0.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 10 ft of climbing · 1,964 ft–1,978 ft · concrete surface · trail class Fully Developed · hiking
Visitor centersRanger stations
Along the wayOasisOasis Visitor Center
Hike Oasis of Mara the Park Service's write-up
30-45 Minutes · dogs allowed
Hiking the Oasis of Mara Photo: NPS / Brad Sutton
The Oasis of Mara is an easy half mile loop on a paved trail with minimal elevation gain. This trail begins at the Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters in Twentynine Palms and provides an easy opportunity to visit a desert oasis and the increased chance to see desert wildlife with the rare water source that the oasis provides. There are interpretive panels along the way to learn about the oasis.
Accessibility This trail is a paved trail with minimal elevation suitable for all wheelchairs. Service animals are welcome on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash.
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.
