4-Day Joshua Tree Backpacking

Joshua Tree National Park

Trip Highlights:

Desert Sunsets

Tasty Meals

Wilderness Navigation

Rocky Canyons

Expert Guides

Wildflowers, Desert and Mountain Scenery

While mountain ranges all over the American West succumb to cold winds and deep snow in the fall through spring, Joshua Tree’s desert climate remains relatively temperate, making the area a backpacking paradise for these typically colder months. This park straddles the border of the Colorado Plateau and Mojave Desert. As a result, an amazing array of plants and animals find their home in this seemingly barren landscape. For thousands of years, wind and water from the powerful but brief desert storms have carved away at the earth here, resulting in bizarre rock pile formations strewn across the desert floor. Just a short drive from Los Angeles, Joshua Tree has a real wilderness character and a variety of challenging adventures for every skill level.

Mileage & Difficulty

18-25 Miles

(Map and Elevation)

Moderate

Length

4 Days

Price

$1,600*

Per Person

Departure Info

Quail Springs Picnic Area

2 p.m.

Check Availability

2026 Departure Dates by Month

All dates remain tentative until permitted 6 months in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements outside of this timeline. We will reach out to you if we are unable to get your dates. Feel free to contact us if you would like to confirm.

All trips are permitted through May 2026.

If you don’t see dates that work with your schedule, please let us know, as we can consider additional dates.

4-Day Joshua Tree National Park Backpacking Trip

For a detailed map with an elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here: Map.

Day 1

Meet your guide at 2 p.m. in the Quail Springs Picnic Area. The drive in will include iconic rock formations and thousands of leaning Joshua trees. Enjoy an easy 2-mile hike to your campsite for the night, where you will have some free time to explore the rock formations of one of the most popular climbing areas in the park.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 2 mi / +110′, -51′

Day 2

Your day will begin with a 6.4-mile round-trip day hike into the rocks, exploring the mysterious canyons of Willow Hole. After a delicious lunch at camp, you will pack up and move deeper into the desert along the Boy Scout Trail. The desert sunset will illuminate the rocks near your camp and off in the distance to make you feel as if you are on a different planet.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 8.4 mi / +383′, -383′ (including the variable-length day hike)

Day 3

Another full day of hiking brings you past more interesting geologic phenomena and many wildflower clusters hiding amongst the cacti and rocks. Take another lunch break with meals provided by your guide and trail games to pass the time. After making your final camp, wait out of the tent for a magical star show in this designated international dark sky park.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 8 mi / +822′, -1551′

Day 4

Savor the cool morning air as you pack up your final camp and hike towards your finishing point. A filling lunch awaits your arrival at the trailhead. We aim to be wrapping up lunch and have our guests on their way by around 2-4 p.m. to allow for travel time.

Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 6.7 mi / +864′-195′

Joshua Tree offers many terrific itineraries and specific itineraries will be dependent on permits received with final changes made in the weeks preceding departure date. Some itineraries may require shuttling vehicles or staying in a campground for the first or last nights. Typical daily mileage ranges from 5-8 miles.

Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all meals, and we can provide high-quality gear, including Gregory backpacks, Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and pads, LEKI trekking poles, and eating gear, free of charge. Group gear, including all kitchen supplies, first aid, and water purification, is also included. See the Guide Service Backpacking Equipment List for more information.
See our Frequently Asked Questions and Joshua Tree Transportation Options.
Parking will be available adjacent to the first day’s meeting location.
All trips include the required permits and are pending permit availability, which we are able to reserve 6 months in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates.
Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of peaks will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
Pack extra water bottles for the drive to the meeting location. There is no potable water in the park past the entrance gates.

Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.

REQUIRED FORMS

In addition to full payment, the final acceptance of any participant is subject to receipt and review of all Required Forms. For overnight adventures, you will find these forms attached to your confirmation email once you register online, and must be filled out by each member of your party as soon as possible.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

For your protection and ours, we strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance, which can provide coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, airfare, and baggage loss/delay to protect your financial investment. We recommend those with “cancel for any reason” clauses included. See reviews of some of the best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Options presented by Forbes or Squaremouth. Other good student options include InsureMyTrip and Allianz Travel Insurance for Students.

Travel Insurance is the easiest and best way to protect yourself and our smaller non-profit organization against last-minute cancellations. We are happy to provide timely and accurate documentation for any insurance claim related to our trips when requested. Please keep in mind that when canceling a reservation, you must first contact the company that made your reservation with us.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Full payment is preferred for all backpacking trips. During check-out, you may pay a 50% deposit at the time of booking and the remaining 50% at least 30 days from departure. If you choose this option, you can either complete payment on your own using the self-service link in the confirmation email or you will be billed automatically at or shortly after the 30-day interval for the remaining amount. Any new multi-day booking made within 45 days of the start date must be paid in full. Feel free to contact us directly to set up any other payment plan.

When registering online, expect to pay a booking fee of 3.0% (capped at $30) and a processing fee of 2.7% (no cap). These fees can be avoided when paying by check and are non-refundable. For detailed information, see our Payment Options page.

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIES

Lasting Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips. If a trip is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. Lasting Adventures is not responsible for additional expenses incurred while preparing for the trip.

The following cancellation policy is only for trips booked directly through our official website, lastingadventures.com. If you have booked via a third-party website (such as TripAdvisor/Viator, BookYogaRetreats.com, or 57Hours), the policy below does not apply, and you are held to the third-party’s cancellation policy.

Multi-Day Adventures Cancellation Policy

More than 90 days before the start date, we will grant a full refund minus a 2.7% processing fee for credit card transactions.
Between 90 and 61 days before the start date, we will grant a full refund minus $50/person and a 2.7% processing fee for credit card transactions.
Between 60 and 46 days before the start date, we will retain 25% of the total trip cost. You may also take a non-refundable credit of the total value paid.
Between 45 and 31 days before the start date, we will retain 50% of the total trip cost. You may also take a non-refundable credit of the total value paid.
Less than 31 days before the start date, or once the trip has begun, no refunds or credits will be issued.

48-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy

Any reservation can be canceled within 48 hours of the initial booking, and we will issue a full refund, minus a 2.7% processing fee for credit card transactions. After 48 hours, our standard terms and conditions apply. To cancel, please email us at staff@lastingadventures.org or leave a voicemail at 800-513-8651. This policy does not apply if the trip is booked within 96 hours of the initial booking.

Fire/Smoke Cancellation Policy

Fire/smoke cancellations are considered circumstances beyond our control. If your chosen travel insurance does not cover fire/smoke cancellations, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. If we cancel during your adventure with us, we will issue a non-refundable credit equal to the amount for the days not used. In both cases, these credits will be lifetime/transferable but non-refundable.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Departing from a Trip: Once a participant has joined a trip and the trip has begun, no refunds or credits will be issued, regardless of the reason for departure. Costs associated with assisting a participant with evacuating from the wilderness will be passed on to the participant. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.

Minimum Participants: Our Guide Service multi-day trips require a minimum of three people.

If we fall short on these minimums, we will reach out to you 30 days before your scheduled start date with options that may include switching to another trip/date and/or a surcharge.

Infectious Illness Policy: Any participant on any program/trip who exhibits any signs or symptoms of a potential infectious illness will not be allowed to participate, and no refund or credits will be given. Many forms of Travel Insurance cover these circumstances. We ask that you screen yourself and/or your child before participating and contact us to cancel if you or your child shows any signs of illness. Health screenings can be expected in all youth programs.

Half Dome & Other Summits: Reaching the top of a summit, such as Half Dome, is risky and can be made even more dangerous by inclement weather. While we aim to get everyone to the top, summiting is not guaranteed. Lightning and rain can be deadly on exposed summits, and our experienced guides may have to call off a summit bid if the weather is unfavorable. You will not be allowed to summit with a Lasting Adventures permit if the experienced guide decides the conditions are not favorable.

Booking a trip before permits have been confirmed: All Lasting Adventures trips require permits and/or campsites obtained in advance at specific intervals, depending on the particular park. If you book a trip before these permits and/or campsites are obtained, and for any reason we are unable to gain the necessary permits and/or campsites, we will then work with you to select alternative dates or trips. A cancellation and full refund will always be the final option.

TRIP CHANGE/CREDIT POLICY

Once you book a trip with Lasting Adventures, the value you paid is valid toward switching to another trip in the current or upcoming year, pending available spaces on the new trip. Changes to your booking and conversion to credit must occur more than 30 days before your original start date, as well as 30 days before the trip you would like to switch to. Changes within 30 days are subject to fees. Once changed to a lifetime/transferable credit, credits are non-refundable and are a dollar-for-dollar value.

TRADITIONAL BACKPACKING

Lasting Adventures runs “traditional backpacking” trips. This is done without using porters, stock, or other outside assistance. For this trip, you will be expected to carry your personal gear, a share of the group gear, and food in a backpack. The weight is expected to be 30-50 lb., no more than ⅓ of your body weight.

As needed, participants should talk about their ability to fully participate in a backpacking trip with their doctor, including (but not limited to) carrying heavy loads over long distances and on strenuous, uneven terrain. The levels of difficulty listed on our website are relative and in no way constitute an objective declaration of difficulty. A regular physical exercise program is recommended before going on your adventure.

TRIP ITINERARIES

All trips are subject to itinerary changes for various reasons, including, but not limited to, permitting, weather, forest fires, park or public land closures, and/or road closures. In most situations, we will offer an alternative itinerary of equal value and quality or a credit equal to the total amount paid through the end of the following season. Payments are non-refundable for itinerary changes. If a trip is canceled before its start date due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued.

STAFF SCHEDULES

Due to the nature of backpacking, our guides work long hours. To provide the best possible experience for our guests and guides, we limit our guides’ daily hours to 15. Guides will not be required to be available from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless the group agrees to a different period before this standard break. This varies with our summer camp programs, where outdoor educators are always available as needed.

During time off, our guides will be available for emergencies, but should be allowed to rest and not be considered available for other purposes outside of working hours. Please don’t ask guides for non-time-sensitive assistance during this period. Our guides are also entitled to take 10-minute breaks every four hours and 30-minute meal breaks every 5 hours, between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. We appreciate your cooperation with these scheduling requirements.

COUPONS

See our Coupon Use Terms and Conditions.

Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all meals, and we can provide high-quality gear, including Gregory backpacks, Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags and pads, LEKI trekking poles, and eating gear, free of charge. Group gear, including all kitchen supplies, first aid, and water purification, is also included. See the Guide Service Backpacking Equipment List for more information.
See our Frequently Asked Questions and Joshua Tree Transportation Options.
Parking will be available adjacent to the first day’s meeting location.
All trips include the required permits and are pending permit availability, which we are able to reserve 6 months in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates.
Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of peaks will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
Pack extra water bottles for the drive to the meeting location. There is no potable water in the park past the entrance gates.

Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.