Even though this is one of the shortest hikes, make sure to stop at the Cholla Cactus Garden Trail when in Joshua Tree National Park.
Cholla Cactus Garden Trail Basics
Under 30 Minutes
0.25 Miles Roundtrip
Loop
9 Feet
Duration: Under 30 Minutes
The short stroll through the Teddybear Cholla garden takes less than 30 minutes.
Distance: 0.25 Miles Roundtrip
You can walk the whole Cholla Gardens in about a quarter of a mile.
Type: Loop Trail
Cholla Cactus Garden is a loop trail through a small forest of Chollas.
Elevation Change: 9 Feet
This is basically a flat trail. It starts with a small boardwalk that gives way to a dirt path through the Teddy Bear cactus plants.
Season: Spring, Fall, Winter
Due to the high temperatures in the summer months in the California Desert, the best time of year to do this trail and Joshua Tree National Park in general is in the Spring, Fall, and Winter.
Time of Day: Any
Visitors can enjoy this up-close look at the unique landscape of the desert any time of the day. Of course, in the warmer months, it’s best to get here in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat in the middle of the day.
Amount of Shade: None
There’s almost no shade from the sun through the Cholla Cactus Gardens. The cacti are all small so they don’t offer much protection from the sun.
Difficulty: Easy
This quick stop is an easy hike that can be done by hikers of all skill levels.
What Makes Cholla Cactus Garden a Great Hike?
The Cholla Cactus Garden Trail is a short easy hike through the Teddy Bear Cholla off of Pinto Basin Road. There are very few areas in the park with this high amount of Cholla Cacti together. They grow in the “lowlands” of the Colorado Desert within the park. It’s a unique experience to be among such an intense concentration of Cholla Cacti, and this was our first time getting to see so many different types of cacti up close.
Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail was the first stop we made after entering the park from the North Entrance, although it’s closer to the South Entrance. It was a great place to start our journey through Joshua Tree because we were able to see so many of the desert plants.
Scenery on the Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
On the Trail
Throughout the quarter-mile loop, the scenery doesn’t change much. You are walking through a 10-acre garden full of cacti, most predominately the Cholla Teddy Bear Cactus. Some of the other cacti and plants you may see on the trail include Hedgehog Cactus, Brittlebush, Desert Lavender, Beavertail Cactus, Desert Starvine, White Ratany, Desert Senna, Pencil Cholla, Trixis, Narrow-leaf Forget-me-not, Schott’s Indigo Bush, Creosote Bush, Hairy Milkweed, Groundcherry, Cheesebuch, and Jojoba. Of course, don’t forget the famous Joshua Trees that also dot the area.
Our group in the Cholla Garden
Cholla Teddy Bear Cactus
Notable Places on the Hike
None
Cholla Cactus Garden Trailhead Information
Park Name: Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California, about halfway between Los Angeles and the Arizona border. The closest airports are Palm Springs International Airport and Twentynine Palms Airport. Both of those are small airports, though, so the closest major airport is Los Angeles. From there, you'll need to rent a car to drive about 4 hours east into the desert to get to the Joshua Tree Area. The park is situated at the convergence of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert.
Finding the Trailhead
The trailhead is hard to miss at the western corner of the small parking lot. There are two entrances to the trail, but it's a loop trail so you can choose to start at either one.
Markers Along the Trail
There are no makers along the Cholla Cactus Garden Trail.
Nearest Restrooms
There are not any restrooms nearby. The closest two are either south to the Cottonwood Visitor Center or north at the Live Oak Picnic Area on Park Blvd.
Parking Area
The parking area for Cholla Cactus Garden is on Pinto Basin Road, about 15 miles south of the park's North Entrance. Take the main road, Park Boulevard, until you come to the intersection with Pinto Basin Road. The sign will direct you toward Cottonwood, Interstate 10, Cholla Cactus Garden, and Ocotillo Patch. Turn left onto the road and travel about 10 miles until you see the parking area on your right past Arch Rock. If you get to the Ocotillo Patch, you've gone too far.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
There are no other trails in the Cholla area.
Tips for Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
- The cacti have tiny barbs that can easily detach and cling to clothing or skin, so it's important to be cautious while walking through the garden.
- Always stay on the path to prevent damage to the unique blend of flora in the Cholla Garden.
- The garden is particularly beautiful at sunrise or sunset.
Accessibility Information for Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
Sandy Path and Loose Gravel
Paved
Trail Type: Sandy Path and Loose Gravel
This trail is a sandy path that weaves through the Cholla Cactus Garden. In some places, the sand is very loose and the trail gets narrow. This would be a difficult trail to navigate in a wheelchair or with a stroller.
Parking: Paved
The parking area for the trail is a paved lot with only one handicap-accessible parking space.