Motorcycle Ride in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Like the U2 album that is its namesake, Joshua Tree is otherworldly and difficult to explain. One simply must experience it to understand its beauty.

To find Joshua Tree, start from either Los Angeles, Phoenix, or Las Vegas and head into the Mojave Desert. As you come into southeastern California, near Palm Springs, it will feel as if you are entering another world. Growing up on the Texas Gulf coast, I thought the desert would be a barren place, devoid of life and beauty; I could not have been more wrong. The desert Southwest is a vibrant place full of life and a unique beauty that I have never seen anywhere else in the world. Let me tell you a little bit more about it.

The Park derives its name from the trees that are native to the Mojave Desert and that grow abundantly in and around the west side of the park. Throughout its history, the area has been the home to several different Native American tribes that flourished near the waters of what is now Twentynine Palms. In later years different countries such as Spain and Mexico claimed this land as well. Though it was not until 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War, that the United States claimed what is now California and the future park land.

Between the end of the Mexican-American War and being designated a National Monument in the early 1930s, the area saw a colorful history with cattle barons, outlaws, and prospectors. The area enjoyed the acclaim of a National Monument for almost 60 years. Then in the mid 1990’s, with the increased popularity of the area, Joshua Tree was redesignated as a US National Park.

When someone first told me that the desert was beautiful, I laughed. I grew up in the thickets of east Texas along the Gulf Coast, accustomed to lush, dense vegetation.

Moving to California, I began to understand that the desert has a beauty all its own. It is not the lifeless, barren place I had assumed it was. What I have found is that it is teaming with life if you know where to look.

Within Joshua Tree National Park there are two completely different deserts with two different ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado. The Mojave makes up the western side of the park and is dominated by the Joshua trees and a rugged, rocky land scape. Then as you descend into the eastern side of the park, the landscape opens up to showcase the natural gardens of the cholla cactus. Seeing these two completely different ecosystems existing and thriving side by side is spectacular. Riding through the park is a visual feast of an ever-changing landscape. Just as you think you have seen all the park has to offer, the landscape changes again and takes your breath away.

The beauty of the area has been a siren’s call to motorcyclists for as long as we have had two wheels to ride on. From the challenging twists and turns that provide breathtaking views in the mountains that surround the park, to the vast open landscapes of the desert, this place has called to all that want to get lost in the wind. Just about every resource available for planning rides will include Joshua Tree as one of its top destination rides. And from 2013-2018 the female rider community chose the area as the place to meet for Babes Ride Out Motorcycle Rally and Campout, flooding the area with hundreds of women riders, proving that the everlasting beauty of this area will continue to call all who ride.

This is a spectacular area to see any way you can get there. Yet to ride through it on a motorcycle is unparalleled. If you are choosing to make the trek on a bike, the 140 mile (225km) Joshua Tree Loop ride in and around the park ranks low on ride technicality with well-maintained, paved 2 lane roads and highways, making it accessible to riders of most skill levels. Though if you are looking to add to your rides while in the area, there are several hundreds of miles/kilometers of stunning (and much more challenging) roads within 2 hours of Joshua Tree in the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests.

If you are looking to spend some time in the park, Joshua Tree hosts some of the most beautiful camping, hiking, and rock climbing in California. It is highly recommended to secure reservations and check the weather prior to your arrival. During peak times of year, the park books out months in advance and the summer temperatures can be brutally hot.

Joshua Tree had been on my ‘Must See’ list for many years and I have to say the experience of being in the park was unique and special. The changing landscape, the spiritual impact of seeing the expanse of the desert, and the freedom of the open road is something that must be experienced firsthand to be truly understood. If you are ever close to southern California, make the time to go and experience Joshua Tree for yourself.