It’s the best time of the year to hike!
From scenic natural trails and loops, to longer more challenging hikes, Joshua Tree National Park offers some of southern California’s most beautiful hiking trails.The fall is the best time of year to take on these more challenging hikes such as 49 Palms Oasis, a moderate 3-mile round trip trail that takes you down into one of the five fan palm oases found in the park.
Bordering Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve, the newly designated Mojave Trails National Monument offers endless adventure for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Start your adventure at Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark where a moderate 3-mile round trip hike up and into the volcanic cinder cone will reward you with stunning views of the surrounding Mojave desert, and as a bonus, you’ll get to drive a stretch of the iconic Route 66 getting there!
From Amboy Crater, continue north on Amboy Road to Kelbaker Road in the Mojave National Preserve where you can hike the stunning Kelso Sand Dunes. Rising almost 700-feet high, the 2.7-mile round trip hike to the top of the sand dunes will certainly be a good workout and might just be one of the most beautiful places in the California desert to watch the sunset!
There’s a great lineup of festivals & events!
Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours October 5-6, 12-12, 19-20
Now in its 18th year, and having just extended to three weekends, the annual Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours is California’s second largest open studio art tours event! With more than 120 studio locations and more than 200 participating artists this year,
Joshua Tree Music Festival October 10-13
In addition to an always incredible lineup of musicians, the Joshua Tree Music Festival offers variety of multidisciplinary workshops, such as yoga and movement, visual arts, music, and myth, and with a robust schedule of Kidsville activities, this is one of the top family-friendly festivals in the country!
Climb Smart October 18-20
Hosted by Friends of Joshua Tree, this annual festival brings together the largest gathering of rock climbers in Joshua Tree to kick off the climbing season! This three-day event offers fantastic clinics and workshops with some of the best certified and accredited guide organizations, giving experienced climbers a great chance to refine their skills, and first-time climbers the chance to get into the sport.
We have lots of fun and quirky attractions to discover!
Beyond spending your time outdoors exploring the national park, or weekend attending festivals and events, fall is great time of year to explore the unique and quirky attractions in the City of 29 Palms!
How about a movie at Smith’s Ranch Drive-In, one California’s last remaining drive-in movie theaters?
Love live theater? How about a play at Theatre 29? This award-winning, premiere venue for year-round live community theatre offers a fantastic lineup of plays and comedies.
Ever thrown an axe? Trust us, once do it once you’ll be hooked! Discover your competitive side at The Boardroom, the high deserts first and only axe throwing venue.
The City of 29 Palms is set to kick-off the busy fall festival season in the high desert this year, starting with the Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition at the historic Oasis of Mara this September 14-15! Hosted by the Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts, this two-day celebration of art, culture, and history of Joshua Tree National Park is centered around a juried art exhibition at the 29 Palms Art Gallery featuring painting, mixed media, sculpture and photography by artists from across the country, all of whom have been inspired by the national park! Art lovers won’t want to miss the outdoor art market and drop-in art demonstrations, or the Gala Awards Night at the 29 Palms Art Gallery!
Next up is the Night Sky Festival on Saturday, September 21, an action-packed day of celebration of Joshua Tree National Park’s night sky and its status as an International Dark Sky Park. This event is hosted by Sky’s The Limit Observatory in partnership with the Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts, Joshua Tree National Park, and the City of 29 Palms. From youth programs and astronomy lectures, to one epic star party with 20+ telescopes, Native American flute and night sky storytelling, night sky enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy this event!
If you haven’t yet heard the exciting news, the City of 29 Palms will be welcoming southern California’s largest yoga and sacred music festival to its new location at the Roadrunner Dunes golf course this September 25-30! Bhakti Fest features over 100 hours of music, 15 yoga classes and 20 workshops each day, with headliners that include Krishna Das, Mike Love, Dharma Mittra, Radhanath Swami, MC Yogi, Fannah Fi Allah, Saul David Raye, Sianna Sherman, Mas Vidal, Girish, Govind Das & Radha, Kia Miller, Dawn Cartwright, Ram Das (via video), Porangui, Mark Whitwell, plus many more to be announced in the coming weeks!
Be sure to book your accommodations in 29 Palms well ahead of time as September will be a busy month! Whether your lodging style is a hip vacation rental, historic inn/motel or national hotel we’ve got it all in 29 Palms!
