An alternate way to Joshua Tree

The typical way to get to Joshua Tree is to go from the north, by taking the 10 to the 62 through Yucca Tree and into the park. Now, there is nothing wrong with this path. It is on smooth open freeways and Yucca Tree is a very cute little down. It also dumps you into the park at the peak of its beauty, where all of the big rocks and trees are. However, there is another way of doing this.

While not as orthodox, there is also a southern entrance to the park. This entrance is in the middle of no where on the 10 well outside of the civilization of the Coachella Valley. The obvious pro to this entrance is that you have the opportunity to drive through the whole park, experiencing the beauty from end to end. You don't miss the beauty of the Ocotillo patch or the chollo cactus garden. But, there is also another pro to this. A pro for the drivers out there.

This pro will add another hour and a half to the drive time out to the park, but if you leave early enough it is more than worth it. Instead of taking the 10 to the 62 or straight into the park, instead, exit in Banning for the 243 and take that to the 74 east. These are some stunning roads with beautiful mountain views, and a very dramatic drop into the desert floor.


Map of route:
View Larger Map

And finally, some new photos from the park: