Journey into Joshua Tree On-Demand Audio Tour and Locals Guide Discount Tickets

Get your discount tickets for the Journey into Joshua Tree Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour, save up to 11% !

Overview

Explore Joshua Tree National Park in your own car with GPS-triggered audio that plays automatically as you drive—even without cell service. Start from either the West or North Entrance and follow the route at your own pace, stopping whenever you like for hikes, photos, scenic viewpoints, or a break. Along the way, discover iconic sights including Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, and more. Hear about the park’s history, landscape, wildlife, and unique desert environment. Your purchase also includes our Joshua Tree Area Guide, featuring recommendations for restaurants, hikes, art, and other places worth exploring in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Pioneertown. - Explore Joshua Tree independently in your own vehicle - GPS-triggered narration plays automatically along the route - Works offline after the tour is downloaded - Pause anytime for hikes, photos, meals, or scenic stops - One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle - Includes a bonus Joshua Tree Local Area Guide

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Option 2: The audio tour will start automatically after entering Joshua Tree National Park through the North Entrance Station.

Language Offered

German-AUDIO

German-WRITTEN

English-AUDIO

English-WRITTEN

French-AUDIO

French-WRITTEN

Spanish-AUDIO

Spanish-WRITTEN

Itinerary

1. Joshua Tree National Park
Explore Joshua Tree National Park on a self-guided driving tour through its two distinct desert ecosystems. GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you drive, with stops at scenic overlooks, rock formations, historic sites, and optional hiking trails along the way.
2. Quail Springs Trail
Quail Springs is a trailhead and picnic area. It's a great place to get out and walk around, explore some boulders, and take some pictures. An optional hike can take you to a nearby homestead site with rock carvings.
Duration: 20 mins
3. Hidden Valley
The Hidden Valley Trail is a relatively easy one-mile loop that circles a secluded valley surrounded by towering rock formations. It’s a particularly scenic hike, especially given how short and level it is.
Duration: 60 mins
4. Barker Dam Trail
Take a short loop hike to a natural tank that was artificially fortified by ranchers in the early 1900’s to collect rain and runoff for livestock. On the way back, keep your eyes out for some petroglyphs and rock art.
Duration: 60 mins
5. Wall Street Mill
Optional hike from the Barker Dam area to visit the Wall Street Mill, which processed ore that was extracted from nearby mines. Also along the way are the Wonderland Ranch homestead ruins.
6. Keys View
Stop at this scenic overlook that provides a sweeping panorama of the Coachella Valley. On a clear day, you can see for miles, from the Salton Sea to the south, to Mount San Jacinto which towers above Palm Springs at an elevation of 10,830 feet.
Duration: 15 mins
7. Ryan Ranch Homestead Site
Take a short hike (optional) to this old homestead site of a wealthy rancher turned mine operator.
8. Hall of Horrors
Get out and explore a mini slot canyon tucked into the boulders!
Duration: 15 mins
9. Ryan Mountain
Optional but challenging hike to the top of Ryan Mountain. Because of its central location within the park, the views from the top can be stunning.
10. Skull Rock
Located right along the road, Skull Rock is a natural rock formation and popular photo spot.
Duration: 15 mins
11. Split Rock
Another optional loop hike that gets a little less traffic than some of the other sites in the park.
12. Arch Rock Nature Trail
Relatively easy and popular hike that lets you visit 2 natural rock formations on one hike, Arch Rock and Heart Rock.
13. Cholla Cactus Garden
Get a taste of Joshua Tree's lower desert ecosystem, the Colorado Desert. You'll be surrounded by fuzzy-looking Teddy Bear Cholla, but you don't want to touch them!
Duration: 15 mins
14. Boy Scout Trail
Boy Scout Trail provides hiking access to Indian Cove as well as Willow Hole, which is an oasis tucked into the Wonderland of Rocks area. The rock formations and unique landscape can make this a mesmerizing place to hike, especially at the right time of day.

Inclusion

Lifetime Tour Access Once Unlocked

Start from Either the West or North Park Entrance

Offline Tour Access After Download

Bonus Joshua Tree Area Guide — Restaurants, Hikes, Art & More

Interactive Route Map and Stop Information

GPS-Triggered Audio Tour in the Drives & Detours App

One Purchase Covers Everyone in Your Vehicle

Exclusion

Food & Drink

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Works entirely offline once downloaded—no cell service required

GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you approach featured locations

Start from either the West or North park entrance and follow the route shown in the app

All suggested hikes are optional; the driving tour takes approximately 3–4 hours without extended stops or hikes

Includes a bonus Joshua Tree Area Guide with recommendations for restaurants, hikes, art, roadside attractions, and more

Once unlocked, you retain lifetime access to the tour

One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle

Download the Drives & Detours app and your tour before arriving at the park

Bring a fully charged phone or car charger

Pause anytime for hiking, sightseeing, photos, food, or scenic stops

This is a private self-guided experience in your own vehicle; no live guide is included

Supplied by Drives & Detours

Reviews

3.7

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 3 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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