Hugh Norris Trail in Saguaro National Park is a moderate out and back trail named after a respected Tohono O’odham police chief, and is our absolute favorite trail on the west side of the park. The trailhead is only a few minute drive from JTH Tucson, and though it’s 9.8 miles in total it can […]
Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park is an easy out and back trail that we especially love for spotting all kinds of native desert plants. The trailhead is only a few minute drive from JTH Tucson, and the trail itself takes only about 30 minutes making it a perfect quick adventure into […]
Split Rock Loop Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a moderate loop trail that we’ve been really enjoying lately. We find that it’s not as trafficked as other trails in the park (like Hidden Valley or Barker Dam), but offers similar beauty (think rock formations, Joshua Trees, and incredible views). There’s so much beauty […]
Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a moderate to challenging hike with an elevation gain of 1,060 feet. The first half of the trail can be pretty steep, but the whole trail has incredible views of Joshua Tree. The trail itself is a total of 2.9 miles and is clearly marked. It is […]
Arch Rock Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a great short hike and one of our most frequent hikes in the summer season due to its short length and infinite beauty. The trail itself is a pretty quick 1.2 mile out and back hike and is clearly marked, which allows us to get some […]
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 […]
Slowing down to enjoy the sweet moments is certainly not easy, especially this time of year. Ironically, in order to leave time and space for less, more work, more everything inevitably follows. For all of the extra work that we did to prepare for hosting our families in Joshua Tree this year, we were rewarded with more time outdoors (and incredibly beautiful weather). We spent Christmas afternoon enjoying a meal together in 75 degree sunshine, followed by a sunset hike.
While there are many ways to enjoy Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding area, our friends Geneva and Andy prefer to explore as a family. They’re a stylish and multi-talented bohemian bunch who live full-time in Joshua Tree, and have the sweetest daughter named Prairie who adores being outside. You may also recognize them as the ones behind the beautiful Instagram account, and Cosmic American blog. They’re always taking advantage of the beautiful landscape around us, and have been kind enough to share their favorite trails to explore as a family.
We’re often asked about our favorite places in Joshua Tree and the surrounding area. We never know quite where to begin with our recommendations – there’s a little bit of everything here. The epic, the strange, places that simply feel alien.
