Willow Hole trail in Joshua Tree National Park is unlike any other trail we’ve hiked in the desert. Once you arrive to the turnaround point of the trail—Willow Hole—you’ll be surrounded by lush green vegetation that feels surreal to the area. As one of the few oases to visit in Joshua Tree, it’s also a great place to see wildlife such as big horn sheep. A moderate hike with a small elevation gain of around 250 feet, this trail takes about 4 hours to hike.
In order to access Willow Hole trail, you’ll first hike about 1.2 miles down Boy Scout trail. You’ll start off walking by many Joshua trees with the Wonderland of Rocks off in the distance. After you turn onto the Willow Hole Trail, you’ll find yourself in a wash surrounded by amazing rock formations, juniper trees, prickly pears, and red barrel cactus. The sandy wash can be tough to walk through, so make sure to bring comfortable sneakers for the trek. After about 3.4 miles, the trail dead ends at Willow Hole where you’ll find lush Willow trees and occasionally water. This is the perfect spot to take a rest before heading back towards the beginning of the trail.
Trail Info for Willow Hole
Length
6.9 miles there and back. Takes about 4 hours to hike.
How to Access
Use the west entrance of the park and drive about 6.5 miles in, turning left into the Boy Scout Trail trailhead parking lot. Hike on Boy Scout trail for about 1.2 miles until you come to the Willow Hole trailhead, which veers to the right. Continue on the trail through some washes and rock formations until you dead end at an area full of Willow trees and lush vegetation.
What to Bring
The hike to Willow Hole is through sandy washes and doesn’t have much shade. As always, bring a lot of water and sunscreen (turn around when you’re halfway through your water supply, no matter what!). Wear comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers.
Check out some of our other trail guides for North View Trail, Fortynine Palms Oasis and Arch Rock Trail.
