Joshua Tree National Park is open year-round. There are few facilities within the park’s approximately 800,000 acres, making Joshua Tree a true desert wilderness just a few hours outside Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. About 2.8 million visitors visit the park yearly to enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, photography, rock climbing, and simply enjoying the serene desert scenery. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. The busy season in Joshua Tree runs from October through May. Come explore for yourself.
The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery is one of Twentynine Palms’ most unusual sites to see, located just east of downtown in Wonder Valley. Monthly art shows are celebrated with an art reception on the first Saturdays of the month, with food, beverages, live music, and camaraderie. The gallery features desert artists, photographers, and musicians. Yes, there is an actual glass outhouse, plus a hand-built Wayside Chapel and found-object art installations throughout the property. Admission free. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. (Closed July-August)
Exhale Art Studio believes that art and wellness are essential to living your fullest life. They offer several monthly classes that encourage you to slow down, be creative, and embrace your journey to self-discovery. There you can finally brush away the stress from the day and exhale. Get creative in their fun, instructor-guided art classes. Check out their Adult Paint and Sips, Kids Paint and Play, and Family Fun activities each month. Heal your body and mind with their meditation classes. They have something for everyone from gifts to something for yourself. They have everything from handmade soaps, body lotions, candles, jewelry, artwork, and more for sale. Each item is handmade and exceptionally crafted by local artisans in the community.
The City of Twentynine Palms is home to the Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters and Main Park Entrance and is the proud host of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, the world’s largest Marine Corps training base. The City is renowned for its world-class murals and artists, supportive business climate, pristine air, beautiful natural surroundings, desert and mountain vistas, and friendly family lifestyle.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department staff constantly provides events, classes, and activities to the community. From seasonal athletic programs and instructional courses to the annual Joshua Tree 55 and Summer Movies in the Park, there is something for everyone. To see what they have planned next, visit 29palms.org.
Our Mission
Friends of Wonder Valley seek to enhance the lives of the people in Wonder Valley by providing programs that engage residents and build community, including arts, music, theater, education, food, health, recreation, and others as need arises and our capacity increases.
We are a 501(c)(3) organization and all members of the Board of Directors reside in Wonder Valley, and all are registered volunteers at the Wonder Valley Community Center. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Friends of Wonder Valley is to support the Wonder Valley Community, and the Wonder Valley Community Center, through fundraising and programming.
Our Goals
– Raise funds to make the Wonder Valley Community Center as useful to the community of Wonder Valley as possible.
– Maintain a fund that covers the costs of qualified meetings and events for those who cannot afford to pay the fees or purchase insurance. A qualified meeting or event is open to the public, duly noticed, non-sectarian, not aligned with a political party, cause, or candidate, and should support one or more goals of the WVCC.
– Maintain current USDA food program and start and maintain others.
– Promote and support the creation of health programs, including mental health programs that address suicide.
– Showcase area artists, musicians, writers, and academics.
– Engage in partnerships outside of Wonder Valley that raise our profile and benefit the community.
– Preserve the history of the area, and safeguard the identity of Wonder Valley.
Reach Out is dedicated to embracing communities to strengthen the human bonds that enable all community members to grow, thrive, and lead.
Kitchen in the Desert is a Caribbean and New American restaurant situated just outside the Twentynine Palms entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. They pride themselves in making high-quality food from scratch using fresh ingredients and providing a comfortable environment to enjoy it in. KITD’s cuisine is inventive and executed to standards that would be at home in any urban setting. They provide an experience that is welcomed by locals and visitors alike. Now in their fifth year, KITD continues to welcome guests from all over the world. They’re happy to offer full-service dining and a full list of cocktails. Their property has plenty of space to stretch out on with multiple seating areas. They have plenty of shade during the day and plenty of warmth by the fires at night.
Friends of Joshua Tree is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Friends of Joshua Tree advocates, communicates, and encourages ethical and environmentally sound climbing practices. We work to educate park management and visitors on climbing and climbing-related issues.
Founded in 2003, the Joshua Tree Music Festival takes place every May and October at the gateway to the world-renowned Joshua Tree National Park. The four-day festivals are immersive, inclusive, and inspiring experiences catering to music loving funsters and families with a sense of adventure. Family and friends come together with passion, purpose and a mission to foster social interaction on a deep level, and to create positive, life-changing moments.
The Joshua Tree National Park Association’s Desert Institute offers classes for adult learners in cultural history, natural science, survival skills, desert naturalist studies, women’s programs, citizen science, and creative arts. All programs are taught by expert instructors who provide a personal and enjoyable learning experience on these educational adventures.
