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Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California is a desert park with over 800 plant species and various animals. It includes historic structures, archaeological sites, and museum collections. Visitors can enjoy wildlife, plant life, self-guided nature walks, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, and guided tours. Camping is available, but no hookups or showers. Visitors must carry water, no firearms or weapons are allowed, and pets must be leashed.
Joshua Tree National Park is a unit of the US National Park Service. Located in Southern California, it is classified as a “desert park”. It is home to more than 800 plant species and numerous animals. You pay the fees for the entrance and for the camping.
Interest in protecting the park began in the early 1930s, and Joshua Tree National Park became a National Monument in 1936. The park is approximately 800,000 square miles (1,287,475 square kilometers) and includes 88 historic structures and 501 sites archaeological. It houses several museum collections, including artifacts from the Pinto Culture, American Indian culture and pottery, Gold Rush artifacts, botany, and more.
Wildlife is a major attraction in Joshua Tree National Park. Bird watchers have reported sightings of more than 250 bird species within the park, including golden eagles and roadrunners. Tree frogs, toads, turtles, lizards and snakes, bats, sheep, squirrels and foxes also live inside the park. Tarantulas and scorpions are also plentiful, and the park reports about 75 butterfly species live there.
Plant life includes the Joshua tree, or Yucca brevifolia, for which the park is named. Part of the agave family, this flowering plant was important to past cultures that used the leaves to weave shoes and baskets. Other plants found in Joshua Tree National Park include cacti, bushes and trees, and many species of wildflowers bloom in late February and early June.
Additionally, five of North America’s 158 desert fan palm oases are located in Joshua Tree National Park. Such palms can grow to more than 75 feet (about 22.86 meters) tall. When grown together in stands, they form shady oases.
Visitors can explore the park’s roads by car or choose from 12 self-guided nature walks. Mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing are also popular. Several guided tours are available, including on horseback. Night sky programs are also hosted periodically at different locations in the park.
Nine campsites are available at Joshua Tree National Park. None of these offer hookups for recreational vehicles, such as electricity or sewer. Water is available at some campsites, but none have showers. Picnic tables and fire grills are available in most areas. Campers can also backpack and camp throughout the park, but are strongly encouraged to follow safety precautions at all times.
The park management reminds visitors to always carry water with them, even for short visits. No firearms and weapons are permitted, and visitors are not allowed access to abandoned mining works. A leash law is also strictly enforced for pets.
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