Twentynine Palms National Parks, Wilderness Areas and More

Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve

Twentynine Palms is situated by the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, and nearby are located two protected wilderness areas and the Mojave National Preserve.

Joshua Tree National Park offers almost 800,000 acres of desert wilderness filled with trails, historic sites, desert scenery and wildlife, and beautiful sunsets and starry nights.

Other featured areas are the Amboy Crater, a small volcanic cone; Kleghorn Lakes Wilderness, Sheephole Valley Wilderness, and the Mojave National Preserve.

Read our list of National Parks, Wilderness Areas and Preserves near the 29 Palms area for more information to use in planning your trip to Twentynine Palms.

Twentynine Palms area National Parks listed by distance from Sunnyvale Garden Suites:

Joshua Tree National Park  •  2.3 mi

Oasis Visitor Center
74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA    (760)367-5525
For those of you seeking a beautiful, unspoiled, natural high desert landscape, Joshua Tree National Park offers 790,000 acres of mountain climbing, rock climbing, hiking, beautiful cacti and wildflowers, native birds and animals and some of the most incredible rock formations in the world. You'll certainly want to bring along your camera or artist's paints.

There are many other opportunities for adventure at Joshua Tree National Park, including numerous hiking and biking trails, camping, horseback riding, self-guided and Ranger-led tours of various historic sites like the Desert Queen Ranch. There are also numerous opportunities for birding, stargazing, and viewing wildflowers.

Another fascinating activity is visiting old gold mines. There are eight gold mining districts in Joshua Tree National Park, featuring old mines from the California Gold Rush days. The mines most easily visited are the Mastodon in the Cottonwood Spring District, the Lost Horse, Gold Coin and the Silver Bell in the Middle Pinyon District, and the Desert Queen in the northern Pinyon District.

When visiting Joshua Tree National Park, stop at the Visitor Center first to learn about the many hiking and biking trails and other points of interest in the park. The Visitor Center offers Park information, exhibits, maps, cards, books, guides & videos.

Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness  •  18.9 mi

Bureau of Land Management
Barstow Field Office    (760) 252-6000
Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness 38,000 acres of protected wilderness and is named for the dry lakes found here. The Wilderness includes the Bullion Mountains to the east, a desert valley to the west, and the dry lake beds in the center. A wide variety of wildlife and desert plants can be seen here, including desert bighorn sheep in the mountains, the threatened desert tortoise in the valley, barrel cactus and "smoke trees" in some of the washes, occasional wildflower displays in the Lakes, and Crucifixion Thorn near the eastern edge of the wilderness boundary. Recreational activities include hunting, fishing, non-commercial trapping, hiking, horseback riding, camping, birding and stargazing. Visit the web site to learn more and visit Wilderness.net for information about wilderness areas and guidelines.

Sheephole Valley Wilderness  •  40.8 mi

Bureau of Land Management
Needles Field Office    (760) 326-7000
The Sheephole Valley Wilderness is a total of 187,516 acres that include the Sheephole Mountains, the Calumet Mountains, and the intervening Sheephole Valley. Recreational opportunities in the Wilderness include hiking, horseback riding, hunting, camping, rock hounding, photography, and backpacking. Hiking here is challenging due to the lack of water & the expanse of the wilderness. Wildlife includes bighorn sheep, the threatened desert tortoise, coyote, black-tailed jackrabbits, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, quail, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, and several species of lizards. Visit the web site to learn more and visit Wilderness.net for information about wilderness areas and guidelines.

Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark  •  49.6 mi

Bureau of Land Management
Needles Field Office    (760) 326-7000
Amboy Crater is a volcanic cinder cone off of Highway 66 (Historic Route 66), a 45-minute drive northeast of Twentynine Palms. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973, being recognized for its visual and geological significance. The picturesque cone rises 250 feet above the Mojave Desert floor. The hiking trail that leads to the top and back is a 1/2-day walk and provides a majestic 360-degree view and is a great place for a picnic.

The inside of the 250' high crater contains two lava dams behind which has formed small lava lakes. These are now flat in general appearance, covered with light colored clay, creating the impression of miniature "dry lakes." There is a breach on the west side of the crater where basaltic lava poured out over a vast area. Beyond the crater lies 24 square miles of lava flow containing such features as lava lakes, collapsed lava tubes and sinks, spatter cones and massive flows of basalt.

Mojave National Preserve  •  54.6 mi

Visitor Information    (760) 252-6100
The Mojave National Preserve is a day trip from Twentynine Palms, but one worth taking. The 1.6 million acre Mojave National Preserve is the third largest national parkland in the continental U.S. The Preserve is mostly undeveloped, but there are a few campgrounds and a modest visitor information center. The Preserve offers extraordinary scenery and the freedom to explore.

The unique landscape provides opportunities to explore western history, ancient geologic times, singing sand dunes, volcanic explosions, limestone caverns, and the largest Joshua tree forest. Of particular interest are Kelso Dunes (55.7 mi), Providence Mountains State Recreational Area (63.1 mi), Kelso Depot Visitor Center (88.5 mi), and Mitchell Caverns (103 mi). Regional Guide Books & Maps are available at Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms and you can visit the web site for additional information.