Joshua Tree National Park · California

Bajada Nature

0.3 mi of trail, end to end · 1,906 ft–1,917 ft · earth surface · trail class Developed · hiking

Hike Bajada Trail the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · no dogs · Winter, Spring, Fall

Start Bajada Nature Trail

This short and flat, quarter-mile nature trail meanders through common vegetation found in the Colorado Desert. Along the trail are interpretive signs highlighting different plants and their adaptations and uses. The trail is located near the southern boundary of the park, south of the Cottonwood Visitor Center. It is much lower in elevation than most of the park and offers a unique showcase of plants highly adapted to extreme heat and little rain. Occasionally, after wet winters, this trail will offer vibrant displays of wildflowers in February and March.

Pets Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed on trails, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times.

Accessibility This trail has areas of deep sand and may not be suitable for all wheelchairs. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed on trails, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.