My girlfriend and I decided to wake up in the dead of the night to see the sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park. It had been on my to do list for awhile now and I had heard how Cholla Cactus Garden was the best spot for such an adventure. After 2 hours of car karaoke, we finally made it to the empty park with enough time to dance under the stars and share funny stories. Around 5:00 AM the sun started to pierce through the sky so we decided to go on a nature walk around the garden and find the perfect spot to sit to enjoy the views. As the rest of the world was still sleeping, we had the entire garden to ourselves for one of the most peaceful adventures I have ever had in my life. After the sun fully showed herself, we decided to explore the rest of the park before it got to hot. Neither my girlfriend or I had been to Joshua Tree before this and I can honestly say I’m so glad we had the opportunity to not only hike/explore but also relax within the “magic” of the desert. Joshua Tree will always have my favorite National Park memory!
Sincerely,
Joshua Tree National Park
This iconic park preserves portions of two spectacular desert ecosystems. The Colorado Desert in the eastern portion of the park features natural gardens of creosote bush, ocotillo and cholla cactus. The higher, slightly cooler Mojave Desert offers dazzling vistas of Joshua trees and yucca. The vast park also contains spectacularly sculpted formations of a type of rock known as monzogranite and is a mecca for rock climbers around the world.
State(s): California
Established: 1994
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