What is literary travel? Literary travel = visiting locations that were featured in books or movies, represent or feel like some of our favorite fantasy worlds, have influence(d) other known authors and artists, or simply inspire our own creativity.
Joshua Tree is a magical place in Southern California where the Mojave and Colorado deserts collide. It was supposed to be a pitstop on our roadtrip back from Phoenix, Arizona, but the awe-inspiring hiking trails, rich history and legends, old western towns, and cozy bookstores quickly captured our hearts. What was supposed to be a place to rest our heads turned into a full day of adventure!
Here’s my mini guide to a day trip in Joshua Tree perfect for the literary traveler or anyone who loves to visit magical locations (oh, and bring your pooch, this itinerary is dog-friendly!).
What to Expect in Joshua Tree
This is the high desert: it’s hot, dry, and vast. The national park sits between the rugged folds of a few small mountain ranges. Hidden within is something truly out of this world: a land dotted with boulder formations that rival the Lion King and the mystical yucca brevifolia (the Joshua tree). Ancient sites that hold Native American petroglyphs and abandoned mining tunnels. Trails that lead to rocks that look like skulls and slot canyons dubbed the Hall of Horrors.
When your legs get sore and it’s time to leave the dust behind, you can wind down with a cocktail or a coffee (or both?), shop one of the small local businesses, and eat a delicious organic meal in town.
Where to Stay in Joshua Tree
Ramsey 29
This motel was the perfect place to stay overnight. I honestly wish we’d booked it longer! It’s a renovated 1940’s motor court motel with vintage desert vibes. The concrete floors kept our feet cool, and maybe it was the long drive from Arizona, but the beds felt like clouds.
There was a pool we didn’t get to, but the grounds held so much to explore. Fire pits, corn hole, and a cactus garden led the way to a collection of wood-planked shops with local and handcrafted items (even a bookshop!) lovingly called Tin Town.
Ramsey 29 is located in Twentynine Palms, a hip area 5 minutes from Joshua Tree proper and less than half a mile from the northern entrance of the national park. You can book your room direct on their website or through AirBnB. This is a photo of our room, SUITE N° 1, courtesy of the hotel website (I was too tired to take pics, lol).
Things to do in Joshua Tree
Bookstores
Being a reader and a writer, of course I had to scope out the bookstores! You won’t find a Barnes & Noble here—these whimsical shops are curated for the curious and play a strong role in uplifting the local indie author community.
Located in Tin Town, this cozy bookstore is full of vintage treasures highlighting Joshua Tree’s unique local history, lore, nature, and authors. The wood-planked floor, ceiling, and walls gave off rustic old west vibes. This photo from the LA Times sums it up perfectly!
This eclectic bookstore is a local gem! Anyone with a love for science fiction will feel right at home here. Between the new and used books you can also find fantasy, poetry, art, and trail guides on the shelves. They’re a heartbeat in the artist community—regularly hosting readings and events, plus, kids under the age of 14 get free books!
Hiking
Hiking is one of the most popular activities in Joshua Tree, and for good reason. The towering granite pillars rise up like castles, creating unique desert shelters plus loads of places to climb and explore. I recommend stopping by the official visitor center first and paying for your admission there. That way you won’t have to wait in line at the park entrance. It’s $30 for private vehicles.
Pets aren’t allowed on any trails but there are plenty of other areas you can enjoy with them, including:
- Campgrounds
- Picnic areas
- 100 feet of paved roads
- Unpaved roads
While at the visitor center, one of the park rangers gave us a map highlighting three pet-friendly walks that wouldn’t disturb the ecosystem but still provided a scenic experience.
Echo Trail Road
On paper, this hike looks very short. But with the heat and the scenery and all the opportunities to explore, it kept my two-year-old dog and my five-year-old-daughter very entertained. We felt so immersed by the boulder towers (and the rock climbers!), the stretches of Joshua trees, and the spiky plants peppering the ground, that it felt like a trail even if it was just a dusty, dirt road. I’ve never seen so many lizards!
The route starts at the unpaved road branching off the Echo Trail parking lot. It ends at a locked gate but we didn’t even make it that far!
Hemingway Dirt Road
I’m not sure what the official title of this road is since it doesn’t have a marker, but it’s situated between Hemingway Buttress and Quail Springs Picnic Area. Massive rock formations provide a stunning backdrop but the hike itself has more of an open desert vibe.
Keys View
If you want stunning views of the Coachella Valley, this is your hike! It’s about a 20 minute drive from Echo Trail or Hemingway. Dogs are allowed on the paved portion, just keep the temperature in mind—concrete can heat up quickly. An early morning or early evening walk would probably be best for tender paws here!
Pioneertown
Step into this lively, dusty town and experience the living, breathing, spirit of the Old West. If you’re writing (or reading) a western-inspired romance, this is the perfect backdrop!
Only hooves, feet, and paws may enter the “downtown” strip: a single dirt road lined with an eccentric array of wood-planked shops made to look like a traditional western town. It’s not unheard of to see staged “shootouts” on the weekends, horses trotting down Mane Street, and a potbelly goat snoozing outside his bath & body shop. For a drink and a bite, Red Dog Saloon looms at the end of the street, with a game room inside and plenty of picnic benches outside!
Where to Eat in Joshua Tree
Breakfast
A spot right off the highway for quick, organic breakfast and lunch. There’s no indoor seating but there’s plenty of covered, outdoor seating. My husband and I both ordered the breakfast burrito, which was a little eggy, but delicious! My daughter opted for the waffle, which was perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft within.
Lunch
Red Dog Saloon has earned its spot as Pioneertown’s local watering hole. It’s more of a bar than a restaurant, with an order-food-at-the-counter and pick-up-at-the-window kind of vibe. Serving breakfast (on weekends), lunch, and dinner, Red Dog pairs fresh ingredients with Tex-Mex flavors. I think we ordered one of each soft taco but our favorites were the carnitas and the bean and cheese. Oh, the queso and the churros (not eaten together, lol) were to die for!
Dinner
When we arrived at our motel way past our bedtime and wandered the grounds in search of food, I did not expect to stumble into a lantern-lit, cactus-studded restaurant. What’s great about their Caribbean-inspired menu is that it’s tapas style—plates are meant to be shared so you can get a little taste of everything. Aside from a few tables, most were outside, under the stars.
I hoped you liked this literary travel (Joshua Tree edition) post! If you’re dreaming up your next trip, check out this blog post with a list of IRL magical cities that feel like they’re straight out of a fantasy!
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