camping in joshua tree

Outfit Details:
Forever 21 Tank (old, similar here), Champion Leggings (old, similar here),
Mossimo Plaid Shirt (old, similar here), Madewell Sunglasses , and
New Balance sneakers (old, similar here)

Last year, I went with some friends camping for the first time in Joshua tree in the fall. We went in late October which is the perfect time to see the most stars at night (literally all the hype was true and worth it!) The weather was perfect for layers which is why this outfit was perfect for hiking around during the day. There is so much to explore in Joshua Tree. I cannot wait to go back this year with my brother in town for another amazing experience!

H I D D E N  V A L L E Y  T R A I L

We started on the Hidden Valley Trail just to soak in the massive beauty of where we were! Being from Alabama I have never seen anything quite like it, huuugge rocks and dry climate everywhere that looked so grand. Hidden Valley Trail is a short, flat one mile loop that is perfect to ease in to what Joshua Tree National Park has to offer. The trail features tons of rocks and boulder formations, that were so fun to walk and climb on. I was so glad I wore leggings and layers to freely move around and layer if chilly or hot from working up a sweat. 

B A R K E R  D A M 

Yes, you are seeing that first photo correctly. There is water in the desert! It is such a beautiful site to look upon this desert oasis. Very different from Hidden Valley Trail, Barker Dam trail has bighorn sheep roaming the grounds. The hike is about 1.3 miles and is fairly flat and easy. 

C H O L L A  C A C T U S  G A R D E N

I highly recommend that you leave an extra hour at the end of your day before heading back for the night to stop at the Cholla Cactus Garden. It is located basically in the middle of the park. It only takes about 30 minutes to wander through these intriguing prickly creatures. And you can catch them in the light where they almost look translucent! We went about an hour or so before sunset and the lighting was perfect.

S T A R  G A Z I N G

That night back at the camp ground, we caught an amazing sunset. But one of the most memorable experiences of Joshua Tree is to just gaze up at the stars. If you are not in a secluded area away from the city, you can drive into the park to get unaltered views of hundreds of thousands of stars. Literally the entire sky is covered. It is incredible. Don't forget to bundle up and bring blankets since the temperature drops in the desert after the sun goes down.