Thanksgiving week will bring record numbers of tourists to Joshua Tree National Park. How to prepare? What to expect? Reporter Heather Clisby has the low-down…
For three consecutive years now, Joshua Tree National Park has seen a record-setting number of visitors and this holiday week should be especially busy. Over 2.8 million people visited the Park in 2017 and 2018 numbers are expected to bust 3 million.
At nearly 800,000 acres, the park is larger than the state of Rhode Island, and includes 60,000 miles of hiking trails, but trailhead parking will fill quickly up so plan to arrive by 10 a.m. or earlier.
To address traffic snarls, the Road Runner Shuttle is again serving the northern section of the park. During its’ two-year trial period, shuttle riders also enter the park for free. Visitors can pick up the shuttle in Twentynine Palms at the Transit Center and the Oasis Visitor Center. For more info, check out the link in this story.
George Land, the Park’s public information officer, noted that crowd provisions have been made, such as additional park staff in heavily visited areas. Visitors should use the park’s less-traveled north and south entrances instead of the over-taxed west entrance off Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree. While all three park entrances are open, there is a short distance of one-lane traffic at Cottonwood due to necessary road repairs from recent storm damage.
Land advises park visitors to call ahead for campground status to prevent disappointments at 760-367-5500. Most of all, Land recommends patience. “If one is not into dealing with crowds and congestion this holiday, they might want to rethink their Thanksgiving week visit,” Land says.
Road Runner Shuttle Bus
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm
