Wander Here: Healing, Slow Living + Connection at Joshua Tree National Park

May 31

Wander Here: Joshua Tree, California, USA

The backdrop to massive healing for one of our kiddos as well as our home base as we decided to take the leap into purchasing our new home on wheels, Joshua Tree is one of those places we never wanted to leave. Our 3 weeks there could have turned into forever.

A place of connection, communion with nature, and healing

As we pulled into town, our backseat carried one kid who had been struggling for several weeks. A lover of travel, nature and exploring, she was thriving in some ways, but there was an anxiety brewing that she just couldn’t kick. I had been praying over here fervently every morning for weeks, but it just wouldn’t settle. I had faith that God would heal her, but no idea when or how.

We spent our days climbing and wandering through the cracks and crevices of boulders, using them as shelter from the wind and cold as we watercolored the cholla cactus and joshua trees. Running barefoot through the sand - climbing, jumping, sliding down - the desert air hugged us all in and filled us with peace and inspiration. We marveled at the shapes of the Doctor Suess like trees, running our fingers up and down their fuzzy trunks. And we stayed up late some nights just to sit under the inky dark sky and try to count the seemingly billions of stars.

A place where life seems to be lived at a different pace

Later, we wandered the streets of downtown Joshua Tree and heard story after story of folks who came there for one reason or another and then just never left. Artists and nature lovers and people looking for community in a place where life just seems to slow down and feel more connected. From ancient people groups thousands of years ago to musicians in the 1980’s, people have been taken care of, enlightened, healed and inspired by this magical little place in the high desert.

Joshua Tree National Park was our playground, our schoolroom, our home away from home that fostered healing and connection for our family and each of us on our own. By the end of our first week, our girl was seeming so much better and by week 2 she was basically back to herself. So grateful for our time in the high desert and how God used it for healing.

Here’s a little list of our can’t miss spots in and around Joshua Tree National Park and in JT town…

Hidden Valley Trail - we hiked this trail our first night in the park, and the kids especially fell in love. Every time we left the house in the weeks after, they all voted to just go do this trail again. It’s a fairly short trail, but there are endless opportunities for rock scrambling, exploring, watching rock climbers and adventuring down offshoots from the main trail. It’s a must hike in the park and really beautiful at sunset and for stargazing.

Barker Dam Trail - a short 1.3 mile loop, this trail is especially lovely in the spring because there is actually water there! Sitting on the boulders and gazing out at this pristine pool in the middle of the desert is a super special experience.

Mas o Menos - our favorite coffee shop in JT, Mas o Menos has all the good vibes. When the weather is nice, they open up the large windows and have good tunes filling the space - it doesn’t get much better. They also have event nights, like tacos + bingo, and if coffee isn’t your thing there are plenty of other drink options to choose from. One thing to note is this stop is adults only, but if you have your kiddos with you feel free to order from the walk up window and enjoy the patio.

Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum - this place represents Joshua Tree well in all it’s crazy quirkiness. Think super odd and interesting art installations set up outside in the middle of the desert. We spent about an hour wandering the grounds, speculating at what could have inspired each piece and what the meaning could be. It’s also awesome that there’s no charge to get in, although donations are appreciated!

Sun Ally Shops - we frequented a little yarn / knitting / jewelry shop here an embarrassing amount of times. We also visited the Crochet Museum just next door, which is tiny but definitely deserves a stop! Grab a coffee at The Dez nearby and spend an hour wandering through these little shops and chatting with the owners - a sweet little stop in downtown.

Pioneer Town - I was hesitant because this place seems to get a lot of hype (a lot of hype usually means more touristy and less authentic), but we decided to go check it out and really enjoyed it. Even as vegetarians, we were able to have a delicious lunch at the famous Pappy and Harriet’s, and then we spent time perusing the little shops and museum you can walk to from there. Super quirky and fun spot. We weren’t able to catch a show, but it would be a really cool and fun experience no doubt.

The Dez - loved this coffee shop in downtown JT. It’s grab and go only, so you can’t stay and hang…but the coffee is on point and I loved the energy in the mornings. They also have some healthy-ish small bite options if you’re hungry.

Saturday Farmer’s Market - on Saturday mornings, lots of local artists and food vendors set up booths in downtown Joshua Tree. It’s a great way to spend the morning after an early hike!
Discovery Trail - this trail was created by kids for kids, but I loved it as much as they did. There’s unlimited rock scrambling, a tiny slot canyon and sand. It’s a short loop you can do even if it’s hot and no one gets too tired out. Perfect to pair with Skull Rock trail, which is right across the street (just a tip - the views of Skull Rock from Discovery Trail are even better than crowding in with all the people standing right in front of it trying to take pictures:). Or take some art supplies + find a little alcove in the rocks to do some painting…this is one of our favorite memories in the park.

Tahquitz Canyon Trail (in nearby Palm Springs) - I had to include this hike, even though it’s a bit of a drive from Joshua Tree (about 1 hour). Taquitz Canyon, part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation, is just outside Palm Springs. There is a small visitor’s center to explore and a 2 mile hike to a 60 foot waterfall in the canyon. It does get a bit crowded on the weekends, but if you go at the right time of day + get lucky you can experience the waterfall with few people around. We actually did this hike twice in the 3 weeks we were in JT because we loved it so much. Make sure and cold plunge while you’re there!

Cascade Trails Mustang Sanctuary - the girls’ project for our trip is to go to an animal sanctuary in every state, so we were so excited when we found Cascade Trails in the middle of Joshua Tree. We were even more excited when we realized you can camp there. We spent a night under the stars and woke up to beautiful views and goats to cuddle. Later we went on a tour of the sanctuary and learned all about the problems wild mustangs face in the U.S. and what Cascade Trails is doing to try and solve them. Even if you aren’t going to camp, I highly recommend a stop by here to visit the animals, explore and learn!