Annual visitation to Joshua Tree National Park grew by nearly 340,000 visitors over last year’s record of 2.5 million visitors. Visitation to the national park in our back yard has increased for four consecutive years, and is now at a record 2,853,619 for 2017. Superintendent David Smith said many visitors are avoiding the crowds by visiting the park during off-peak times or during the week, and by using the Cottonwood entrance. Smith has high hopes for the new shuttle service, which began this month, which should reduce traffic congestion inside the park. The shuttle has scheduled stops at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center and Oasis Visitor Center as well as a number of stops both inside the park and in the surrounding community. For more information on the shuttle visit, www.jtnproadrunner.org.
