Looking for the best place to watch the sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park?
We’ve got you covered with all the best options, from strenuous hikes to easy sunrise strolls.
With its cotton candy skies and beautiful scenery, Joshua Tree has some of the best sunrises (and sunsets) of all of the national parks.
Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California near Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
We love Joshua Tree and have made a point to visit many times even though we do not live close by.
There is so much to do at Joshua Tree National Park, from rock climbing and hiking to camping and stargazing. One of the best things to do when visiting JTNP is to catch a beautiful sunrise!
My #1 tip for visiting National Parks is to arrive early. You will beat the crowds, have trails to yourself, likely see more wildlife, and of course, get those stunning sunrise views that so many others miss out on by sleeping in. Talk about a good reason to wake up early!
To be honest, there isn’t really a bad place to watch the sunrise when you are visiting the park, but there are definitely a few spots that stand out.
This guide includes our 7 favorite Joshua Tree Sunrise hikes and some bonus sunrise viewpoints as well!
Joshua Tree Sunrise Tips
- Plan to arrive at your sunrise spot 30-45 minutes before the actual sunrise time. I think the pink, orange, and purple hues in the sky the hour before sunrise are the best part.
- Bring a flashlight. I like using a headlamp, but even the flashlight on your phone will do the trick. This is especially important if you will be leaving extra early to hike to your sunrise spot in the dark.
- Pack breakfast or snacks. See and do as much as you can in those early hours before the park gets busy. Snacks or an on-the-go breakfast will keep you satisfied until you get back into town later.
- Put your phone across the room and set multiple alarms. This will ensure that you get up and moving to catch that sunrise. It will be worth it!
- Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. You may need to drive slowly through the park to get to your destination. Plan to be extra cautious driving and hiking in the dark. Consider bringing hiking poles if they will help you feel more stable hiking in the dark.
- Wear/pack layers. Nights and early mornings can be very chilly in JTNP, especially in the winter. Once the sun is out, temperatures will rise.
Best Sunrise Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park
1. Ryan Mountain
Based on my personal experience, I think Ryan Mountain Trail is the very best sunrise hike in Joshua Tree National Park.
I have hiked Ryan Mountain a couple of times, but only once at sunrise.
The hike up to the summit will get your legs burning and your lungs working hard, but it always feels like a great accomplishment, especially early in the morning. Talk about the best way to start the day!
I was absolutely in awe looking out at the beautiful colors in the sky surrounding the mountain as we hiked up.
We made it to the summit just after sunrise. We had the top of the mountain to ourselves at one point, which is very uncommon for this popular hike. It made the experience that much better!
Ryan Mountain Hike Details
- Distance: 3 miles
- Elevation gain: 1,050 ft
- Difficulty: Hard
- Details: Out and back summit hike. One of the most popular hikes in the park.
- Estimated time to hike: 1.5-2.5 hours
If you want to see the sunrise from the summit, I would plan to start your hike 1-1.5 hours before sunrise depending on your hiking speed.
2. Cholla Cactus Garden
Cholla Cactus Garden is a popular spot to watch the sunrise.
The first time you drive up to Cholla Cactus Garden, you will be amazed by the thousands of unique, fuzzy cacti that seem to appear out of nowhere.
There is a short and sweet quarter-mile trail that winds through the cactus garden.
You can hike the trail or find a good spot anywhere within the gardens to see the sunrise.
One thing to note – the Cholla Cactus Garden is a bit of a drive from the park’s north entrance (it is closer to the south entrance, but still a drive), so unless you are camping in the park, I would plan to leave nearly 1-1.5 hours before sunrise.
Cholla Cactus Garden Hike Details
- Distance: 0.25 miles
- Elevation gain: 10 ft
- Difficulty: Easy stroll
- Details: Short hike; Loop trail through the cactus garden
- Estimated time to hike: 10-20 min
3. Arch Rock Trail
Arch Rock is one of the most fun locations to watch the sunrise. There are some very popular photographs of the sun rising under the arch.
I haven’t been able to see the sunrise through the arch (yet), but when we hiked to the arch for sunrise, the sky was beautiful, and the moon was showing off.
Getting up close to the arch requires a bit of climbing, but you can see the arch from ground level as well if you don’t feel comfortable bouldering.
Arch Rock Trail Details
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 100 ft
- Difficulty: Easy
- Details: Lollipop trail – a 0.6-mile trail will take you to a 0.2-mile loop. The arch is in the middle of the mini-loop. Have fun climbing the rocks to get up the arch.
- Estimated time to hike: 45 min – 1 hour
If you are planning to hike the Arch Rock Trail, I highly recommend taking a 10-15 minute detour over the Heart Rock. This post has great directions on how to find Heart Rock from Arch Rock Trail.
4. Indian Cove
Indian Cove Nature Trail is a hidden gem in Joshua Tree! It is located on the west end of the Indian Cove Campground.
The campground and nature trail are tucked in between huge boulder piles, making for beautiful scenery and ample climbing opportunities.
This portion of the park is not connected to the main section of the park, so it is not as busy. You will likely have the trail to yourself.
Views from the trail are great, but I recommend climbing to the top of one of the big boulder “mountains” to watch the sunrise and/or sunset if you are able to!
Indian Cove Hike Details
- Distance: 0.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 50 ft
- Difficulty: Easy
- Details: Gently rolling loop trail on the west end of Indian Cove Campground surrounded by towering boulder piles and desert plants.
- Estimated time to hike: 25 – 30 min, but you could spend much more time climbing and exploring
5. Hidden Valley Trail
Hidden Valley Trail is a beautiful place to hike any time of day, including at sunrise.
The hike is very family-friendly and is one of the best hikes in the park.
The trail begins by going up a small rock staircase and through a rock “hallway” before winding through a stunning boulder-enclosed valley.
There are signs throughout the trail giving more information about the plants and animals you might see along the hike.
There are many picnic tables in the Hidden Valley Picnic Area near the trailhead. I think it’s one of the best places in the park to picnic – pack some food and enjoy a nice little breakfast after your sunrise hike!
Hidden Valley Trail Details
- Distance: 1 mile
- Elevation gain: 100 ft
- Difficulty: Easy
- Details: Loop trail through a beautiful rock-enclosed valley, fun features and lots of variety
- Estimated time to hike: 30-50 min, many opportunities to explore or climb off-trail
6. Barker Dam Trail
Sunrise is a great time to hike the Barker Dam Trail because it is an extremely popular hike and tends to get very crowded later in the day.
Barker Dam Trail is an easy hike, making it a great option for hikers of all ages.
If the “tank” is full of water (this happens seasonally depending on the time of year and precipitation levels), the reflection on the water of the pink and purple morning skies behind the boulders is absolutely breathtaking.
Make sure to keep an eye out for bighorn sheep and other wildlife, especially if you are hiking the trail early in the morning!
Barker Dam Hike Details
- Distance: 1.1 miles
- Elevation gain: 50 ft
- Difficulty: Easy
- Details: Loop trail to a water tank (pond) built by early cattle ranchers in the area. A popular place to see wildlife. Informational signs along the trail.
- Estimated time to hike: 45 min – 1 hour
7. High View Trail or Warren Peak
High View Trail, Panorama Loop, and Warren Peak are trails located near the west entrance of the park in the Black Rock Campground area near Yucca Valley.
High View Trail is the shortest and easiest hike in the Black Rock section of the park. There are a few steep sections of the hike, but there are benches along the way for taking breaks.
Panorama Loop Trail and Warren Peak (the highest peak on the west side of the park) are longer, more strenuous hikes with limited shade. Sunrise is a great time to hike these trails to avoid the midday desert heat and be treated to beautiful views.
You can combine Panorama Loop and Warren Peak for an epic 8-mile hike that will get you away from the crowds, take you through Joshua Tree groves, and treat you with stunning Mojave desert views.
Here is a great guide to hiking Panorama Loop/Warren Peak.
High-view Trail Details
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 400 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Details: Loop trail on the western side of the park near Yucca Valley. Hike a steep ridge with panoramic views and LOTS of Joshua Trees.
- Estimated time to hike: 45 min – 1.5 hours
Panorama Loop/Warren Peak Trail Details
- Distance: 8 miles (6.3 miles if only doing Warren Peak, 6.6 miles if only doing Panorama Loop)
- Elevation gain: 1,100
- Difficulty: Hard
- Details: Panorama Loop is a loop trail that follows the ridgeline of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Expect awesome views and lots of Joshua Trees. Add on the hike to the summit of Warren Peak for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
- Estimated time to hike: 45 min – 1.5 hours
Bonus: 2 Epic Sunrise Viewpoints in Joshua Tree
If you are looking for a great place to watch the sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park, but don’t want to go hike, check out these two viewpoint options, both of which are just steps from the parking lot!
1. Keys View
This viewpoint is incredibly popular for sunset, but I have heard it is stunning at sunrise as well.
I have not been out to Keys View at sunrise yet, mostly because I wanted to see other sunrise spots and it is quite a drive out to the viewpoint.
Visiting at sunrise would be a great way to beat the crowds at this popular viewpoint.
I do think it is definitely worth driving out to Keys View at some point during your trip because the views over the Coachella Valley are stunning!
2. Skull Rock
Consider watching the sunrise at one of the most unique rock formations in the park.
Skull Rock is a very popular attraction because it is literally right next to the main road, making it easy for anyone and everyone to get out and see.
Early morning might just be the best time to visit Skull Rock because the sunrise lighting will be good and you should be able to beat the crowds!
