Joshua Tree National Park · California

Indian Cove Nature

0.6 mi of trail, end to end · Hike Indian Cove Trail: 0.6 mi loop in the Service's write-up · about 60 ft of climbing · 3,286 ft–3,348 ft · earth surface · trail class Highly Developed · hiking

3,340 ft 3,342 ft · 0.6 mi high 3,342 ft

Hike Indian Cove Trail 0.6 mi loop · the Park Service's write-up

30-45 Minutes · no dogs · season Temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in the summer, it is recommended to take at least one liter of water per person during the summer.

A dirt trail starting between wooden fences with rocky mountains in the distance.
The start to the Indian Cove Trail. Photo: NPS

The Indian Cove Trail is an easy .6 mile loop with 50 feet of elevation gain. The trailhead located at the west end of the Indian Cove Campground. Interpretive panels are located along the path with information on local plants and their traditional uses by Native Americans.

This trail has no shade and unreliable cell service. Always check the weather forecast before heading into the park and consider changing plans if the weather conditions are too extreme. Before hiking, tell a safety buddy where you are going and when you plan on leaving the park.

Pets Pets are not allowed on this trail but can be hiked around the roads in Indian Cove Campground.

Accessibility Pets are not allowed on this trail, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times. There is a variety of terrain on this trail including soft sand. The trail is roughly 1.5–3 ft wide, and is mostly flat with an approximate 100 foot elevation gain, including some stairs.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 94 trails in Joshua Tree National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

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.