April 18, 2014  |   

On Saturday, April 19, 2014, Joshua Tree National Park, along with other fee parks in the National Park Service, will kick off National Park Week and offer a fee-free weekend, April 19 and 20, 2014.

Come visit Joshua Tree Visitor Center (open 8-5), Oasis Visitor Center (open 9-5) and Cottonwood Visitor Center (open 9-4). Enjoy the beauty of the desert, hike a trail, and experience the majesty of your national parks! Some closures due to storm damage and nesting raptors are still in effect. Please ask a ranger at one of the visitor centers for additional details.

Pass the word please, especially to your friends who have never seen JTree in the springtime.

Join a ranger for a program! Programs currently having space available include:

April 19 – Evening Campfire Program at Indian Cove Campground, 8:00 p.m.;

April 20 – Cap Rock Hike, 2:00 p.m.;

April 23 – Cholla Cactus Garden Talk, 10:00 a.m.;

April 24 – Twin Tanks Talk, 10:00 a.m.; Walk Street Mill Hike, 11:00 a.m.

April 25 – Cottonwood Canyon Hike, 2:00 p.m.; Evening Campfire Program at Cottonwood Campground, 8:00; Evening Campfire Program at Jumbo Rocks Campground, 8:00 p.m.;

April 26 – Evening Program at Indian Cove Campground, 8:00 p.m.

 

You can also join a ranger for informal talks throughout the week at various locations including Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, Keys View and Barker Dam. Times will vary. Please check in at any of our visitor centers to see where these opportunities are available.

 

On April 26, 2014, we will conclude National Park Week by celebrating our next generation of park stewards with National Junior Ranger Day. Please see a ranger at any of our visitor centers for a list of ongoing activities this weekend.

 

Enjoy a glimpse at what makes these parks and park sites special to some of our dedicated staff by linking to: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/photosmultimedia/multimedia.htm    We encourage you to enjoy your public lands and to find a place that gives you solace – find your park!