Visiting Joshua Tree National Park in December 2026: Cold Nights, Clear Days, and Holiday Crowds

A Joshua tree at sunset near Jumbo Rocks on December 10, 2010. Main image: photo by Robb Hannawacker, National Park Service, public domain (NPS), via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, with text added.

Yes, with a warm jacket. December gives you the best hiking weather of the year, clear skies, and early sunsets that make for easy stargazing. The catch is freezing nights, a short daylight window, and holiday crowds in the last week of the month. My guide to Joshua Tree National Park has nine itineraries for one to three days if you want the whole plan laid out.

Is December the Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree?

It's one of the best, and it's my pick if you want to hike all day without the heat. The park says winter days are usually around 60°F with freezing nights, and that it occasionally snows at higher elevations. (NPS weather)

Against November, December is colder at night and has less daylight, but it's usually quieter than the weeks around Thanksgiving. Against February, it has fewer flowers and less daylight. Pick March or April if wildflowers are the point. Pick early December if you want space, and avoid December 24 through January 1 unless you've booked everything.

Weather and Daylight

The park spans a wide range of elevation, from 536 feet in the southeast corner to 5,814 feet on Quail Mountain, and conditions change with it. (NPS) Jumbo Rocks and Ryan sit at about 4,400 and 4,000 feet, so expect colder nights there.

Near Hidden Valley, sunrise is about 6:35 a.m. on December 1 and about 6:50 a.m. on the 31st. Sunset is about 4:30 p.m. early in the month and about 4:40 p.m. at the end. (Approximate.) That's roughly ten hours of usable light, so start walking by 8 a.m. Check the forecast the morning you go.

What's Open and Closed in December

The park is open all day, every day, and doesn't need a reservation to enter. A private vehicle pays $30 for seven days. (NPS fees) Inside, there's no food, gas, or lodging, and almost no water, so fill up in town. Driving from the coast? My Joshua Tree day trip from Los Angeles post covers the route, the entrances, and where to buy gas.

• Geology Tour Road: closed by flooding as of November 2026, with no reopening date posted. Don't plan December around it.
• West Side Loop trail (Black Rock): partly closed for trail repairs, with an estimated reopening in November, as of November 2026.
• Oasis of Mara Trail: closed past the oasis after flooding, as of November 2026. (NPS alerts)
• Campgrounds: no winter closures are listed, and the park's summer closures don't apply. The annual campfire ban runs from June 15 to October 1. (NPS campgrounds)

Where to Stay and What to Book

Reserve a campsite now if you're going over the holidays. Most of the park's roughly 500 sites are reservable on Recreation.gov, up to six months ahead, so December dates are already on sale. The park recommends reserving for any holiday or weekend. Sites at Black Rock, Cottonwood, and Indian Cove are $35 a night, and Jumbo Rocks and Ryan are $30. Only Black Rock and Cottonwood have water. (NPS campgrounds)

The first-come campgrounds (Hidden Valley, White Tank, and Belle) cost $25, and the park says they're full nearly every weekend from September through May, usually by Friday afternoon. If you're counting on one, arrive early in the week. Keys Ranch tours need a reservation on Recreation.gov; ranger programs are otherwise free. There's no lodging inside the park, so book a room in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, or Twentynine Palms before Christmas week fills.

The Best Things to Do in December

• Climb the hikes you'd skip in summer. Ryan Mountain is 3 miles round trip with 1,050 feet of climbing, and the park recommends winter, spring, or fall for it because there's almost no shade. Lost Palms Oasis is a longer day from Cottonwood.
• Walk the boulder loops. Hidden Valley and Barker Dam are short, easy loops. Go early; the lots fill by mid-morning.
• Stay for sunset and stars. Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park, and the park says to use red lights, bring a chair, and dress warmly. (NPS stargazing) The new moon falls on December 8, and the moon is full on December 23, so the dark-sky days are the first half of the month. The Geminid meteor shower usually peaks around December 13 and 14, with a thin crescent moon that sets in the evening.
• Save the flowers for later. The park says wildflowers usually start in January and February, so come back then; desert bluebells are one flower to look for.

A rare foggy morning in Joshua Tree National Park on December 3, 2014. Don't count on this; it's unusual. Photo: Kristen Lalumiere, National Park Service, public domain (NPS), via Wikimedia Commons.

Wildlife in December

Winter is a good season for birds, because the park says migrants abound and the sparse vegetation makes them easier to see. Look for roadrunners, ravens, and red-tailed hawks. (NPS birds) Coyotes are common, and the cool hours around dawn and dusk are your best chance. Never feed them. Nothing here is guaranteed.

Holidays, Events, and Crowds: When to Go

The park's busy season runs from October to May, and December follows that pattern: usually quieter in the first two weeks, then busiest around Christmas (Friday, December 25) through New Year's weekend. Arrive before 8 a.m., and expect Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, and Keys View to fill early. If you can, go on a weekday in the first half of the month. Traveling with children over the school break? See Joshua Tree with kids.

Safety and What to Pack

Layers matter more than anything: a hat and warm jacket for the evening, a windbreaker for midday, and sun protection even in winter. Carry at least a gallon of water per person per day. Stay out of washes when rain is in the forecast. Cell service is very limited, so download the NPS app's offline map.

How Many Days Do You Need in Joshua Tree in December?

One day covers Park Boulevard: Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Keys View, and Skull Rock, with a sunset at the end. Two days add Ryan Mountain and the drive down Pinto Basin Road to Cottonwood. Three days suit hikers who want Lost Palms Oasis and a night of stars. With only ten hours of daylight, I'd add a day to anything you'd do in two in spring. My two-day strenuous Joshua Tree itinerary shows one way to split it, and the Joshua Tree guide has nine plans for one to three days, each with a backup.

A Simple One-Day Plan for December

1. Before 8 a.m.: Fill the tank and water in town, then enter the park.
2. 8:30 a.m.: Walk Hidden Valley while the lot still has room.
3. 10 a.m.: Do the Barker Dam loop.
4. Noon: Eat a packed lunch, then drive to Keys View.
5. 2 p.m.: Stop at Skull Rock.
6. About 4 p.m.: Find a spot for sunset, then add layers and stay for the first stars if the night isn't too cold.

Before You Go

Reserve your campsite, buy your pass, and check whether Geology Tour Road has reopened. For the timing, the trails, and the backups, see my guide to Joshua Tree National Park.

Before you go: see Joshua Tree National Park alerts and current conditions, checked daily, for current closures and what they mean for your trip.

This is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Conditions change; check the park's current alerts before you go.