Joshua Tree National Park

Established as a national park in 1994, Joshua Tree Park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in Southern California including two deserts comprised of two large ecosystems that come together at Joshua Tree National Park.

Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert encompasses the eastern part of the park and features natural gardens of creosote bush, ocotillo, and cholla cactus. The higher, moister, and slightly cooler Mojave Desert is the special habitat of the Joshua tree. In addition to Joshua tree forests, the western part of the park also includes some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California's deserts. Five fan palm oases also dot the park, indicating those few areas where water occurs naturally and wildlife abounds.