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All the United States California Joshua Tree

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Joshua Tree

8 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Joshua Tree, California

Updated January 31, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Joshua Tree

Yes, you can make art from an abandoned toilet.

Joshua Tree, California

The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum

Explore 10 acres of environmental sculptures.
The Hicksville Trailer Palace.

Joshua Tree, California

Hicksville Trailer Palace

An eclectic trailer park retreat in the middle of the California desert.
This way to the Caravansary of Joy.

Joshua Tree, California

Institute of Mentalphysics

Located on 420 acres in the high desert, this spiritual center is dedicated to the "science of the future."
The World Famous Crochet Museum.

Joshua Tree, California

World Famous Crochet Museum

An old California photo stand has been turned into a shrine to the cozy art of crochet.
The Krblin Jihn Kabin.

Joshua Tree, California

'Krblin Jihn Kabin'

While exploring the desert, you can stop by the home of a fictional heretic from a parallel universe.
An array of wigs on display.

Joshua Tree, California

Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum

The quirky salon doubles as a retro museum run by the world's leading "hairstorian."
Desert View Conservation Area

Joshua Tree, California

Desert View Conservation Area

This conservation area is also home to many of the region's desert tortoises.
‘Big Josh’ stands watch over vintage cars.

Joshua Tree, California

The Station Joshua Tree

Meet 'Big Josh,' the 20-foot-tall muffler man.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer’s Guide to Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree may be known for attracting crowds of social influencers and visitors unfamiliar with national park etiquette. Yet despite the reputation, it remains at its core a mystical place. Its ancient landscape is dotted with fuzzy cacti, sculptural rock formations, and the namesake Joshua trees—which aren’t trees at all, but a species of yucca that can live for centuries in the Mojave Desert. The otherworldly setting has drawn generations of soul-seekers, avant-garde artists, and others who march to the beat of their own drums. Today, you can embark on an unconventional adventure, encountering everything from a spiritual center dedicated to the “science of the future” to a geodesic dome purportedly inspired by extraterrestrials. Plan your next adventure with our Explorer’s Guide to the Parks.

View Itinerary

Explore Joshua Tree, California

A
8
Roadside Attractions 2
Collections 2
Art 2
Outsider Architecture 2
Places To Stay 2

Joshua Tree Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. anhie
    2
  2. Hope
    1
  3. Annetta Black
    1
  4. mindoe
    1
  5. maceventura
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Joshua Tree.

Places Edited

  1. Avoiding Regret
    6
  2. MtnLady
    3
  3. deannatrusty
    3
  4. chasepopt
    3
  5. Findingbalance18
    3
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. huntberel
    7
  2. Back2silver
    6
  3. Catlick23
    6
  4. limikoleit
    6
  5. perrielevitt
    6
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Joshua Tree.

Recent Joshua Tree Activity

  • malloryS

    wants to go to Desert View Conservation Area

    1 day ago
  • malloryS

    wants to go to The Station Joshua Tree

    1 day ago
  • Rocketsauce

    has been to The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum

    1 day ago
  • Rocketsauce

    has been to Hicksville Trailer Palace

    1 day ago
  • Rocketsauce

    wants to go to World Famous Crochet Museum

    1 day ago

Stories About Joshua Tree

“There’s a whole creative world out there that you see little glimpses of,” actress Patricia Arquette says of California’s High Desert, where her new show is set.

Patricia Arquette Has a Thing for the Weird Art of California's High Desert

"There's some kind of energy in the desert that's very different than anywhere else," she says of the setting of her new Apple TV+ series.
by Matthew Taub
June 15, 2023

Podcast: World Famous Crochet Museum

Step inside the cutest, most cuddly museum in the desert.
by The Podcast Team
June 15, 2023

Podcast: The Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
May 5, 2022
Robert “Robby” Silk—the first and, for now, only competitive chair-sitter—tests his stamina on Antarctica’s Cuverville Island.

Meet the Man Who Wants to Make Sitting an Extreme Sport

A day at your desk will not prepare you for this grueling competition.
by Laura Kiniry
April 12, 2022
It’s hard to picture Joshua Tree without its goofy namesakes, but they’re in trouble.

The Art and Science of Falling in Love With Joshua Trees

"HeyJTree" is built like a dating site, but it matches readers with the charismatic, threatened plants.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
December 26, 2019
Historic trash in Joshua Tree National Park.

Sometimes Trash Is Treasured in America's National Parks

Bottles, cans, and more can reveal a long history of industry, recreation, and shenanigans.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
September 13, 2019
Bob in his Crystal Cave.

A Tribute to Bob Carr, Self-Taught Artist, Philosopher, and Atlas Obscura Inspiration

"The bodhisattva of the high desert will be greatly missed."
by Dylan Thuras
January 22, 2019

Lists Featuring Joshua Tree

Blue Sky Mausoleum.
Darwin Martin House Complex.
Skylights on the exterior porch made of red cypress.
A restored Wright house on the Burnham Block.

A 12-Stop Road Trip of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Most Surprising Designs

A UFO-inspired church, a futurist gas station, and more deep cuts.

12

Including Blue Sky Mausoleum, The Darwin D. Martin House, and Kentuck Knob

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