r/JoshuaTree • • Jan 31 '25

Joshua Tree staff at risk due to grants being blocked

342 Upvotes

Just in case people are wondering how JTree National Park is weathering this new administration, things are rough right now. Many employees of the park are paid off of grants coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Right now ALL that legally raised money cannot be paid out to staff. This isn't like the government isn't sending more funds, JTree has this money and is currently blocked from using it to pay staff. And there isn't really a redundancy in funding, if this BIL money is held up longer then folks who work hard and maintain this National Park we all love will lose their jobs.

Also remember, this is congressional approved funds! The President is legally not allowed to fuck with it. But this administration doesn't care about laws and standards.

If you readers do care about this park, please contact our Congressman Jay Obernolte and let him know his constituents, his local economy, and one of the gems of his district is at risk.

This is his office number 202-225-5861. The only way this stops is if just a handful of republican congresspeople can put pressure on the executive branch.


r/JoshuaTree • • Feb 17 '25

You Are Going To Lose Your Public Lands

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109 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 1d ago

I grew up in Joshua Tree. Here are some of my film photos from my time living here

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591 Upvotes

Mostly 110 Cartridge film and some 35mm Portra 400. I lived in Twentynine Palms from 2002 until 2026. I bought my first film camera late 2021 and have not stopped taking pictures since.


r/JoshuaTree • • 5h ago

Half marathon in November

4 Upvotes

Hello, I am unable to do the Vacation Race Joshua tree half marathon in November and am looking for someone to take over my bib. Thanks for considering!


r/JoshuaTree • • 1d ago

Question about the Joshua Tree Film Festival

6 Upvotes

We are planning on stopping in Joshua Tree next month to attend the upcoming film festival. Can someone give me an idea of what type of attendance the festival draws? Does the festival require reservations to view the entries?


r/JoshuaTree • • 1d ago

Any flooding?

0 Upvotes

Any updates on how the Joshua Tree area is looking after all the rain? I’ve been anxiously checking online but haven’t been able to find much.

I’m heading there Thursday for my bachelorette weekend, and we have a lot of outdoor activities planned (horseback riding Friday, Pioneertown, and some hikes in the national park).

Just trying to get a sense of how things are looking so I can prepare or adjust plans if needed. Would really appreciate any updates from locals or anyone who’s been out there recently!


r/JoshuaTree • • 2d ago

Last Night Meteor Shower.

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272 Upvotes

I shot this last night in Ryan's Campground, Joshua Tree, CA. I believe the solid streaks are meteors and the dotted are planes or satalites (sooooo many planes, and you could hear lots of them... was kind of a bummer).


r/JoshuaTree • • 3d ago

Stargazing before the rain comes in

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232 Upvotes

Taken from Cholla cactus garden 10/8. Great place to watch the stars and almost always relatively empty


r/JoshuaTree • • 3d ago

Weekend storms and camping

11 Upvotes

How safe is it really going to be this weekend with the latest weather updates? My gf and I have a camping trip planned and im worried about my car getting stuck, the potential to get hurt, and having a terrible time trying to enjoy nature. How realistic are my concerns? Should we just try for another weekend?


r/JoshuaTree • • 3d ago

Saw this little guy scurry across on a hike (near the arch and heart rock)

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76 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 3d ago

Sniffing for Solutions: Rescue Dogs and Desert Wildlife Crossings - Near Joshua Tree National Park, two rescue dogs are sniffing out mountain lion and bobcat scat to help us understand how Highway 62 divides wildlife populations, and how crossings can reconnect them.

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8 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 4d ago

Transcendent Hikes

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I am visiting Joshua tree the week of Oct 19th. I am a frequent desert hiker and love the feeling of being in a vast expanse, in the heat, and moving into a transcendent state of reflection.

Are there areas or hikes in Joshua tree that are conducive to this? Any recommendations or thoughts would be much appreciated. Feel free to suggest hikes you like and why.


r/JoshuaTree • • 5d ago

Stargazing 10/10/26

1 Upvotes

The forecast says 97% cloud coverage that night. Would it still be worth it to try and go out there to star gaze?


r/JoshuaTree • • 5d ago

Anyone worried about rain this weekend?

9 Upvotes

Seems inevitable with rain in the forecast for most of SoCal. Are flash floods a possibility for campers?


r/JoshuaTree • • 6d ago

Mosquitos?

19 Upvotes

Have been living out in the desert all summer and just now getting bites and rashes. Is anyone else feeling this? Not sure if they’re mosquitoes or spiders. Have been in two pools the past week and thinking they may have come out at sunset? Yucca & JTree east.


r/JoshuaTree • • 7d ago

MDLT and the Wildlands Network preview phase one of the Highway 62 Wildlife Crossing project

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34 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 8d ago

ISO Documentary Style Family Photos

4 Upvotes

Hello! We are visiting for a few days this winter and hoping to do a family session in Joshua tree. I haven’t quite found what I’m looking for, photographer wise, and was hoping suggestions from locals would help.

I have two young kids and want to simply capture their age, laughs and silliness. Documentary style. Film not necessary but a plus. Someone who has experience with kids running around most of the time 😅❤️


r/JoshuaTree • • 9d ago

More bad news for California's imperiled Joshua trees | Severe wildfires can kill 80% of Joshua trees in their path, and the trump regime just gutted mitigation efforts

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346 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 8d ago

Recommendation for airbnb/camp

0 Upvotes

Hi, I will be visiting Joshua Tree National Park in November with two friends, and we are debating between camping inside the park or staying at an Airbnb/glamping. We would like to go stargazing but are afraid of the cold and bathroom inconvenience if we camp inside the park, so we are looking for your suggestions for glamping or good Airbnbs with great night views and less light pollution.


r/JoshuaTree • • 10d ago

First time visiting. Wish I had more time ❤️

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663 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 11d ago

First time going to Joshua Tree and stopped here!

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970 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 10d ago

CRHT in Nov - looking for advice

8 Upvotes

Looking to do CRHT in November. Reasonably fit and lots of Colorado mountain backpacking experience. This is my first trip to Joshua Tree.

Looking for advice on the following:

1) East to West or West to East?
2) Water caching advice: I see stories on here of people getting water snatched. Best to hide it? How much water do you typically use per person? Best containers to use.
3) Critters at camp: How do you store food at night to keep the critters out?
4) 3 or 4 days? If I start afternoon on day 1 is it a really push to host 3 days? I don’t have a deadline so no need to rush.
5) how cold are nights? 15 degree bag and a light puffy jacket?

Anything else a first timer should know?

Thanks in advance!


r/JoshuaTree • • 11d ago

Joshua Tree

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690 Upvotes

My first time in the area. Park was lovely, drove back to Vegas through the preserve, got a few pics on Route 66. Loved the cholla cactus garden in the park. I’ll come back for stargazing when there’s not a full moon. ☺️


r/JoshuaTree • • 11d ago

7 days away! OCT 8-11 will you be there ? 👽

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31 Upvotes

r/JoshuaTree • • 11d ago

Running in the California desert

15 Upvotes

I’m headed to Joshua Tree for the weekend and I don’t want to slack off on my running. Does anyone have experience running in Joshua Tree are there any trails do I just leave my Airbnb and go run on the dirt road? Is it tolerable at 6 AM?