Got wanderlust? Calling all roamers, desert lovers, adventurers, climbers, and Coachella addicts! This national park is perfect for those who love the hippie desert vibes of Southern California and warm sunsets.
So you want to take photos in Joshua Tree, huh?
Welcome to the right place. I shoot in Joshua tree national park so often, I know it like the back of my hand! I’ve shot all over the place, and don’t get me wrong, the entire national park is absolutely stunning, but there are definitely some go-to spots that are perfect for photos more than others.
I love shooting in Joshua Tree and the surrounding areas of Yucca Valley and Palm Springs because there’s so much diversity within the desert!
Trees, giant rock piles, cactus, mountains, windmills, sand, etc. that really give a great blank canvas to be able to do whatever you want for your photo session! I love Joshua Tree especially for weddings, intimate elopements, and adventurous engagement sessions.
Wherever you choose to take photos, decide on which spots are what look you’re going for and what’s gonna look best for the lighting.
Best Location Practices:
I recommend entering at the West Entrance gate. It’s much easier to take you down the main road into J tree.
There’s a $30 per car entrance fee, but you could get a national park annual pass for only $89 that gets you into every park for a year for free! You could also park somewhere in BLM land nearby and pile into one car if you don’t want to pay for extra cars.
Keep in mind there’s not much cell service in the park, so make sure you download maps and make sure everyone in your photo shoot group knows where to go!
Reminder to purchase a photography permit in advance. It’s the only way to legally & respectfully photograph in the park if you’re a professional photographer or if you are doing commercial work. Get your photo permit here.
if you want to see the trees in bloom, visit during spring when the flowers are here! They only stick around for a few weeks, but it’s worth it!
If you’re taking engagement or couples photos, check out this guide on what to wear to your engagement session
Here are my favorite spots & tips on when to shoot at them!
Maze Loop Trailhead at sunrise for jumbo rocks to climb on and plenty of trees! Park on the side of the road anywhere you think looks amazing! We were the only ones in this area, so it was pretty awesome!
Cholla Cactus Garden in the afternoon or morning. Be careful going off trail here! We got poked by the cactus spikes on the ground so many times! This area can get crowded since it’s a popular tourist spot, but it’s super unique and one of a kind inside J tree.
Best to enter into the south side of the park since it’s closer to the South entrance!
Arch Rock area at Golden hour
Arch Rock area at Golden hour sunset
Find a fun road surrounded by Joshua trees within the National Park! Just be careful of cars and make sure you’re not on a busy road or on any blind bends
Boy Scout Trail at Golden hour sunset
Arch Rock at Blue hour. Best at blue hour or morning for backlit photos
Arch Rock area in the afternoon
Arch Rock area at Golden hour sunset
Boy Scout Trail at Blue Hour
Boy Scout Trail at sunset
Boy Scout Trail at sunset
Boy Scout Trail as the sun dips behind the mountain
Keys View at Blue hour or Golden hour
Jumbo rocks, just a couple hours before sunset
& More of my fave locations outside the park
Palm Springs City Hall in the afternoon
A secret spot outside the park in Yucca Valley and Pioneertown
Cabazon Dinosaurs outside Palm Springs
Yucca valley BLM land
