There are ample opportunities for how you can recreate in Southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park. Day hiking, rock climbing, star gazing, camping, and more are offered in massive amounts. Backpacking is available too. In this article I share a hike that I love that can be done as a VERY LONG day hike or as an overnight backpacking trip to explore some of the more remote parts of Joshua Tree. Let’s do some Joshua Tree National Park Backpacking!
The Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park can be accessed from two different trailheads. This trail gives you an opportunity to begin your hike at the Indian Cove Trailhead or the Keys West Trailhead. This hike is a lovely opportunity to experience the vastness and variety of scenery and plants in Joshua Tree National Park.
Dogs are welcome at the campgrounds and dirt roads but not on the trails just fyi! So you’ll have to leave your pup at home for this adventure. (Or there is a doggie daycare/boarding facility right outside of the entrance.)
It’s a privilege to go hiking on public lands. Especially while you are taking a trip, on vacation, or on a holiday somewhere you don’t live. Giving love and respect to the culture is vital and while we are at it…Leave No Trace and Pack Your 10 Essentials :)!
Joshua Tree National Park Backpacking Need To Know’s.
1. You’ll need a wilderness permit and to register before going into the backcountry in Joshua Tree. The photos above show all of the different backcountry sites and how they are labeled.
2. Joshua Tree’s Boy Scout Trail has 14 different backcountry sites available and are easily seen from the trail.
3. If you hike this trail only one way and stage cars you’ll have much more elevation gain by hiking from Indian Cove to Keys West. If you prefer more descent then you can go from Keys West to Indian Cove. The All Trails info on this hike doesn’t include the round trip information.
4. Joshua Tree has world famous sport climbing and bouldering and each end of this trail offers access to parts of the park with it. The Indian Cove Campground and adjoining Rattlesnake Canyon have a plethora of climbing opportunities. Whereas Hidden Valley and Quail Springs are close to Keys West.
Joshua Tree Boy Scout Trail Details.
I did this hike recently as a round trip hike from Indian Cove to Keys West and back in one day. It was a bit over 16 miles and had about 700 feet in elevation gain and loss. The trail highlights include cacti, the wonderland of rocks region, and a massive amount of Yucca’s (Joshua Trees.)
If you choose to break this up into an overnight (or two nights) you can add on day hikes to Willow Hole, the Maze, or go over to Indian Cove Campground and watch rock climbers.
There is no water on this trail so make sure you bring all you can. I drank 2.5 liters during my day hike in January and the temperature high for the day was 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
The trail is fairly easy to follow but keep an eye out for markers when the desert flatness can become cumbersome to see. The backcountry sites are also additional markers and they go in ascending/descending order depending on which way you are hiking. (Note that there is a break of them during the rocky/canyon portions of the wonderland section.
Joshua Tree Backpacking on the Boy Scout Trail.
This is an underrated hike/backpacking trip in Joshua Tree National Park. You get the desert, the rocks, elevation, and serious length. The crowds are minimal to nothing and if you do an overnight in the desert you’ll have views of some of the best dark skies in the US. Just remember that there is no water, I would also not recommend doing this trail in the summer. Even if you didn’t attempt it in one day simply being out in the scorching sun of the High Desert summer in a lounge chair would make you dehydrated.
Joshua Tree National Park offers world class rock climbing and stargazing but their backpacking hikes are overlooked in my opinion. The Boy Scout Trail is an excellent choice for those looking to experience a quieter side of the park and a long day hike or backpacking overnight option.
Thanks for reading and supporting Happy People Hike, comment below with any questions. If you are planning a hiking or road trip to the Joshua Tree National Park in California we are happy to help!
Happy Hiking,
Mike R