Joshua Tree

I am pondering a trip out to Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding area later this summer. I'm nuts about hiking and photography and wide-open spaces, and there are some incredibly cool and affordable airbnb cabins available: Joshua Tree 2018 (with Photos): Top 20 Joshua Tree Vacation Rentals, Vacation Homes & Condo Rentals - Airbnb Joshua Tree, California, United States.

My question is, am I crazy to be heading out there in July, given the daytime heat? I live in Georgia so heat and humidity are facts of life I've dealt with for 45 years, but desert heat seems like a different kind of monster.

Question #2: If I do go, what should I see and do while I'm out there?

Many thanks.

 

I presume you stil haven't found what you're looking for.

 

FTFY

 

We loved it... in a cool January. Admittedly, it was a lot of driving then getting out to see the highlights.

It is an amazing place. Like being on another planet. The July heat? I’m not sure how that would go.

 

Oh, and for me the most amazing point is the highest point of the park.

On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mexico. The San Andreas Fault is clear.

The day we went, the wind was ferocious. Knock-you-down speed. But totally worth it.

 

I'd love to go at a different time of year but summer's pretty much the only chance to travel across the country. Thanks.

 

The problem with dry heat is you can be in it and not notice anything is wrong until you are in serious trouble. The desert doesn't cool down until right before the sun comes up which can also be a potential danger point if you over do it on a particular day. I've been outside at midnight and it's still at or near 100 degrees. As MileHigh pointed out, July is monsoon season. The humidity gets up to a point where you'll feel as bad as a Georgia summer if you don't get washed out by flash flooding.

If you decide to do this in July, before you go, find out what kind of cooling system the place you are staying at has. This seems trivial but it really matters especially if the monsoons roll through. Many places in the desert have swamp coolers. These are fine so long as the humidity remains low. As soon as the humidity gets much above 20 percent, they don't work very well and you are just miserable. If the area is expecting rain, this will be an issue. Also, summer rains mean flash floods especially in areas outside of a city. Keep an eye on conditions and be prepared to GTFO.

When hiking, go earlier in the day and try to be back by late morning. And bring plenty of water. The sun will drain you pretty quickly. Make sure your car is in good order and you have something in the way of water in the car just in case. Mind you I used to live closer to Death Valley but we could count on at least one story every year or two of someone breaking down and dying out there. Not sure if Joshua Tree has the same problem but it was always in the back of my head even if I drove from the upper Mojave down to San Bernardino on a highway that was well travelled.

 

Much appreciated. I think now I'm going to try to squeeze in a trip during a few dead days in October.

 

Tragically Lost in Joshua Tree’s Wild Interior

 

I was there in December. What a weird and fascinating place.

If you aren’t coming from the south, be sure to take the road that goes to the south entrance (and towards Palm Springs) as well as spending time at all the sites in the north part of the park.

I did get lost on one of my hikes.

 

If you see a burning casket, you've dropped too much acid.