4 inches per year, with the most rainfall in December and January.
Here’s an overview of the average monthly temperature in Joshua Tree National Park.
READ NEXT: Traveling to Joshua Tree with children? Check out our complete guide to visiting Joshua Tree National Park With Kids.
What To Pack For Joshua Tree
We’ll start with what to wear in Joshua Tree, then cover safety gear, practical items, and other useful things to help you enjoy your time there. This packing list for Joshua Tree is best suited for front-country exploration of the park.
America The Beautiful Pass
If you are doing any other travel to America’s national parks within 365 days, you might be better off with an America The Beautiful Pass rather than paying a standalone fee. With California having some of the best national parks in the West, why wouldn’t you see more? The pass grants you access to more than 2000 federal recreation sites and is a no-brainer if you visit nearby parks on a road trip, like Death Valley National Park or Sequoia National Park.
Lightweight Walking Shoes
What kind of shoes do I need for Joshua Tree? Believe it or not, this is the most common question when someone is trying to figure out what to pack for Joshua Tree.
Hiking boots or sneakers? Since the main activity in Joshua Tree is walking, you’ll want lightweight shoes with excellent traction. The reason is that many of the trails require scrambling or even hopping from rock to rock. You’ll want to feel confident that your shoes won’t slip. I think hiking shoes are too hot and heavy for the desert climate, and the best shoes for Joshua Tree are something akin to a trail running shoe.
I’m a big fan of Merrell and think their Trail Glove for women and Trail Glove for men is perfect for Joshua Tree’s terrain. It has excellent traction and provides much-needed breathability.
Hiking Socks
While it’s tempting to wear ankle socks, we suggest socks that at least reach your calves to protect you from cactus barbs. Socks made of merino wool are ideal for hot weather conditions, so your feet can stay dry (moisture and sweat will cause blisters), and are stink-proof. Darn Tough is the king of hiking socks, and you’ll be hard-pressed to return to cheap socks once you try them. The light hiker available in mens and womens is best for hot weather conditions.
Sun Protective Top
No products found.With very little shade in the park, you’ll need clothing that offers breathability and sun protection. We recommend a quick dry long sleeve sun shirt with a hood. Wearing long sleeves might seem uncomfortable, but these shirts are built to be breathable and odor-proof. You’ll be more uncomfortable with the 90-degree temps on your bare skin! My redheaded husband swears by them, and it’s his go-to travel shirt whenever we’re spending a day with total sun exposure.
For women, the same idea, a quick-dry UPF 50 shirt that’s lightweight and breathable. I like this Quick Dry Safari shirt because it offers nice colors, doesn’t wrinkle, and is available in sizes small to 3X.
Fleece Sweater
If you are traveling to Joshua Tree in the winter, you’ll want to add a fleece sweater or jacket to your Joshua Tree packing list. When we visited in the winter, I was grossly unprepared while my husband was cozy in his fleece. A high-quality fleece like REI’s Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket should do the trick, but you’ll have to do your weather research before leaving. If it’s a colder than average year (like when we went!!), you’ll want to add a packable puffer jacket like the REI 650 Down Jacket.
Sun Hat
No products found.No matter the season, you need to bring a sunhat. Whether you use a baseball cap, visor, or bucket hat, wear one that fully covers your face. I prefer a hat that can be easily crushed, like the Emma Hat from Sunday Afternoon, because I can throw it in my backpack without worrying about ruining it.
Sunglasses
No products found.Bring your favorite sunglasses to protect your eyes from the desert glare. While buying cheap sunglasses can be fun, make sure your pair offers proper UV protection.
Sun Block
No products found.Lastly, don’t forget to pack sunscreen to avoid an uncomfortable burn. We love the mineral sunblock from Blue Lizard. It goes on white but blends in after a few good rubs. I also love Goop sunscreen for the face.
Lip Protectant
No products found.Bring a lip balm with SPF for when you’re at the park. I like Salt and Stone since it’s a mineral sunblock (rare in lip balms!) and goes on smoothly.
Moisturizer
No products found.The desert is dry and windy, so if you have sensitive skin, your mouth and skin will start to feel dry. You’ll want to add a moisturizer like La Roche-Posay Triple Repair Moisturizer or a nourishing face oil like Maelove Love 31 Botanica Oil to your Joshua Tree packing list. Your skin will be happy you did!
Daypack
A daypack to carry all your Joshua Tree essentials is a must. When we’re going light and only need to carry a few items, we use the REI Flash 18 Pack. We love that it’s lightweight, crushable for easy packing, and breathable. When we need extra room and will be carrying more gear, we use the Borealis Backpack from The North Face. I love the fun colors and that it comes with all the pockets.
I will say, hiking with a backpack in Joshua Tree can get sweaty fast. Backpack sweat is awful, so you may want a VentaPak spacer that attaches to your bag to improve airflow. It’s a game-changer, and once you use it, you’ll wonder why every backpack doesn’t have this already built into it.
Water Bottle
No products found.At the top of the list of what to pack for Joshua Tree is water. Lots of it. In fact, bring more water than you think you should. You’ll need to bring an already-filled reusable water bottle to the park and extra water to keep in your car. There are water refill stations in the park, but I prefer not to rely on those (droughts and water supply are always an issue in the desert) and to have our own water from the beginning.
Salty Snacks
No products found.If you’re visiting Joshua Tree when it’s hot, throw some salty snacks into your day pack to help replenish the electrolytes you lose while sweating. Since Joshua Tree is a dry heat, you might not notice until you’re sluggish, foggy, and irritable that you might need some nourishment from the loss of salt, potassium, and magnesium. Pretzels, chips, salted nuts, granola bars, and beef jerky are all great options.
Cooler
No products found.There is no food available in the park, so it’s best to pack a cooler with lunch and drinks when you visit. The Arctic Zone Titan Cooler is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a day-use soft cooler that’s easy to transport and affordable.
Tweezers
No products found.Yes, you need tweezers on your what to pack for Joshua Tree list. Why? The cacti.
If you think they won’t get you, think again! Especially if you’re visiting Joshua Tree with kids. When we visited the popular attraction, the Cholla Cactus Garden Trail, my husband got barbed by them twice! Both were on his ankles, where he was luckily wearing socks. It still punctured to his skin, so we had to use our hands to pull them out. I’ve since learned that you should never use your hands to pull out a barb, and this is why you need to have tweezers with you.
First Aid Kit
No products found.While packing your tweezers, throw in a first aid kit that includes band-aids, antibacterial ointment, gauze pads, instant cold packs, aspirin, and Tylenol. You can build your own or buy a pre-made kit like this.
Headlamp
No products found.Since most national parks try to have as little footprint as possible on the land, there are no light sources at night. If you’ll be staying for sunset or stargazing (both highly recommended), bring a flashlight or headlamp to keep you safe. Make sure the batteries are working, and pack some extras, just in case.
Telescope
No products found.Since Joshua Tree is a stellar place for stargazing, you might enjoy bringing a travel telescope to do some astral photography or to geek out on the wonders of the solar system. There is a wide variety of travel telescopes, ranging in price. The Gskyer Telescope is an excellent choice for traveling with kids, as it’s user-friendly and can be hooked up to a smartphone so you can take pictures and view the night sky on its larger screen. The Celestron is another lightweight travel telescope that is excellent for beginners. Straightforward and easy to use.
Phone Charger
No products found.A power bank to charge your phone is always a wise choice when visiting Joshua Tree. Because there is little to no cell service in the park, your phone might drain its battery faster looking for a connection. The Charmast Power Bank is great because it comes with built-in cables and a plug, making for a more streamlined product.
Camera
No products found.While smartphone cameras are getting more impressive, they still can’t beat a DSLR camera for their detail and color rendering. The camera we use is overkill for the everyday traveler, but if you’re looking for a great starter camera, we suggest looking at the Canon EOS Rebel T8i. We also brought our Go Pro Hero 11, fun to use when jumping on the giant boulders.
While smartphone cameras are getting more impressive, they still can’t beat a DSLR camera for their detail and color rendering. The camera we use is overkill for the everyday traveler, but if you’re looking for a great starter camera, we suggest looking at the Canon EOS Rebel T7. We also brought our Go Pro, fun to use when jumping on the giant boulders.
Have a fantastic Joshua Tree Trip! I hope our list of what to pack for Joshua Tree National Park helps you travel smoothly and worry-free. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
