Joshua Tree, hike and 4×4

Hike and 4×4.

If you go

Joshua Tree is where two deserts meet — the higher Mojave with its namesake trees and the lower Colorado with cholla and ocotillo. Hidden Valley and Ryan Mountain are the easy classic hikes; Geology Tour Road is the in-park 4×4. Go fall through spring, carry water (there’s almost none in the park), and don’t underestimate how cold the desert nights get.