- State: CA
- NPCA Region: Pacific
- Est. Date: 1994
Air Quality Conditions
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Unsatisfactory
Health
Significant Concern
Nature
Significant Concern
Climate Change Threats
This iconic park preserves portions of two spectacular desert ecosystems. The Colorado Desert in the eastern portion of the park features natural gardens of creosote bush, ocotillo and cholla cactus. The higher, slightly cooler Mojave Desert offers dazzling vistas of Joshua trees and yucca. The vast park also contains spectacularly sculpted formations of a type of rock known as monzogranite and is a mecca for rock climbers around the world.
Prayer Plant?
Mormon settlers may have given Joshua trees their name in the mid-1800s. The story goes that these pioneers believed the trees' limbs resembled the upstretched arms of the Biblical figure Joshua raising his hands in prayer.
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Blog Post
3 Lessons Learned from a Desert Tortoise in Joshua Tree
NPCA has been working to expand Joshua Tree National Park and establish Chuckwalla National Monument to protect desert tortoise habitat. Here’s why an intact desert landscape matters for the tortoise…
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Magazine Article
A Badge of Wonder
A tale of 40 junior ranger badges, a lost hat and an ageless pursuit.
My Park Story
Greetings from Joshua Tree National Park
I run a 19 year-old desert magazine, and this year we launched a desert show on PBS as well. I not only visit many of our national parks, monuments, and preserves every year, but I advocate for their preservation and encourage visitation. On a personal level, my wife and I…
More about Joshua Tree
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Read more about Protect the Greater Joshua Tree Landscape
Advocacy in Action Protect the Greater Joshua Tree Landscape In the face of threats of climate change and habitat loss, expanding Joshua Tree National Park and establishing a new Chuckwalla National Monument would protect critical habitat, promote equitable access to nature, and preserve the desert's rich cultural history.
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Read more about California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air
NPCA at Work California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air It might come as a surprise that California’s crown jewel national parks — Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Yosemite — struggle with some of the dirtiest air of any parks in the nation.
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Read more about Protect Eagle Mountain from Dangerous Development Proposals
NPCA at Work Protect Eagle Mountain from Dangerous Development Proposals Just outside the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, the region known as Eagle Mountain has been at the center of controversy over inappropriate, harmful development proposals for years. Incorporating these lands into the park could help protect them from the latest threat, the Eagle Crest Pumped Storage Project. This massive energy development stands to pump millions of gallons of water from the fragile desert aquifer in and around the park.
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Read more about A New Monument for an Old Hero?
Podcast Episode A New Monument for an Old Hero? A proposed Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree National Park would protect the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise and help many other species thrive, including people.
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they preserve the best of our country and they provide me with access into wilderness which I so often crave. — Shane
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Read more about Position on S. 2620, S. 2743, S. 3534, S. 3542, S. 3568, S. 4209, S. 4216, S. 4222, S. 4227, S. 4228, S. 4259 & H.R. 4984
Policy Update Position on S. 2620, S. 2743, S. 3534, S. 3542, S. 3568, S. 4209, S. 4216, S. 4222, S. 4227, S. 4228, S. 4259 & H.R. 4984 NPCA submitted the following positions to members of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks ahead of a hearing scheduled for May 15, 2024.
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Read more about See a Sky Full of Stars at These Certified Dark-Sky Parks
Blog Post See a Sky Full of Stars at These Certified Dark-Sky Parks Lay out a blanket after the sun goes down and see a clearer view of the galaxy at these designated dark-sky parks.
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Read more about Legal Lifeline
Magazine Article Legal Lifeline Celebrating 50 years of the Endangered Species Act
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Read more about California Protects Greater Joshua Tree Landscape from Contentious Project with New Legislation
Press Release California Protects Greater Joshua Tree Landscape from Contentious Project with New Legislation The Eagle Crest project would threaten the national park, wildlife, and desert water sources.
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Read more about A Disastrous Time for National Parks: Congress Must Act Fast To Rebuild Them Stronger
Storymap A Disastrous Time for National Parks: Congress Must Act Fast To Rebuild Them Stronger In recent years, we’ve witnessed record floods, severe and more frequent storms and hurricanes destroy communities, shutting down businesses and ripping through our parks and the landscapes, wildlife and life-changing experiences they hold. Take a deeper dive to see the devastation of these disasters and what you can do to help.
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Read more about 6 National Parks That Will Benefit from New Fossil Protections
Blog Post 6 National Parks That Will Benefit from New Fossil Protections In early September, the Interior Department implemented a long-awaited rule that will protect fossils from theft and loss on hundreds of public lands, including national park sites. Here are just a few of the places that are better off as a result.
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Read more about Glass Half Full
Magazine Article Glass Half Full A prominent climate scientist offers the gift of science-backed hope.
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about Tribal and National Parks Groups File Lawsuit to Defend Mojave Desert Sacred Lands, Wildlife and Water from Cadiz
Press Release Tribal and National Parks Groups File Lawsuit to Defend Mojave Desert Sacred Lands, Wildlife and Water from Cadiz Lawsuit challenges a fast-tracked decision in the final days of the Trump administration that threatens Mojave National Preserve and a deeply sacred cultural landscape for California Tribes.
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Read more about Lest We Forget
Magazine Article Lest We Forget One man's 30-year mission to honor the lives of more than 260 Park Service employees and volunteers who died while working in the parks.
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Read more about Desert Plan Rollbacks Threaten National Park Wildlife, Communities and Culture
Press Release Desert Plan Rollbacks Threaten National Park Wildlife, Communities and Culture Rollbacks could threaten crucial protections including for the Silurian Valley outside of Death Valley, and lands surrounding Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve and other wildlife-rich lands.
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Read more about 10 Parks for Every Tree Lover’s List
Blog Post 10 Parks for Every Tree Lover’s List National parks are home to some of the country’s rarest and most remarkable trees. In many cases, these spectacular plants have stood watch over centuries of history. Here are just 10 places that are sure to wow tree lovers everywhere.
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Read more about What Moves Us
Video What Moves Us Why are we drawn to our national parks? What inspires us to explore them—and to return to our favorites again and again? This video reminds us all why we yearn for the paths through our most cherished places... and can't help but to put one foot in front of the other.
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Read more about Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks
Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
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Read more about Comments on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
Letter Comments on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan National Parks Conservation Association’s comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
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Read more about Comments on California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act
Report Comments on California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act Comments on the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act
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Read more about Comments on Draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
Letter Comments on Draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Comments on Draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
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Read more about Polluted Parks: Fact Sheets
Fact Sheet Polluted Parks: Fact Sheets Haze pollution limits views of our most valued national parks and wilderness areas, affecting not just how far we can see, but also the color, sharpness, and quality of the view. It also makes the air unhealthy for people, wildlife and natural resources.
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Read more about Eagle Mountain Tortoise Habitat Projected Map
Report Eagle Mountain Tortoise Habitat Projected Map Map of desert tortoise habitat threatened by Eagle Mountain Landfill
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Read more about Protecting and Connecting Our Nation's Treasured Park Landscapes
Fact Sheet Protecting and Connecting Our Nation's Treasured Park Landscapes National parks are key to protecting and connecting our most revered places.
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Read more about Solar Energy, National Parks, and Landscape Protection in the Desert Southwest
Report Solar Energy, National Parks, and Landscape Protection in the Desert Southwest Solar energy is one of our country’s most promising industries for reducing America’s current reliance on coal-fired power plants that contribute to unhealthy air quality in communities across the country, as well as our national parks.
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Read more about Eagle Mountain Landfill Case: Ninth Circuit Opinion
Report Eagle Mountain Landfill Case: Ninth Circuit Opinion Eagle Mountain Landfill Case: Ninth Circuit Opinion
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