Hidden Valley Trail

We’ve been to 4 or 5 hikes in Joshua tree now and happy valley is one of our family favorites. It’s an easy 1 mile loop, although our hike turned into about 1.5 miles due to the amount of climbing we did. This is such a fun hike with so much variety in what you see and can do. There’s limitless possibilities in bouldering. Our two kids, ages 10 and 12, loved climbing and exploring. We saw families with toddlers who were running and climbing off steam. Try and get there early as the parking lot tends to fill up by 10. We got there at 10:30 and we’re lucky someone was leaving. The rangers were redirecting people to another lot when we left at 12:30. There are pit toilets and many picnic tables for lunch at the parking lot. Easy drive in and out as well. Take sunscreen and water and enjoy the peace and calm of Joshua Tree!

Easy hike 1 mile loop trail. We went there early ~ before 9am and easily found the parking lot. Would recommend to arrive early to avoid the traffic… saw long line cars waiting to enter the gate on the way back. This hike is suitable for families, mostly flat, rocks for kids to climb not dangerous. Be aware of the cold. It was end of Dec when we were here and we wish we would have worn beanie and gloves.

Hidden Valley trail was recommended to me by a ranger at the Visitors centre. I arrived later in the afternoon and wanted to 'see it all in a short time before the sun went down'. This trail delivered. The trail is a loop that starts at the carpark and makes it around a relatively easy area within the park. You get the see the best of Joshua Tree national park. The Joshua trees are very unique and unlike any other trees that I have seen elsewhere. The fact that there are SO many of them and ONLY them is a really cool sight to see. This track will take you around some very interesting rock structures that are unique to the park. Depending on the time of day, you may see amateur and professional rock climbers taking up the challenge. The park can get HOT in summer so be sure to take more water than what you think you will need and stick to the track.

Wow! This place is magical. One of the most impressive places in the park. I was in awe at every turn. The boulders and rocks are quite a sight to see. It’s so beautiful and other worldly! It is a short trail about 1.1 miles but at the end of the parking lot is another trail Minerva Hoyt trail that takes you thru a Joshua Tree forest! Huge trees! And thick growth. Adds another 1.5 miles so 3 miles out n back worth it to add to this trail. My favorite so far in the park so far. A magical place to also have lunch at the tables and grills.

Such a nice and easy one-mile hike! It's an easy loop with views of the various rock structures. Perfect for kids, elderly, and those who aren't looking for a strenuous outing. The views are simply beautiful, especially during golden hour. Definitely come during the winter to avoid high temperatures. Not too many Joshua trees on the hike, but tons in the parking lot.

Make this the last spot of the day. As the sun sets, the rock cliffs burn orange fire! With shadows on the other parts, it makes for an amazing experience - not to mention some beautiful pictures. The trail is easy, about a mile. You'll see lots of rock climbers tackling different surfaces, it is fun to live through them.

I loved this "trail." It really isn't a trail, more of a gentle walk through nature. It is short, well-marked, and doesn't have much in the way of elevation gains/declines. So if you're looking for a true hike, look elsewhere. That said, this little walk packs a ton of beautiful sights in a really small area. You're sort of in a bowl here, with rocks surrounding you on all sides. Inside the bowl there are really interesting rock formations all around you, and the flora here is very different than you see in most other areas of the park. Apparently this area is a bit of a microclimate due to it's geological features, and there are tons of signs throughout the park explaining the reasons for this. It is an amazing combination of easy walking, beautiful scenery, and signs containing really good information about what you're seeing. The one downside is this was the most crowded area I saw in the park with the exception of Skull Rock, so you will be sharing the trail with hundreds of people. But unlike Skull Rock and some of the other crowded areas of the park, the crowds here didn't really bother me. This was the highlight of the park for me, without a doubt. Although there are other hiking trails I'd recommend over this one, there is no other attraction in the park I'd recommend more highly.

Plenty of toilet paper!!! We got here early after turning away due to crowds the day before. Nice quick early morning hike with great light and fun views of rock climbers. As with every spot in the park, this gets filled up and parking becomes very difficult. We took the opposite direction on the loop and it was nice having folks pass us in the opposite direction rather than following or being followed.

This trail is family friendly, my 5 year old enjoyed so much on the rocks! Everyone likes the rock climbing and we took a lot of pictures. If you visit Joshua tree NP, this is one of the much visit places.

[This is the Barker Damn Hike] If you're going to Joshua Tree, this hike HAS to be included in your list of places to see. It is the quintessential Joshua Tree hike that showcases the locations beauty. I felt like I was in another world AND in heaven. 100/10