Hidden Valley Reviews

Great trail to hike with kids, nothing too steep, lots of photo ops, easy loop from the parking lot and back and a whole lot of desert beauty!

This walk is not difficult and I would suggest that 95% is on the flat. It takes 30-45 mins. Walking shoes are advise although I saw people trekking in sand-shoes and crocs. There is free parking as part of the $25 entry fee. You'll get some great photos. Toilets are very basic in the park - use the visitors centre if needed before the trek

This was the first stop we took, while visiting the beautiful Joshua Tree National Park. This trail was great! It's short enough that you can really take your time, and enjoy all the beautiful scenery around you. I would definitely recommend this one.

This is one of the most beautiful Parks in this area so be prepared for the crowds that come along with it. We went on Feb 1st so our wait to get in at Joshua Tree entrance was minimal although it can be very long at times. We didn’t go in until close to noon so maybe the line was shorter due to this fact. We always found a parking spot at the few hikes we chose to explore.
We headed to Hidden Springs on our one day adventure and hiked several short trails that led to a historical sights from the 1900’s. We saw how cattle ranches had made dams to create enough water for their herds in this very arid climate and an old mining mill with several abandoned “Old” cars along the way.
Also in this area we watch several groups of rock climbers in amazement. Hidden Springs area has something for everyone with campgrounds for overnight stays. A pass Is good for the entire car for 7 days or if you live nearby an annual pass of $40 is a must.
The nearby towns of Joshua Tree and Yucca offer an array of places to stay. A new shuttle service just started on Feb 1st that will take foot passengers from the Joshua Tree entrance to two stops within the park. The driver told us it leaves each area every 30 mins and an easy to find shuttle stop. Again, pay your individual walk in fee and it’s good for 7 days. Makes staying in town and shuttling in an easy day trip for numerous hikes!

Definitely make the effort to do this short hike. It would be suitable for most abilities with a tiny bit of scrambling over some rocks at the beginning.

This is a very popular trail as it is simple and easy and it gives you a nice overview of the scenery. There is a lot of parking, but it all fills up very quickly. We got there before 10am and it was already half full. By time we finished walking the short trail, all the parking was filled. So you may want to go early.

The entire park is spectacular; especially, at sunset. We visited the park twice while were in the area and would love to return to shoot some dark sky.

Right in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, do not miss this hidden gem, it is well worth a visit. Following the path at a leisurely walk might take less than one hour, and it is really gorgeous. If you chose to only walk one trail in Joshua Tree, this might be some of the most representative.

This is a one mile loop trail, basically level so very easy to do. The highlight is the rock walls which surround the little valley. You will see some cactus on the hike as well as pinion pine but it is the rock formations which are the star attraction. Outside the valley we did see some rock climbers so that was cool also.

This is a popular 1.3 mile trail. Pit toilets and trash cans. Some steps but not too difficult a trail. Many interesting plants including many cacti and succulent garden and many plaques with information about the landscape,landscape, flora and fauna. Allow at least one hour if you want to read the plaques, take pictures and enjoy the scenery .

My friend and I recently drove to Joshua Tree National Park from San Diego earlier this month. We went on this easy 1-mile loop trail that has lots of Joshua Trees, Cacti and unique rock formations at every turn. You can see rock climbers throughout the trail and there are plenty of places to rest along the way.

I recommend this hike, as it's an easy introduction to the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park!

You will find lots of exposed rock, some minimal scrambling, and overall a nice walk. Not much Wildlife on the walk.

My favorite place to picnic. Shade is a shortage in this Park and here we have several tables in the shade. The rocks make a great backdrop. Toilets are basic but serve their purpose well. It's a busy area but we have always found a shady table

Just stunning. You can stare at the for hours I think. Fun camping spot. Always busy.
We will be going back and spending a bit more time here.

In my opinion, this is a not to be missed site in Joshua Tree National Park. The rock formations, landscapes, and Joshua trees are a nature lover's and a photographer's paradise. There is ample parking, picnic tables and restroom facilities at the entrance to the site. Except for a few, stone steps just beyond the entrance to the site, the trail within the site itself is well defined and primarily flat. I suggest planning to stay at least 2 to 3 hours here.

On our drive from Palm Springs to La Quinta we stopped off at the Joshua Tree National Park arriving at about 16:00. There were only a few cars in the Hidden Valley trailhead parking lot so we had the trail practically to ourselves.
The flora and fauna are described on small plaques positioned on the clearly marked trail. There are a few areas where the path “climbs” up and down but it is not too challenging.
The whole area is very scenic and atmospheric with amazing rock formations and vegetation, providing plenty of photo opportunities.
We spent about two hours there and it is a highly recommended trail.

We loved hiking this trail. Lots and lots of great picture opportunities. It's not a strenuous hike. There are lots of rock formations,Joshua trees and Vistas to see.
One downfall was the trail wasn't always marked well.

The trail is easy with some steps up and down along the way. Good place for some of the plants to be shielded from the desert wind. It is a nice walk around the place.

We entered Hidden Valley picnic area about 11 a.m. It was full, but after driving around the turn at the end of the parking lot, we found a handicap area with tables and parking. As (because one of us is limited in walking) we have a handicap hangar, and found the tables easy to get to. High rock formations behind us to the south were impressive, and we and our wee doggie had a nice time. Nearby restrooms were clean, non-smelly and fairly close. It was a good find.

Hidden Valley is the most popular hike site for the park. Even though it's less than a mile, it took us quite sometime to get through it. We were taking photos, walking off the path, and climbing on rocks! My girls enjoyed it, and my mom also climbed a little and totally enjoyed it. You can climb all the way up some of these magnificent rocks or just stay on the ground. Either way, it is a nice hike for families.

Visiting relatives in Victorville, I spotted a few Joshua trees in their neighborhood and was told a few stories about these odd looking trees. 1st, they are a disappearing kind therefore, protected. The Indian believes they look like human, therefore are inhibited by spirits, the Mormon named it Joshua because it mimicked the prophet Joshua with his arms waving the pilgrims toward the promised land. All this peaked my curiosity about this plant. So when I was offered a visit to Joshua Tree National park I jumped at the chance to see them in their only natural habit in the world.
After a brief wait at the gate we paid our entrance fee and drove in the seemingly boundless desert landscape. My 1st impression was that the park is spotlessly clean and well maintained. The roads and campsites that we drove by were in the best conditions a taxpayer would wish for. The sceneries were unique with clusters after clusters of boulders and forest of Joshua trees. I got to see those trees up close; their "leaves" are hard as spears tipped with a sharp point certainly capable to pierce thru flesh. Bring plenty of protective clothing against the desert sun, water and snacks because there was no vendors in sight.

It may be that we took some wrong turns — which says something about this trail — but I found it more moderate than easy. While there were some easy parts of the trail, there were also steps in the form of rocks. Some were steep if you are on the shorter side. The views themselves were quite lovely and worth the hike, but if you do have boots put them on. Lush and scenic and many Joshua trees to see.

This was my favorite part of the park. With every turn you get a new spectacular view. There is a bathroom, the port a potty kind. There are arrows asking a path. I loved it!

It's a very short hike to this lovely valley. It's not until you're at the heart of the valley and recognize the high tops. Very easy hike and worth it.

Joshua tree is such a beautiful park with its granite hills and formation and desert vegetation. Hot day with young children on a day trip from Palm Springs so one shortish hike was the order of the day and I'm glad we did this one. The hike begins from a narrow entrance near the car park and then opens out somewhat into a beautiful little valley/canyon with its own micro climate and a variety of plants because of it. Saw someone rock climbing too. A circular trail - make sure you take water - in summer it is hot.

Great short trail through an area of JTNP that was very unique. Fun trail for families as there are plenty of rocks for kids to play on as well. Lovely picnic areas too.

The day we arrived at JTNP, the temperature was in the 90s, so we were interested in short hikes. This destination was perfect. This was a relatively flat, easy, short hike. I had never seen anything like this ! It was amazing that this valley was full of huge rocks ! Definitely a great destination. HOWEVER, I felt the trail was not well marked. There were footprints everywhere, so you would think that you were following the trail (markers were pretty far spread out) when, in fact, you were just following footprints. Please be aware. Overall, great hike !

We spent an entire day walking through Joshua Tree National Park, and the highlight of the day was our hike at Hidden Valley. Hundreds of photo opportunities. So many rocks for the kids to climb. Lots of wildlife. Plenty of picnic benches at the trailhead.
A very easy hike. Not a lot of shade. Allow yourself plenty of time.

Just beautiful. Not as easy as the park paper has it. It’s a loop and one of the shorter hikes. If you are limited in time try there. It’s truly is a hidden gem. Picnic table outside the trailhead across the road.

It is very easy to hike and after few meters, you don't see any civilisation. Walks are easy and you can get easily off track to take fantastic pictures

You can see chola trees and Joshuas trees

It's fun to envision olden day rusers hiding their cattle here. How did they get them in without breaking their legs??? A lovely hike for modern times.

If you want privacy, get here early. 7am. Maybe 8am. Much later and you will have a lot of company.
As always, bring plenty of water, appropriate footgear, and a layer to help with the winds that can pop up (winter).

Same as prior review great rock formations before and after seeing the valley. Incredible vegetation, again can get very warm and water needed

This is a great little hike. Majority of it is flat with very few inclines. Scenic and once you get far enough into it the crowd dies down a bit. There are picnic benches at the start of the trail you can stop for lunch at.

One of the highlights for the park but it is a very busy area. Dont go and expect to be alone. However if you don’t mind walking there are areas that aren’t so crowded. I liked the rounded granite outcrops and boulders with the Joshua trees, other yuccas and cactus. May favorite were the beaver tail cactus they are pretty unique. I would recommend going early.

This is a great short hike in the park. The valley is unique in the park. We had a great time climbing on rocks and seeing the sites

This was a very easy one mile loop in the canyon where rustlers once hid their illegal cattle to rebrand in hiding. I thought it would
Be cool to see and so did everyone else. Very crowded even off season. Still cool and a great walk for people who don’t want to much of a walk.

Hidden Valley is part of Joshua Tree National Park and a must see if you are ever in California. If you love the desert, you will be in heaven.

Hidden Valley is a pretty easy hike, and if you can't hike there is a lot to see from your car or a short walk. The summers are brutal so try for the Fall or Winter.

The Joshua Tree is just beautiful. There are many to be seen along with other cactus and plants. The area is pristine. Please help keep it that way. Do not take anything from the park, please.

If you are lucky you may see some jack rabbits or other cute creatures. The lizards are adorable and are so fast. You will love every minute at Hidden Valley. The silence will give you a break from the busy world and remind you to take a minute and just look at the beauty of nature.

Have the best time. Always take in water with you.

Short hiking loop, but the enclosed nature of Hidden Valley means that you feel a long way away from civilisation very quickly. The access point is narrow and stepped, opening out into a film set-like landscape of boulders and relict pine/juniper trees. Grippy granite good for climbing, but TBH just a wonderful place to sit on a rock, and be. Recommended.

I drove with a friend and we weren’t disappointed with the trip. Scenic route from LA. The park is big with great spots for pictures, picnic or just sightseeing. Definitely recommend this even though is a couple of hours from LA.

We’re not a family of hikers but couldn’t miss out of visiting Joshua Tree National Park and Hidden Valley which is the no. 1 rated thing to do.

Could be a really short hike if you don’t get distracted by the amazing scenery. Took us just over 1.5hrs and that was with 2 teens and one dad who wanted to climb everything.

Great way to spend a morning. Watching actually rock climbers was a bonus. Family wants to come back so they can spend more time here. Worth the 1hr 20 min drive from Palm Desert.

There is a nice trail that goes in and around the valley, which is nice. But you can also go bushwacking, which we like to do, up side canyons and around the outside of the valley. There are all sorts of small trails that the climbers take and if you walk on those you will hardly see anyone. Look for the rock that looks just like a cow!

I really recommend this trail if you want to experience Joshua Tree National Park and do a bit of hiking. In something more than 1 hour, you see everything that you can see in the park, and from relatively close perspective.
I recommend to go for this hike early in the morning, just to avoid big heat. But you even see this warning on the board when entering the trail.

This is our third visit to Hidden Valley. We continue to love the secluded nature of the walk/hike (hard to call it a hike as we stop so frequently to marvel in so many things).

Among the highlights of our three loops in Hidden Valley: listening to a musician play his beautiful concertina; it was haunting in its beauty. All conversation stopped as we neared the source of it. Not wanting to disturb the player, we quietly walked by (he was on a rock outcrop) so as not to disturb either him or other people caught in his musical web.

Today's marvel were the varying stages of Joshua Tree reproductions. California's wet winter has made for an early growth pattern and the abundance of the pods/flowers was exhilarating (see photo).

Also, what appeared to be a Picasso-esque rock formation of a woman's head; as if she were balancing what I'm sure were too many tasks (see photo).

Increasingly, we see more and more rock climbers of varying stages of expertise. Not for the faint of heart.

Always a delight.

This is a great little loop. It has some info about the flora & fauna of the park itself, and the history of the park. This hike gives you a nice cross section of what the park has to offer - it has unique rock formations, trees and cacti that you can find throughout the rest of Joshua tree national park

If you love outdoors activities you must go to the Joshua tree national park, it is a 2 hours ride from L.A, the entrance costs 15 USD per vehicle. Take your time to walk around, there are beautiful places that aren't close to the road.

This hike was a bit less congested than others we went on. It could have been that we went a little later in the day but we really enjoyed the peaceful walk around the valley. It is a loop trail which was a plus in our book. Kids had a good time and the trail was pretty clear. We went clockwise and towards the end of the trail we came across a couple who had gotten lost, so it isn't perfectly marked, but we didn't really have a hard time ourselves. A nice hike to experience some of the wild lands of Joshua Tree.

The flora and fauna in Joshua tree and hidden valley were something I had not seen before! It was very interesting to see the plants change as you enter the valley.

My husband was under the impression that it would be a lush green valley like it once was. Please know it will be more desert...just different desert than the other parts of the park.

There is abundant parking--even on the weekend. And a clean outhouse.

Bring lots of water because it is extremely arid and hot. And there is no place to buy water or refill water bottles.

Hidden valley was a great place to hike and see all the plants and rocks. Make sure you get there early because it gets really hot. Luckily for us it was 85 degrees but it was still hot. There were bees that kept swarming us but we just had to shoo them away. We saw a couple lizards and it was awesome climbing the rocks.

If you want to see the desert while in California this is a great place. It is a very open and rural area. Bring water because it tends to be hot.

This circular hike is one of the easiest hikes imaginable, yet it is full of gorgeous views and many informative signs. The boulders framing the Hidden Valley are fantastic! Hidden Valley is located near the West entrance of Joshua Tree National Parl.

I thought that Hidden Valley would have a nice easy walking trail but it is really just a campsite. A good, clean, campsite with toilets that looked like it is protected from the wind and has afternoon shade. But, it is not a hiking destination, those are close by

For a park dedicated to rocks and an overgrown agave, this is the pinnacle. I will say it has an awesome history and story as the perfect secret place to keep stolen livestock. If it were just the place, they invented ranch dressing, it would have it all. It is cool how this is a tucked away space that is secluded from the open valleys around it.

However, after visiting the 1 mile loop, it seemed overhyped. Again, the rocks are neat and if I were into rock climbing, this would probably be the place. As an aside, I want to scale a rock for a picture, so I jumped on it and pulled myself up on it and created a slight tear on my pants. As I told a friend, I was not sure whether I grabbed the rock, or the rock grabbed me. These rocks had the most grip of any rock I have seen with small bumps all over them that make them easy to walk or scale.

Still in an overcrowded space, I found myself expecting more. With that said, I fully enjoyed my time there and I totally see how fun the rocks can be. I still say it is probably the best place to explore the rocks and enjoy the park.

There so much to see that you really need to take every trail that you have time for. Much of it is the same but then there will be a rock outcropping that makes this particular hike worthwhile

Very easy, almost completely flat hike, lots of rock formations to see and climb on, some Joshua Trees, interesting informative signs along the way.

A super walk along reasonably well marked trails up and down and around the big and spectacular rock formations.

Plenty of plant and cacti to see although not much wildlife - but then I guess they try and stay away from humans as much as possible.

Our decision to visit here on a hot summer day really paid off. The park is even more beautiful in person than in pictures. We got pics and memories to last a lifetime.

Perhaps my favorite part of my trip to Joshua Tree National Park, Hidden Valley is wonderful area to explore, discover wonderful shots of nature, and truly appreciate the ecosystem that exists in the park. Definitely a must do spot in the park.

Not only is it beautiful, but there must be 20 concrete picnic tables; both in the shade of the huge rocks and in deciduous trees. We sat and watched ground squirrels, lizards, and several types of birds as we had lunch. If I had it to do over, I would bring a tablecloth (the tables weren’t as clean as I would have liked). The trail head is right in the picnic area. Our pedometer said we walked 1.6 miles round trip from the picnic table, just FYI if a mile is your max. Since the park advertised it as a 1 mile loop. It probably is, but that doesn’t count walking to the loop and back out. 😉. Beautiful walk, not handicapped accessible. But the picnic area has great viewing, if you can’t do the trail.

short little nature loop with signs along the way. would be interesting for kids and is an easy walk.

This was my favorite spot in the park, its a fairly easy hike that will reward you with some unique rocks and gorgeous views. Definitely a "don't miss" trail!

magic trail

most awesome place on earth🌞
Beyond beautiful
Hiking Trails and routes are so interesting and beautiful.
We did many trails in one day from morning to evening.

The Joshua Trees and other wildlife is so special here.

Sun rise and sun set is a must see

desert 🌵 beyond good

The Hidden Valley was a great place. We had no problems to get at the Hidden Valley.

In the past this place was for horses.

We were lucky. The sun was still high enough, but the sun will go down within 30 minutes.

We walked first and enjoyed this Hidden Valley. Wow! We loved it.

The sun was shining on the rocks. Wow!

We finished just in time.

We had so much fun!

This is a must!

Strange oasis in the middle of Joshua Tree national park, well worth the visit if you have a car. Make sure to take plenty of water though because it gets hot.

We got here early and had a lovely hike, without many people around. Great scenery, very peaceful and you can get some amazing pictures. It’s an easy hike, circa 1mile, so ideal for beginners and people with kids.

Based on the reviews, this is a busy trail, so we got there around 8:30am in a Saturday in early march, maybe because it was windy and cold, there were plenty of parking.
The trail was easy, mostly flat. There were boulders, Joshua trees with flowers, it was a beautiful trail. We also saw rock climbers.

Being from Canada, we are not used to desert ! I loved it. The only thing I would have appreciated is to have known in advance that we would cross so many rivers; I would have chosen different shoes. Otherwise, we had lunch at nice picnic tables when we arrived, we appreciated the shade.

Driving through Joshua Tree, it feels like you are in another world. The hike through Hidden Valley was very enjoyable, spiritual almost. With the combination of the rock formations and plants, it seems like a scene in a Dr. Seuss book. Hidden Valley was a wonderful experience.

An easy loop where you see Indian petroglyphs and a man-made lake (dammed by the early cattle herders) in a "valley" that was blasted open specifically for cattle and then used by rustlers and others trying to "hideaway". Lots of opportunities to boulder and I think would keep the kids interested. Very little incline and the valley has information signs about plants and observations throughout the loop that increase interesting information along the way.

This was the best part of the trip at sunset 🌇 be sure to walk past the picnic area and keep walking to pure beauty! Don’t miss because it’s easy to accidentally pass by!

I took tons of pictures on this short 1 mile loop walk. Great scenery and relatively easy to hike. Well worth the trip to this location at the park.

The rock formations in this area of the park are formidable and fascinating. You can just park, start walking and explore for hours on end. An magical place.

This was a short hike, but had incredible rocks where you can climb and explore. The trail itself was not to exciting but the rock formation makes it worth visiting.

When visiting, try to go early, parking is nuts like after 10AM. We almost saw a few fisticuffs for people trying to find parking. Also when we went, it was quite a hot day (even in December), make sure to bring water.

We visited in early July. The parking is adequate. There were a few people at the trail. We didn’t hike the whole loop. We hiked about 10 minutes from the parking lot. The picnic area is good. The views are excellent.

I drove through here on a nice morning drive. It had been a few years since I had been here. The rock formations were cool. There had been a ton of rain so the flowers were all blossoming. It was great. I even saw a tortoise.

Just finished a day of hiking at Joshua Tree. Hidden Valley by far our favorite! Loved the rock formations and vegetation. God's creation at its finest!

My family and I hiked the Hidden Valley on our visit to Joshua Tree. The trail is a pretty easy hike and it wasn't very hot when we did the hike. One of the nice things is that many of the plants were flowering and there was more color and some lovely flower scents. Hidden Valley is the part of Joshua Tree people are most familiar with. It sits in the midst of some beautiful rock formations and it has a lot of plant life and wildlife. We did see many lizards, lots of bees around the flowering yucca, and a coyote. This is a wonderful hike and I highly recommend it.

This was my one must do for this trip based off of the descriptions that I read in a guidebook. 100% it was worth the time and I would happily do it again.

Basically we take a trail through some boulders and on the other side you are in a valley of boulders on all sides that apparently guys hid cattle in a long time ago. It is very pretty and also, kind of surreal to be surrounded by boulders. The trail is not hard at all and my 4 year old had a lot of fun climbing on boulders and trying to explore. It is a very kid friendly hike even for younger ones.

We were there in March and it got pretty sunny so be prepared. I heard this trail is really popular and parking can be an issue.We got here at around 3pm during high visit season and there was a lot of parking.

The one thing I didn’t like was the bathroom in the parking lot area was nasty. Everything else we experienced made it a must do at Joshua Tree.

This is a very busy parking area. A lot of visitors stop by and walk up the first 100 yards or so of the trail. If you can make it past that point, you will enjoy a mostly empty trail that winds around the hidden valley.

We drove from LA to Joshua Tree National Park for a day trip. Totally doable two hour drive - leave early to avoid traffic. The staff at the visitors centre were very helpful and helped us plan our route for the day. We entered through the Oasis Visitor centre and worked our way backwards to the Joshua Tree visitors centre... This made most sense as we were driving back in that direction to LA later that day. It also meant it wasn't as busy as most people were going the opposite direction.

We went in January and it was still beautiful sunshine, however I suspect actually easier to do some of the hiking because of the cooler weather - there was even snow on the ground in some parts so bring good footwear.

Obviously a stunning area of outstanding natural beauty... Well worth the $30 per car entrance fee (this lasts for 7 days).... Notable spots for a day trip are the Jumbo Rocks and Hidden Valley. Make it up to Keys View for the sunset ☺

Hidden Valley- Sandy path 1 mile loop, 2 hrs easy hiking; nice for whole family
Bring- Water, snacks and clothing for weather this is the desert.WATER (fountain) only available at the ticket gate at the West entrance (not sure about other entrances)
No internet in most of park so download and bring batteries.
Guidebooks: stop at Coyote Corner 6535 Park Blvd Joshua Tree, CA 760-366-9683 just before you enter the park (good selection of books on hikes and climbs)
Details: 30$ per private vehicle day pass free maps. 5 min queue at west entrance on 12/8/18 at 2:00pm
Dogs: not allowed on trails; we took ours on unpaved roads and off trail

I walked the loop in 35 minutes. I went because it was a trip advisor top rated hike and it lived up to it. The map says it’s an hour plus hike but it’s much shorter. It’s worth the time. Having said that, it’s not epic like some national park vistas, but cool.

While the Hidden Valley trail can get quite crowded (including the adjacent parking lot) it's definitely worth visiting. While the 1 mile loop is a relatively easy walk it does have some stairs and small rocks which would make it challenging for those with mobility issues. It is well signed, has plenty of information plaques which provide descriptions of the local flora and fauna and winds its way through some incredible rock formations. If you only have time to do one walk I would highly recommend this one. Feel free to scramble on the rocks - they're much safer than they look given the rough surfaces which provide plenty of traction. Also look up and you're likely to see many climbers tackling some pretty technical routes up rock faces.

This is an easy 1 mile round trip hike that will show you a sample of what’s inside this National Park: beautiful Joshua trees, rock piles, cactuses and other desert plants, and wild flowers. The trail was flat and wide, and it was easy to wander off of it to get a closer look at plants or climb the tempting boulders just off to the side of the trail. Note that there’s no shade, and parking fills up quickly; we grabbed one of the last few spots at around 9:15 am on a weekday. Better yet, take the shuttle.

If you could only do one easy hike at Joshua Tree, this would be a good choice.

Parking in tough here ..you have to be patient. Picnic areas against the boulders, bathrooms and just nice clean marked trails.. great. Park
Is so clean, off trails is allowed and luckily people seem respectful . We were stunned w the beauty of the park overall. Day trip from Palm
Springs used west entrance . Very easy

First stop for a hike on our Joshua Tree experience. Early in the morning, we did run into quite a few other hikers but it wasn't too crowded. Interesting markers explaining features, trail easily followed and flat. Enjoyed! Many Joshua Trees of course.

We took the Hidden Valley hike in early April and it was excellent, with very comfortable temperatures in the high 60s. Although the Park itself is fantastic, we found it to be a bit repetitive after a while, and not as diverse as other national parks (with much of the same flora and scenery throughout). This short one-mile loop packs a lot of the Park's highlights in one enjoyable hike. It's also always very nice to walk on a loop trail that brings you back to where you started without going back and forth in the same route. Highly recommended!

Driving from PA to CA and drove right past the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park and had to stop. Beautiful Park with breathtaking Landscapes.

We entered the park via the Twenty one Palms entrance and drove the 26 miles through the park to the Joshua Tree entrance.

The views change constantly and the park has various places to pull off the road and explore. The rock formations are breathtaking set against the thousands of Joshua Trees that fill the park.

Joshua Tree National Park is located  in southeastern California east of Los Angeles and San Bernardino near Palm Springs. The park is named for the Joshua trees, a variety of Yucca native to the Mojave Desert. Originally declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree was redesignated as a national park in 1994.  Encompassing a total of 790,636 acres. an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. Straddling the border between San Bernardino County and Riverside County, the park includes parts of two deserts, each an ecosystem whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation: the higher Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert. The Little San Bernardino Mountains traverse the southwest edge of the park.

As with all other national parks here in the US, worth a stop and exploration.

This was one of our several stops in Joshua to photograph the rocks. It may be Joshua Tree National Park, but the rocks are as much, if not more, interesting.

Nice hike for just about anyone. A 1 mile look through some very pretty areas, beautiful rocks and a wide variety of vegetation. Finding parking on the weekend can be a challenge because the hike is so popular.

This is really hidden valley,as you can see much while you are at parking area,and best part is its easy and quick loop trail,which can be finished very fast.
And you get to experience few great Rocks which you can climbs and have fun.

In the past, cows were eating in this valley.

However, this has changed. They have exploded some rocks, so that we could enjoy!

This is my best valley I had seen at Joshua Tree. Gorgeous!

We explored everything and we had fun.

The sun was going down slowly.

We loved the youngest valley and all the amazing rocks.

What a great place! Next time I will go back to see it again!

A must see!

I am certain that many tourists like that Hidden Valley.

I certainly will never forget this Hidden Valley!

We left when the sun was almost down.

Hidden valey is a beautiful place with a short trail that anyone can walk through. There are some joshua trees but not só many but the Stones around the valley are unique. Be prepare with some Waterloo with you.

We just plain loved it. A must-see at Joshua Tree. Very popular, though, and not enough parking. We found an overflow lot down a dirt road east of the main lot, with a loop trail that takes you back to the main trail. It’s an easy walk, although a bit of rock clambering is necessary to get inside at the start. Would not be accessible to some. Although only a mile loop, we were in there for a couple hours and I must have taken 250 photos. Perhaps they’ll all look the same, but I found a lot of gorgeous details that demanded to be photographed. It looks like the place was designed and built by a crew of Japanese gardeners working for centuries! Or perhaps Disney Studios. Saw wildlife, too. A long-eared rabbit and various birds, and some lizards. We were there in early March 2018, and temperatures were very mild. Dry as a bone, though, with no annual wildflowers and not many perennial blooms.

Such a picturesque spot! Although we went in Dec it was still warm and we needed to take water. They do warn you of this at the visitors centre and in summer it would be crucial. It is an easy walk and very picturesque with huge boulders and Joshua trees everywhere. There were lots of people rock climbing and it was nice to sit on one of the many boulders and watch them do that or just enjoy the surroundings.

We, like many, loved Hidden Valley campground even more than Indian Cove, but I would stay at both, if possible. From Indian Cove we loved the Boy Scout Trail (we did four miles out and four miles back), Rattlesnake Canyon (trailhead at the campground), and the 49 Palm Oasis hike. From Hidden Valley several hikes are close, we did Ryan Mountain (harder), the Keys Ranch ranger-led tour (1/2 mile, worth the drive to the visitor center to get same-day $10 tickets), Barker Dam and petroglyphs (easy and short, go when not crowded). The nearby Cap Rock nature trail, and the 10 minute drive to the Keys overlook--both completely accessible, were worth the time.

From Hidden Valley camp it takes almost 40 minutes to get to town (Joshua Tree), and 30 minutes to the visitor center, just so you get a picture of distances. We were lucky to snag site #45, at the end of a long cul-de-sac, with trails to bouldering and the wonderland of rocks right next to us. We arrived at 8:30 a.m. in late April, and were lucky to get a spot. Loved the stars and sunsets!

Took a short hike for about three hours with good views and lots to see. Signage was weak for the different paths but enough to get you to and from. No facilities on hike, so be prepared if you bring along any beverages.

What a gorgeous place for a hike through the desert. This was a pretty easy one mile loop through a valley surrounded by rocks. There were tons of rock climbers everywhere. There is a nice picnic area with parking and restrooms. Very family friendly area

Maybe I'm spoiled but I don't understand those so many rave reviews. It was good walk but not spectacular as mentioned. I'm a lazy guy during vacation but I took this hike due to high ratings. Again, it was good but not great. It's the same rock formation and valley you see driving on Park Blvd. In matter of fact, I didn't see this "wow" look on other hikers face either. It seems like they were looking hard for that spectacular scenery as I was. Few quick pictures here and there and kept on walking. Only thing that was worth seeing for me was those rock climbers and that's it.

What a grand adventure it was experiencing the unique landscape just outside Palm Springs. Amazing to see it is preserved and protected by our national park system. Can't wait to explore more areas on my next visit

it is a strategic base for ppl that want to explore key view. jumbo rock, skull rock. the trail is pretty easy. good for family n kids too. it is centrally located to many sites. and the campground is pretty big.

Our group really enjoyed the 45 minutes loop through hidden valley. Cool rock formations and vegetation with lot of opportunity to rock crawl if that is what you are looking for, perfect for families. We went around 9AM before it got to hot and found it quite comfortable. Lots of parking and restrooms on site.

We spent a day hiking various trails in Joshua Tree and this was a favorite - only a mile long but the rock formations are incredible (and climb able in some spots) and you really feel like you are on a different planet. Definitely recommend if you are in Joshua Tree!

Ventured out to Joshua Tree while staying in Palm Springs as I'd heard about it and seen it in movies and tv shows over the years.

What a beautiful part of the world. Towering rock structures set among a desert flora and fauna backdrop - so picturesque. Highly recommend getting out and going for a stroll through Hidden Valley and soaking it all in.

Next time, i'll be sure to spend a night and camp there!

@hennessytrill

Great little oasis in JT. Scenic. Nice little walk. Good for a ~1 hour stop. Great rock climbing. Beautiful. Don't leave it out.

There's a small bit of stone step climbing to get in and out, but otherwise this is basically a nature walk with pretty scenery. If you're so inclined, you can just head off the trail and begin climbing at any time. This was a great starting point for my son, 10, where I felt that there were other people within earshot while he was building his bouldering and climbing skills.

In the afternoons when most people have arrived, this place gets insanely crowded and even parking a distance away can be impossible. We planned out trip to get here by 8am and were rewarded with a completely empty valley to hike and explore. Incredible rock formations and desert fauna make this such an easy and attractive hike for everyone. Get here early and avoid the crowds.

Took the trail as our first stroll in the Park. Very enjoyable as the trail is easy to follow and is not arduous.

Could imagine how the rumored smugglers might have gone about their business.

A nice short hike. Approx 1.5 hrs. Very hot day today but what a great chance start our exploration into joshua Tree national park. Easy, well marked, and beautiful.

A quick visit while driving through the park, nice area to stop and strew hi your legs, and definitely enjoy the sceneries

We really loved out stay at the Hidden valley campground.

Our family of 5 really enjoyed the scenery and the many rock formations to scramble.

Our campsite even had a cave - how cool is that!! It was nice relief on the really hot days to sit in the shade of the cave and enjoy a nice cold beer.

Just stopped for a few minutes after long hike at Panorama, but were pleased with the views and rock formations. Hike a bit, climb a bit (with CARE). Enjoy.

We are a family with kids aged 5, 12 and 16 and try hard to find stuff that everyone enjoys. Someone (our teen) usually lose interest incredibly fast. This trip was different. The rocks here were PERFECT for everyone and we all had a fun and active 3 hrs. Loved it!

This park is such a unique, wonderful place. Let the spirit of the trees, the rocks and the desert revive you!!! Its on a vortex so soak up the energy and if you have time to go twice, hike in the morning (before the heat gets too extreme) and come back for the sunsets!!!

The Hidden Valley feature offers great bang-for-the-buck for just about anyone. Even the parking lot is scenic with a couple of picnic areas that open to great vistas. Read on for details.

The featured Hidden Valley walk is a 1 mile loop with gentle ups and down but at a level that even a (motivated) child could handle. The walk is dotted with informative exhibits and you are surrounded by giant rock/boulder constructed walls. Several of the areas are popular with rock climbers who can be seen doing there thing.

The walk packs in great landscape, geology, nature and an open outdoors. It's why you came to Joshua Tree

My husband and I hiked this trail on a Monday in mid May in early afternoon and it was not busy at all. It features rock formations and desert plants. We had plenty of times where we were the only ones on the path of what we could see. It was about a mile in length, but took about 45 minutes due to stopping and taking photos. Some parts of the trail are not well marked. We saw one chuckwalla.

Hidden Valley and the hiking trail is one of the best in the park. The valley is surrounded by rocks and required blasting to provide ready access. You're likely to see rock climbers along the trail and you're sure to enjoy the sights along the trail. I suggest you make this an early stop in your visit, since this is a popular destination in the Park. Adjacent to the trail is a wonderful picnic area and don't be surprised if you see a climber while you eat.

Impressive scenery, well marked. Plenty of parking, enjoyed the hike, lots of beautiful plants and rocks to see

This is an amazing place and also extremely popular. There is a large car park with bathrooms. The walk is fairly easy entering through a rock pass into the valley, which is totally enclosed by rock formations. The formations themselves are worth the walk. This area is also very popular with rock climbers negotiating the walls.
Certainly a must-see in Joshua Tree NP.

Visited on a really hot day in early August but it was still worth the effort. It's hard to believe that before the entrance way was blasted through the rock many years ago this place was completely inaccessible. My kids enjoyed clambering on the rocks and posing for photographs. Just remember to keep hydrated... Drink the water you take with you as the inside of the bottle is not dependent upon it like you are!

Totally kid friendly hike. No problem for my 3 yr old and baby in a backpack! Great first stop. Lots of rocks for climbing. Nice views

A crowded spot, so go early to find a parking spot. Very interesting rock and boulders all along the trail. A fun place for kids too!

I've been to Joshua Tree many times and I always include a Hidden Valley hike! It's one the easiest little turn offs in the desert and it's a kind of make-you-own-adventure hike that I really like!

After entering the park it's one of the first camping and hiking areas with a parking lot and bathrooms. So it's very easy to find. After parking, you can watch the rock climbers belay along the sheer cliff faces and then head straight through the camp ground into Hidden Valley. Once beyond the campers you can follow trails or make your own hike. The terrain is easy and climbing up and over all the boulders is super fun! The higher you get into the boulders, the more magnificent the views!

Look out for all the desert flora and fauna and certainly no shortage of giant lizards and jack rabbits. Also just about anywhere in Hidden Valley is a great place for a picnic.

Well sign posted from the main road with parking and restrooms. Short 45 minute at a slow pace. Well sign posted trail with beautiful views and reasonably easy going. Remember to bring water and enjoy the scenery.

Hidden Valley Trail was noted as being one of the main hikes to do in the park, and it did not disappoint. We were fortunate enough to have the entire trail to ourselves, which gave us plenty of opportunities to take photos (and rest), IT WAS HOT. This trail is one of the first you’ll come across after entering the park. It has a fairly large parking lot, picnic tables, and bathroom which makes it a great spot. The trail itself is only a 1mi / 1.61km loop, and relatively easy. So it’s great for everyone.

Check out our blog (link in profile) to read more about Joshua Tree!

Really enjoyed Hidden Valley. Mad that they had to blow a hole in it to access it. It's a really nice walk and the scenery is wonderful. Very easy for most people and only short.

I know most people don't want to read and want the very short review.
So let me outline my thought about this trail.

Pro:
-rock formation and boulders are okay....but nothing amazing
- short trail which is less than a mile so it is family friendly trail
- a lot of great photos to take during the sunset and sunrise
- a lots of bathrooms

Cons
- very hot even though i was there during Thanksgiving day
- No shade along on the trail
- No point of walking around since the boulders and rock formation looked all same
- paying $25 per entering the park
- the majority picnic tables are not in shade
- parking is very hard to find if you get there around noon
- Not much to do for kids
- No visitor center

I took my family out here since we have not been in this national park while we have been all other majority of national parks within CA. The rock formation and boulders were somewhat okay to look, but not that amazing where I have to pay $25 for enterence fee. And it was hot even though during thanksgiving weekend. I was little disappointed along with may family walking around this one mile trail and pretty much all the rock formation looked all same.There are no shade on the trail so be prepared to fight against sun heat. I think this park is not for everyone unless you are enthusiastic rock climber. The trail pretty much take you in around the whole area in circle format and there is not much benefit walking around since they is not really final destination where you are top of the mountain.

I have heard of Joshua Tree National Park and was very keen to visit but to be honest disappointed upon arrival. Once you have seen one (1) Joshua Tree - they all look the same. Some of the rock formations were very interesting but overall, considering the 2 hour return drive from Palm Springs, I would find it hard to recommended the park to visitors due to the bland nature of the park. Even "hidden Valley" and the Keys View Lookout and Skull Rock are pretty uneventful compared to other national parks

Interesting rock formations and geologic history. Interesting plant associations and desert ecology. Easily viewed by vehicle but take your time or better yet - take the shuttle bus and save the Park entry fees, the smog and the hassles of driving while enjoying the views. Bring water (maybe a gallon) and allow three hours to explore your visit.

The Hidden Valley trail is a gem. You'll see amazing rock formations, lizards and other animals, and rock climbers. Also lots of other people on the trail, which is its only downside. Accessible for all ages and abilities - it's a very pleasant, mostly flat walk. Just make sure to bring water!

Picnic area with outhouses and lots of parking. There is a loop trail that is one mile and takes about an hour if you take your time. The "Hidden Valley" was used for cattle grazing. Surrounding this corral is a landscape of many giant rocks suitable for climbers and there were many out today. Great for picnics and photography. Easy walking. No pets. Good for elderly in fairly good shape and young children

Nice easy walk with a lot of opportunities to wander off the trail and climb boulders. We spent about 45 minutes here and enjoyed it. This is a nice leisurely walk, it was a good change of pace after the more strenuous Ryan Mountain hike earlier in the day.

We might have a future rock climber on our hands! Our preschooler loved scrambling up and down the rocks at Hidden Valley. He also had a blast imagining what rocks looked like - named one the Dinosaur Rock (it really looked like a triceratops lying down), as well as a rock that looked like teeth!

We walked this short trail and not only got to enjoy the desert walk but also watched several climbers on the various climbing surfaces.

We went on a very hot day with 2 boys (12 and 10). Bring lots of water and camera. Beautiful scenery and great trail.

This park is absolutely incredible. The rock formations are works of nature's art. Lots of camping options (which I didn't do but saw many spots where it was possible). Make sure you're there at sunrise to catch sightings of packs of coyotes, roadrunners and other wildlife. The lighting is amazing for photography - professional and amateur.

Not too hard, mostly flat, but has an option to scramble some rocks for those who interested. Nice views, some blooming cacti. Definitely the highlight of our trip to Joshua Tree NP

The course is 1.6 km long and not too steep, so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, I went there in early November and it was quite cold. There was a tourist covered in blood who had put his hands in his pockets and fallen face-first on a rocky area. There were fire engines and ambulances, which was a bit scary. It's not limited to this course, but I think gloves are necessary.

The Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a 1 mi/1.6 km loop trail in a rock-enclosed valley. There is a large parking lot at the trailhead. The unique feature of Hidden Valley is that large trees (juniper, oak) can be found next to desert plants (Joshua tree, cactus, mesquite).

We did the trail around 1:30pm on a Monday in November. To our surprise, it was so crowded that we barely found a parking spot. There were close to 50 people on the trail. Although the landscape is beautiful, there are many similar-looking places in the park, some of which are not crowded. It wasn't the peaceful hike that we normally enjoy.

Did a lot of the park in one day but this is the one trail i completed. Bring water its open desert but simply stunning in all ways!

This is a nice, easy place to start out. There are bathrooms at this location, and some nice picnic tables. The hike really is pretty easy, but there are some natural stone stairways and some large rocks you do have to walk over. So if you have trouble with your knees/ankles, it might be difficult for you. But once you’re in the canyon, it is very beautiful. They also have interpretive signs along the trail which explain the landscape and vegetation.

When we first entered the park, we were intrigued by the Joshua trees and the rock formations but it seemed that that was all there was to the park. However, within a couple of hours, we grew to fall in love with the quiet, the stillness and the expanse of beautiful dessert flora. By the time the sun neared setting, we found an easily accessible perch atop a boulder formation. A little wine, a little cheese and about an hour of changing sky, we were blown away. The beauty of JTree comes out in the quiet evenings. I highly recommend this site for solitude and quiet.

We had an amazing hike in Joshua Tree! The scenery is absolutely surreal. We had heard how hot it can get in Joshua Tree in the summer, but we didn’t realize how cold in can get in the winter, so make sure you are prepared for the elements.

Close to the center of the park, this is a beautiful area with a campground and picnic area. Great place to take a hike along the trails. Restrooms also available here.

I was so impressed by Joshua Tree National Park. It was so much more beautiful in real life than you can see beforehand in photos. The day before my visit I drove down from Las Vegas to Palm Springs and drove through the Mojave desert on my way. It looked a little like Joshua Tree Park so I hoped it wouldn't spoil the impact of the actual Joshua Tree park when I visited. I was not disappointed! We visited Hidden Valley first as it was the #1 area to visit on here, and also the first place you see when you drive in from the West, Yukka Valley direction.
Hidden Valley Nature trail has a very large parking lot, along the road leading to the trail and toilets. There are at least two sets of toilets here. There is a 1 mile round trail here but we didn't actually take the trail. There are so many places to enter the Hidden Valley area from the parking lot you can really walk wherever you like, it is a wide open area. We walked into the valley and there was no one else around, we could walk wherever we liked. It was so peaceful and quiet, so serene and the surroundings were so beautiful. The ground was crispy like snow, you could see so far into the distance, there were Joshua Trees everywhere, amazing rock formations, the vista is just stunning. If you only have time to visit one part of Joshua Tree, make it Hidden Valley.

This and the Barker Dam Trail are both trails not to miss. About 1 mile each, it will take close to an hour to do it if stopping taking photos etc and both do have steps and Boulders to traverse.

Upon recommendation we did the 1 mile loop. We were not disappointed, this is a very unique place. Such interesting history. Persons with mild mobility issues should be able to do this walk. Some steps and slight inclines. Well worth the effort.

A very good hike that was both beautiful and enjoyable. The rock formations were abundant, so were the Joshua Trees and other nature.

A 1-mile (=1.6km) hiking trail that you can easily walk in sneakers. The trail is almost circular, with a valley floor-like structure surrounded by strange rock formations. Unlike trails that are the same on the way there and back, the scenery changes each time. The scenery is truly one of a kind. You can learn that not only Joshua trees and yucca trees, but also many other plants and creatures live here.
Even if you only have a short time in the park, it's worth making this a top priority.

We had half a day in Joshua Tree National Park and started here. The trail is only a mile, but the sights are incredible. We saw awesome rock formations. joshua trees, and other desert plants. You can climb on the rock formations which was a lot of fun.

This is a great experience with little effort. The hidden valley is really hidden. Great views - the hike is about 1 hour on same level.

This was our second visit to Joshua Tree and the second time I've done this "hike". It really is more of a walk, but is slightly more "technical" than the Barker Damn trail, as it has more uneven stairs to climb up or down.

This is my favorite walk in the park. JTNP is known for two things, trees and rocks. My spouse is in the "tree" camp and I'm in the "rock" camp. This walk has rocks, in spades. There are so many points where it is just rocks as far as the eye can see. You can spend time in places where you feel like you are the only one around. You can stop and watch the rock climbers. You can try to see images in the rocks, let your imagination flow!

There is a good pick-nick area and pit toilets at the parking lot.

Wear supportive shoes for walking; flip flops not a good idea. Fairly good trail, easy to follow. Amazing rock formations are everywhere you look. Interesting plants—they have to be very hardy to survive in this environment. We traveled from Anaheim to Joshua Tree National Park—the temperature difference was dramatic. So dress in layers to avoid that surprise. Very nice hike with lots to see!

Hidden Valley is definitely unique place in Joshua Tree NP. We came there around 9;30am on Friday and didn't have any problems to find parking. It was not too many people on trail , so we enjoy loop trail. Reserve couple hours for this easy hike, place is really awesome. Combination of Joshua trees and rocks create unique views, you'll want to take shots each minute during this easy hike.

We drove this scenic one mile loop starts in the picnic area and winds among the massive boulders through this legendary rustlers’ hideout.

Tons of places to take some great pictures and a beautiful place to watch the sunset since you get a great view of the West. There’s a bunch of picnic areas to have lunch or eve an early dinner as well. Awesome views!

We climbed the equivalent of 24 floors and 6,000 steps but it wasn’t strenuous. If adventuresome, you can climb rocks of all sizes. We mostly stayed on the path. Darrel of Desert Tours was our guide and he is very knowledgeable. Wear good shoes for the approximate one mile hike. Plenty of picnic tables there for eating. Visitor center for Joshua Tree is in town if seeking a souvenir.

We visited Hidden Valley on a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park. There is a campground and a picnic area.

We also took a hike. There is both a paved road to get there; we also drove one of the dirt roads to Hidden Valley.

Very easy, fun for kids wanting to climb (or adults who love to see different views!). It’s mainly rock formations vs some areas of park are desert flowers/scenes.

Wow! A short, mostly flat walk will reward you with beautiful scenery and incredible geology. There's not much room in the parking lot, so I'd advise coming on a weekday or early in the day, if possible. When we went around noon on Friday, we felt like we were lucky to find a parking spot, and there were a few times where we were on the trail with several other groups. It was totally worth it, though!!

The hidden valley walk is easy and about 1 mile in length. The scenery is beautiful and as it is a bit enclosed by rocks a bit warmer than outside the valley.

A beautiful loop approx 1 mile. The Joshua trees were in bloom, the boulders were fun to traverse, the scrapes were ever changing and awe inspiring.

The Hidden Valley is easy to find and is well sign posted. Entrance to the park was $20 for a car but this lasts a week. The visitor centre before the park entrance had more information. There was plenty of parking at the Hidden Valley which is open sunrise to sunset and basic rest rooms. The walk itself is about a mile and is spectacular a mix of Joshua trees and dramatic rock formations with regular information boards on your way round. Even on this short walk we had plenty of water. If you only visit one place in the Joshua Tree park Id suggest this one.

We were unsure whether to bother with this walk, but after completing it we now recommend it to visitors to the area. We have never seen in any other countries such unusual vegetation and rock formations like you see here. It really is a fascinating walk which people of all ages groups can safely enjoy. Make sure you take a good water supply.

1 mile loop, lots of great rock formations where you’ll undoubtedly spot rock climbers. We also enjoyed the nearby picnic area for lunch.

We are so glad to visit Joshua tree at the best time in March 2019. We , in South California Had soooo much rain this winter season. Which means, we get all pleasure back in March and April for Desert Bloom!!! I mean, the trees and rocks are amazing but with the amazing wild flowers every where was something we couldn't ask for more!

The kids (age of 4-7) had so much fun rock climbing with parents' aid. In wild flower field, they were fascinated by caterpillars. They had so much fun finding and counting them.

Adults had so much fun taking pictures, seeing the kids happy :)

Tips when you go with toddlers (or not)
- Food!!! I mean... desert and nature is good and all. But we wouldn't have enjoyed without snacks and food! we went for a day trip, I bought extra snacks but we got lost so we eat all....Bring cooler or even a cooler bag was nice. We got some cool string cheese, yogurt, smoothie, milk, fruit. Once you are there, There won't be any shop !!!! You are on your own! oh, and bring lot of water!
- Bring some toilet paper, soap and water to wash hand in the car. Public bathrooms are clean but they can run out of paper. There won't necessary be sanitizer for you as well!! :S
- Walkie talkie: You will thank me if you bring ones there :) There won't be any signal for you. We went with 2 families and it was a life saver. We lost each other and was able to walkie talkie and met back. It was pretty awesome.
- Hiking shoes or the shoes that have thick sole. In one of the cactus field, we walked onto the spikes and they went half way into our toddler's shoes!! But there was no harm because our shoes were thick enough.

Park pass is $30 but we have annual pass from Yosemite and they said we could use it.

Hidden Valley Nature Trail was as easy one mile walking trail with vistas of fascinating rock formations. The trail is a valley enclosed with towering walls of rocks. We were fortunate the observe a rock climber about half way up one of the walls of towering rocks. Rustlers used this confined valley to hide their cattle. Recommend this trail for an easy and enjoyable walk. There also is a picnic area within walking distance from the entrance to the trail.

I was not impressed, there are some mountain sceneries and boulders, like skull rock. Nice cholla cactuses garden, plenty of joshua trees. No match for real national parks like Josemite or Sequoia or any other serious national park. The air is unhealthy, too much ozone, I didn’t feel well after some short walks.

Everything in this nation park is worth looking at, we spent the day causing along and enjoying the atmosphere and taking in all of the rock formations and other scenery.

Nature loop is really neat. Easy to rest off trail and meditate as we did and take it all in on a cool rock. We saw all ages navigating this trail from 5 to 70. But young children or older folks may have trouble navigating the deep stone and sometimes narrow path. Most of trail is sandy fairly wide trail. Little elevation change.

There are many similar place around the national park, but with being surrounded with huge rocks all around - this one is very special. The only problem is it’s popularity - too many people and too much noise.

There are some beautiful walks here from the campground. These include those to Barker Dam and the Petroglyph wall nearby.
Enjoy

This hike is about one mile through some gorgeous rocky area. Most of it is pretty level. There were many stone steps (pretty steep in some places) at the end of the hike. If you have problems with climbing steps, start the hike by going to the right. That way, you can go down the steps. The top arrow goes to the left, so it seems that most people go that way. It just makes a loop, so it doesn't make a difference in how you are going.

Lots of picnic areas here, and several were shaded. Clean restroom too. This was my favorite hiking area in Joshua Tree.

We loved this short trail/hike. We got there around 5pm at end of October, which was great as the lighting was perfect for photos. We enjoyed the hike immensely. If you are going to do one hike in the park, do this one. We got to watch rock climbers, see all kinds of vegetation and even ran into some snakes. Well worth the stop. There are also plenty of picnic tables for a lunch or dinner stop. We went on a Friday and parking was not an issue, but I can imagine it would be busy on a Saturday and the parking lot was not large so you may want to get there early to secure a spot. Loved this one, lots to see and great photo ops.

First place we explored at Joshua Tree. A scenic valley hidden behind a narrow entrance between boulders. Great, easy, hike that really gives the feel of Joshua Tree!

A warm and enjoyable day in April, I visited Joshua Tree National Park and the Hidden Valley. It's a fantastic piece of nature. It had rained earlier in the spring so the guard at the entrance recommended that I visit Barker Dam and Hidden Valley since I told him that I only had a few hours to be at the park. It was a nice nature experience that I will not forget for a long time. The desert bloomed for the first time in several years.

Joshua Tree National Park is fabulous and this walk highlights many of the features. Rock formations, Joshua Trees, interesting plants and some great stories. The frequent information panels add to the enjoyment. Cool to watch rock climbers. The walk is mostly flat and well marked out. Just a really chilled place with plenty to see.

We started our visit here and had been here before. It was a nice 1 mile walk around the “Hidden Valley”. Pretty easy trail to follow, and yet some fun rocks to climb on for those looking for some adventure.

Great pictures. A few tight spots, including near the beginning where the opening was “blasted” by the early settlers to make room to get into the Valley.

Only takes about 25 minutes to slowly walk around.

Beautiful walk. The rock formations are gorgeous. Well kept trails. I could spend a couple of days here easily.
My only complaint is the yacking of some hikers.

My wife and I, are both in our late 70s and reasonably fit, and this was our first visit to Joshua Tree National Park. We did several hours of hiking per day for four days, and this trail was our favorite. It's mostly flat loop trail that's suitable for hikers at all ability levels. It's fairly easy-to-navigate and is accessible directly from the parking lot. Most of all, the rock formations are quite beautiful!

Stunning and breathtaking area - the best place within the NP in my opinion.

I loved the rock formations with the deep blue sky and the classical trees.

This is one of the busiest places of the park, and one of the most scenic hikes. We went in the afternoon, walked in the shadows of some of the boulders, watched the rock climbers moving up and down the sides of the boulders, and generally enjoyed the crisp, sunny desert air. Parking is fantastic and there are plenty of boulders in the picnic area for your kids to scramble on while you make a PB&J. The bathrooms here are heavily used, unlike other areas of the park, so you may want to avoid them if you need things to be clean in pit toilets.

So much beauty in the desert. If you visit Joshua Tree you cannot go wrong visiting any of the areas. If you have time make a stop at Hidden Valley.

There are a ton of stunning rock formations (piles) here to both boulder, sportclimb, and scramble about on. It's a great area, very popular with all sorts of visitors. Great place for photos and because you can hike around everything and not have to climb up it all, good for all ages.

Entered thru the Joshua Tree City entrance and drove thru to I-10; very pleasant drive along a well-maintained road with many pull-out areas with all kinds of trails. Beautiful settings at every turn. Park was packed with holiday travelers so we chose not to compete with the crowds. Bring what you need to survive with you...few to no vendors.

We walked the loop when visiting Joshua Tree NP in early November. This was an easy walk full of beautiful formations created by our mother nature. Really amazing and must do when in JTNP.

This hike is beautiful- there are times when your not quite sure where to go - but it is gorgeous. Do not go in the dead of heat - it gets way to hot - we went in late afternoon, and it was perfect

Easy hike and climb around a loop. There are lots of rock formations and variety of plants. This is an easier hike than many in the park, but I would still suggest proper foot wear.

Go for a 2h hike around the valley and wake your inner child. Go on rocks and conquer higher viewpoints. Remember though about hot weather and watch your step ;)

Hidden Valley is a relatively easy circuit, although there are some steps to access the circuit and along its route. It is mostly exposed so in full sun you will need plenty of water. This is shown as being a mile long but it felt longer although you can deviate from the route so perhaps we did walk further than the route. The route signs are not clear you just come across an arrow now and again.

There are some signs along the circuit which give some information about the plants and wildlife.

There is a big parking area, picnic benches and eco toilets.

Entrance to the park is US$30 per vehicle.

We visited the park at the end of August, it was very hot. We had this short tour, which was completely enough to get the "feeling", but wasn't overwhelming (~1 mile). Definitely worth it, but you have to bring a good bottle of water!

This is a mostly flat, one mile loop, with some big rocks to climb over going in and out of the valley. It's a very scenic trail with plenty of photo ops.

This is a quick and easy hike. It has very cool rock formations and plants. Because it’s easy, it is very popular. So it was a bit crowded when we were there (mid afternoon). But people were well spread out so it was very enjoyable.

The hike is easy but fun and interesting with a variety of flora and fauna. The large clusters of boulders are fun for all ages. The trail is accessible from the picnic area.

I think Hidden Valley is the most popular campground in JTNP. It's full of giant boulders and Joshua Tree's and lot's of happy campers.

The hidden Valley is a great place for a little hike. The rocks just look amazing and the joshua trees give the place a special feeling. It felt great just to discover the little and the big rocks and to climb a bit on them. It was very very hot though! Don't forget to put on a hat against the sun!

One of the best areas to see Joshua Trees in abundance. We were here as part of a nature and landscape photography workshop. The surroundings feel like something from when dinosaurs walked the earth. Just beautiful.

Gentle 1 mile circular walk with great views of the mountains. Nice preamble to Ryan Mountain! Well signposted route and definitely for the tourist.

Beautiful desert area with amazing rock formations. Fun to watch rock climbers throughout the park. Interesting and fun historical facts about the park during old western days.

If you can only do one thing in Joshua Tree NP, then Hidden Valley is the hike to take. This one-mile loop gives you views of the Joshua trees while you walk around big boulders. Pay close attention to the small signs with an arrow as it's easy to get off the sandy, yet mostly level trail. We had to double back when we missed a turn. In the summer, do this before 10 am and take lots of water as the park temperatures are very hot and there is no shade.

Our family spent a full day at JTNP right after Christmas. During the government shut down, the outhouses were still open. We brought our own toilet paper and trash bags and made sure we cleaned up after ourselves. We parked at the Hidden Valley picnic site which was right next to the start of the hiking loop. The entire loop took about an hour and a half with plenty of stops for pics and climbing for our kids (ages 10 and 11). Highly recommend this loop hike.

We hiked the Hidden Valley Nature Trail. This trail was mostly well marked. Nice rock formations and an interesting story on the history of the valley on story boards throughout the hike.

Picked up a map at the visitor with some great tips given by the ranger. It is summer and can be very hot so be prepared. There are no places to get water or food once you are in the park. Though Hidden Valley is just a one mile loop which is pretty flat, wear a cap and bring water. Great views and you get to wonder how these rock formations got there. The trail took us 45 minutes but I would suggest that you take your time and climb some of the rocks if you are able to. Plenty of picture taking opportunities. If you are going to the park, this is the trail to do.

Nice place to hike, you can rock climb also. The hike was easy and the weather was perfect when we went last Saturday. It would be better if we went around sunset. Anyway, bring plenty of water.

OK short hike. For a short view of JTNP this was OK. A bit crowded - but overall a short and compelling walk

We drove here from Vegas as a way to escape the strip for a day. It was a long ride, but so worth it. This area is gorgeous and has scenery unlike any other I’ve seen in my travels. Worthwhile to visit and spend the day exploring!

Great short walk into a beautiful little valley. Perfect for the kids to get some sun on their faces after a long plane trip.

It's on the north end of the park near the western entrance. Interesting rock formations and plant life in the area.

The title of my review says it all... Joshua Tree is a one of kind desert destination that is very worthwhile. There is a great deal to see here, and well worth the 2hr drive that takes you straight through it. There are many places to stop and walk around or take pictures if you please. The heat is intense though, bring lots of water and dress appropriately.

Easy parking with restrooms, easy hike (some incline and stairs, but not too hard for kids or seniors) leads to a small valley enclosed by rocks. Great desert landscapes, flora and fauna, this spot is popular with rock climbers and hikers alike. Recommended half-a-day hike for families, spent about 2-3 hours walking leisurely enjoying the views.

Joshua tree national park is located at an ecological crossroads between the High Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. The Joshua tree national park's name comes from the "Joshua tree" (Yucca brevifolia), which is endemic yucca in the park. We learned that Serrano, Cahuillas and Chemehuevi Indians lived in the Twentynine Palms Oasis; they inhabited other more arid areas, during harvest periods of pinyon nuts, mesquite beans, acorns of Muller’s oaks, and cactus fruits.
In Joshua tree national park, we hiked the beautiful Hidden valley trail Navajo loop trail (1 mile and 50 m vertical drop, duration: 1 hour). We were amazed by the desert landscape with huge blocks composed of ocher and pink granite rocks. We also saw Joshua trees and typical desert vegetation, especially ocotillos and very thorny cactus.
For climbers, it is possible to hike in the area. Close to Hidden valley trail, there’s a a fine picnic area.

Hidden Valley is just one part of Joshua Tree National Park- we opted to pay the vehicle admission fee ($30 as of the time of this writing) and spend two hours driving from end to end, stopping to photograph and briefly walk around Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, and the cactus garden. If we'd had more time we probably would have spent another hour or two, and hikers can easily make an entire day of the experience.

I'm not much of a hiker but I thoroughly enjoyed the Hidden Valley Trail. Because it is listed in TA as the #1 spot in Joshua Tree NP it does have quite a bit of traffic and we were lucky to get a parking spot. It is a bit over 1 mile loop trail and has lots of interesting rock formations.

We stopped at the visitor center to pick up a map and the guide recommended this hike. Great introduction to the park and you really get a feel for the landscape and size of the park. Do bring lots of water and snacks though.

We walked through Hidden Valley during the third week of June mid-afternoon. Surprisingly, it wasn't too hot. There were lots of trees, some cacti, and other plant life. We also saw two rock wall climbers. I believe the loop is about a mile long. It's an easy stroll with plenty of opportunities to examine the flora and take pictures.

Wanted to do one hike with the kids and this one was about the right length. Beautiful scenery. Groomed trail that has built in steps for everyone

Always wanted to visit Joshua Tree and it didn't disappoint - this is an easy, flat 1 hr walk (but it's hot so take water) with some great rock formations and landscapes.
Lots of parking, well marked trail
My teenagers felt JT was the 'hidden gem' of our American Road Trip

Wild desert landscape, But in some moments you experience what you are walking on the African savannah.

Joshua Tree National Park was on our "to-do" list & we finally made it out there this winter. The unique rock formations, trees & landscape were gorgeous against the blue skies. However, after one day here- we felt we had seen enough. We drove around the park for several hours, stopping at various points of interest. Didn't do much hiking. Honestly after awhile, everything started to look the same.We opted not to do a second day in the park. If you really love the desert or rock climbing, this would be your cup of tea. Glad we went & got to experience the landscape though. One of the huge pluses is there was a stunning sunrise the next day.

Beautiful 70 degree day. The path winds gently upwards through large rock formations until you reach a surprising view of this valley. So quiet. We saw chipmunks and small lizards. Informative small signs provide information about the valley, flora and fauna. Just the right length of trail. Bathrooms are close to parking lot as well as shaded picnic tables. Due to slippery fine gravel, a trekking stick would be handy if you have any balance issues.

This hike gives you a complete overview of what Joshua Tree NP is all about. Not difficult and very scenic. This hike and area can be busy due to its popularity. Take your camera and water bottle and you will be set.

This place is the one we have continued talking about after we left. TripAdvisor doesn't lie-- it's #1. The scenery all over JTNP is unique, but the ambiance in this valley was truly unique. I loved the history (cattle?!), the fun rocks to climb around on, watching the rock climbers, and all the plant and animal life! If you're in JTNP, definitely stop here, walk the nice little loop and enjoy it for a while. DO watch out for cacti and sharp plants here and there, though... My husband had a few close encounters ;-)

We visited a lot of National Parks during our trip to the USA and this one we found one of the most beautiful. The hike to Hidden valley was great. Not difficult to do and you could easily imagine how stolen cattle used to be hidden in this valley.

My husband and I came to Joshua Tree for the first time and decided to hike here in Hidden Valley. The hike is a loop hike and approximately 1 mile. It was a gorgeous day and we arrived by 10:00 am, so no problem parking. When we left 2 hours later the lots were full. There are beautiful rock formations everywhere and many rock climbers and people were bouldering. This is a pretty easy hike. Fun for the whole family. I would highly recommend this hike. Make sure to bring plenty of water!!! The price to get into the park is $30 and is good for one week. No day passes available.

This is really a unique feature of this park and was a place where the cattlemen "hid" their cattle in a natural corral hidden in the hills.

We arrived at the Hidden Valley loop between 10 and 11 am. Three hale and hearty and me...game but lame. You need to carry water. Be careful. My 20 something daughter was bounding on the rocks and encountered a rattlesnake sunning himself and then rattling a warning. I was glad I tried the loop and made it to the end, the scenery, vegetation, creatures, rocks were fantastic. I've been having physical therapy for difficulty with stairs, and the climbing though manageable and not a major elevation gain was a challenge for me. It would have been better if I had a hiking stick, and had tried it early in the day before punishing heat and sun. Just saying. Lots of reviews say "Great for kids!" "Easy Peasy" . Be real about what you can do!

I loved our visit to Joshua Tree.
It is so vast and beautiful, the scenery and energy is amazing.
You can spend a lot of time in the park, I wish we had another day. Make sure to pack plenty of water and snacks as you really can’t buy anything once you are in there.

This is one of the top attractions, a fairly easy walk into a valley that has changed due to cattle rustling. Lots of parking, good place for a picnic, shady spots make it a good option for mid-day visit. Keep going counter clockwise and you can't get lost, only one way out.

Beautiful rock formations and scrubland, lovely walks and scenery, picnic area in the shade, visited by a blue bird and a ground rat! Very pleasant

Warning, do not bring your noisy drones here, many signs warning of fines. But we saw two fools flying drones and within half an hours rangers caught them and arrested them! Hope they get fine the maximum fees.

We came during the big rain storms. The rangers suggested we try again the next day due to possible flooding. But we got lucky, in the late afternoon the storm let up and we enter the park, it was mostly empty, we get to see some rivers running in the desert, very unusual and cool.

The next day the park was sunny again, but very cold, so dress well and in layers. We brought lots of water for the hikes but didn’t end up drinking much due to the cold :-)

This is a very nice and easy to walk trail that gives you a good impression of many of the type of sites you will see in the park, from high desert flora, to giant boulder mountains that look like a giant just piled up them up randomly across the desert. I don't normally get my wife to hike with me but she did this one and enjoyed it. You do get lots of crazy rock patterns and formations that are interesting to see and you pass by The Burrito, a famous mountain for rock climbers. Best to do this hike earlier in the morning if you are going in the summer, as it gets hot. Bring water and hat, and binoculars.

It's a rather easy hike. 1,5 mile loop. During the hike you have amazing views and you can even walk among the rock formations. really a must do!

This was a very pleasant walk through beautiful terrain. A few ups and down but mostly rock position as steps. Too rough for our 88 year old mother but most people would do fine. Seemed to be a great trail for families with small children. Lots of rock to climb on and sandy spots for snack breaks.

Great little hike that takes you through a very interesting park of history with wonderful natural landscape all around you.

First stop at Joshua Tree for the day was this loop, as we heard that the parking lot gets full and they can close it. We got the early enough and it was SO COOL to walk around and on the giant boulders, see the lizards, including chuckwallas, and take like a million photos. Great picnic area there too.

This is an easy hike with some steps up or down. A good path even for senior people. There are restrooms at the beginning of trail head. We will bring our parents here with a cane. One of our friends took his 80 year old mom to Hidden Valley trail and no problem. Good for all ages and very scenic. Highly recommended.

Hidden Valley is a must go destination for this time of year. The desert flowers just start blooming and the view is spectacular. Temperatures in the beginning of March are mild and extreme comfortable for hiking. Bring a lot of water because is very dry in the area.

This was one of the highlights of our trip. It’s a nice relatively easy hike through the rocks and around the valley and is a spectacular example of the rocks and micro climates that make this spot so special. Great boulders for scrambling and there are plenty of climbing routes for the skilled rock climbers. Don’t miss this spot. Parking is limited and it can get crowded as it is very popular.

Joshua tree is brilliant. Camping at Hidden Valley was gorgeous, highly recommended. Heaps of climbers staying there and lots of rocks nearby to climb. Was totally beautiful. Camp doesn't have water and toilets are self composting, but were ok. Really busy over the weekend and whole park was full when we went.

This is about a 1 mile circular walk through a small valley showing off lots of the spectacular things that the Joshua Tree Park has to offer.

Great views of the piles of massive boulders. Great close up to trees and shrubs.

Worth it if visiting this park.

There is so much to see in this little hidden valley. A worthy stop for hikers of all abilities. Great photo ops for scenery, rocks, plants and climbing. A must see!

I liked this place because there you can climb on the rock, find a hidden pathway and even some shadow it is easy to get there because it is on the main road which goes through the National park

There is lots of parking and picnic tables, some in the shade. The walk is easy but some elation and scrambling. My husband is a bit disabled so we couldn't take the trail. There were lots of little trails off the picnic area that were very interesting and go around boulders.

Our favorite stop in Joshua Tree National Park. A most enjoyable hike among the rocks and desert fauna. In summer, head out early to avoid the heat (but no humidity). The trail is a 1 mile loop with a small amount of climbing at the start. Do take water, as the heat will takes it's toll even though the trail is only a mile. The rock formations are wonderful.

Excellent trails and great opportunities for photography. great knowing that it was used to round up cattle into the "coral"

If you just want to get an overview of the park -- no camping or long hikes -- you can easily do it in a day. We were there on a weekday in February and it was not crowded. The park consists of two separate deserts. Starting at the Cottonwood entrance you are in the Sonoran desert, where the most striking vegetation is the cholla cactus -- especially the huge numbers in the cholla cactus garden. You then transition to the Mojave desert, which is where you find the Joshua trees (not actually trees -- just a strange kind of yucca plant). Hidden Valley was a lovely walk, with somewhat different vegetation because it is more protected than the

My girls are in their 20's, but when we hiked here they were all over the place! One has to climb every rock while the other loves a secluded spot to sunbathe. Both had a great time here. This is a hugely popular trail of a mile in length, but with so many nooks and hills it doesn't feel crowded once you're on the trail.

This was our first stop coming in from the north. Not very crowded the day we were there. Ample parking. The hike is not too long (maybe 1.25 miles) and is pretty easy- although there are some steps to navigate. There are signs with information. The rock formations are beautiful with plenty of places to stop for photo opportunities. One of the highlights of our day here.

Short walk about a mile or so or 30 min through the best landscape

Highly recommend doing it early in the morning as it gets warm and take loads of water

It's a 1.0 mi loop hike. I was expecting to be surrounded with Joshua trees but hidden valley is more of a "collection of what makes up Joshua tree NP." You'll see boulders, some assortment of trees, pines, few cacti.. so it's like a "appetizer sampler." The picnic area opposite side of the trail head was nice. We choose one in partial shade.
It was very cold and windy when we went mid-March.
Parking is tough so get there early or make this one of your first stops.

This short one mile hike/walk made me fall in love with this National Park...it's surprisingly beautiful! (A surprise because I was just expecting a desert w/ a lot of Joshua trees...but it's so much more!)

If you have limited time in the Park, highly recommend you choose to see and experience the Hidden Valley. Lots of people...but it's a National Park!

Just. Few hundred yards in and you feel as if you are in a different world. Lovely scenery! Not too difficult, but definitely worth your time. Great scenes for photographers.

We did this hike in about an hour with our boys - ages 11 and 8. They loved climbing the boulders! It was an an easy, one mile hike. You could walk it faster if you want to, but the idea is to enjoy the scenery. It was definitely a highlight of our trip to Joshua Tree.

We did this trail on our last visit 2 years ago, and the kids, now age 10 and 6, requested it again. It’s a pretty easy one mile loop, lots of places to stop and explore a little while staying close to the trail. It’s very popular and the lot can fill up, a few basic bathrooms available, no running water. Great picnic area as well

Plenty of parking available for cars and RVs and picnic tables. The hike begins near the restroom. Look for signs describing the vegetation, history, animals etc. The path was marked but in many areas it was unclear if we were going in the right direction, but just remember to notice signs or specific boulders or trees if you have to circle back. We did help 1 family find the path since they were not going the right way and they were beginning to panic.

Nice hike over rocks, sand and boulders. Quite a few trees but limited shade areas, good places to take pictures. Not strenuous hike but you should wear closed toed shoes and take water. Approximately 1 mile hike, it took us 1 hour but stopped for photos.

We walked this little trail. Easy walk and it gives you an idea of why it is called Hiden Valley. You sort of experience it. Fun and interesting.

I loved loved loved this hike. Super easy even with my baby on my back. The landscape is amazing. It took me about 45 mins to do the loop. I kept stopping for pictures. Didnt see any snakes or animals... I would highly recommend. Not stroller or wheelchair friendly. For people with hip, knee pain...maybe take a walking stick to help you step on the rocks everywhere.

Hidden Valley is a favorite among hikers and climbers. The dry campsites are small but because of the layout and all the rocks it feels very nice and comfortable. It is on a first come first serve basis and very popular so getting there early is important to find a nice spot. Would definitely go back! Love the atmosphere here and the vistas and rocks are just amazing!

This was one of our favorite hikes in the park. The blooming cacti were lovely and the rock formations very interesting.

Beautiful trail with lots of rock formations and dessert flowers. An easy trail to follow and markers along the way with information in English. Easy to do with the kids. Enjoyed the trail in the morning and at sunset. The colors and the rock formations are beautiful. Pit toilets are available along with a nice shaded picnic area in amongst the rocks across from the trailhead.

Before I start, I would like to address the review that said there were many rivers to ford on this hike. I was wearing my good Vasque hiking shoes and, although they are water resistant, I was not looking forward to wading through rivers with them, so I popped a pair of old sneakers into my backpack.
I am happy to report that there were NO rivers or even puddles on this hike, the last day of January 2018. I imagine the other reviewer must have been hiking after a bad rainstorm; the day I did this hike, it was dry as a bone.
The hike starts off from the parking lot for Hidden Valley.
We came in from the Oasis entrance and missed the turnoff for the hike..it is on the left; the campsite is on the right. The signs are a little misleading. If you hit Quail Springs, you have gone too far.
Turn around and when you hit the sign that says Hidden Valley, drive down the road to the right. This is how you access the hike if you are coming from the Joshua Tree entrance.
The hike is a perfect mix of a little rock stepping, some sandy trail and lovely scenery.
It is a loop and there is really no indication when you start, after you have climbed the initial steps and gone past what I refer to as kissy rock, whether to go right or left.
Most people, I noticed, were going left.
The last part of the hike is a bit more challenging, with a little rock scrambling; it is your choice if you want to do that portion on the right hand side at the end, going up, or at the beginning, going down.
There are quite a number of signs explaining the features of the trail and describing the unique trees and foliage and how they got into the valley. I found the signs quite interesting.
The length was perfect, about a mile--not too long, to give you time to do other hikes, and not really short like the Cholla Cactus Garden.
There are plenty of rocks for the kids (and the bigger kids like myself, who, um, has a senior pass to the park) to clamber on and over and through.
The trail wends past the cliffs, where climbers are tethered and going up and down.
We got to the trail just before noon and it was not crowded. There was parking space in the lot. The weather was perfect--low 70's. The desert flowers were not yet in bloom, so we missed those, but we therefore also avoided the crowds.
I really liked this hike..a lot.

I had always wanted to visit the Joshua Tree national park and when I got there absolutely loved it. The rock formations are incredible and it was great to see a Joshua Tree! We visited the information centre who advised us of the route to take and the walks to do - we followed their advice and had an absolutely brilliant time. Not to be missed. Very very hot though and no food/drink so take plenty of water.

A short 0.1 or 0.2 mile walk through some rocks takes you to this beautiful hidden spot. The nature trail is informative. It is supposed to be one mile, but it felt a lot longer. It was somewhat difficult to follow the trail at times. Quite a few ascents and descents. Definitely go to Hidden Valley and then decide if you want to hike the whole nature trail.

We went to Joshua Tree National Park 3 days in a row during our recent trip to Palm Springs. On day 2 we went at sunrise and nobody was there. We hiked the trail in Hidden Valley right after sunrise and it was beautiful! Highly recommend!

Hidden Valley trail is a great beginners trail that is a must for first time Joshua tree visitors. There is optional rock scrambling throughout the trail and plenty of beautiful scenery to take in. The parking was packed when we went so you may want to start early. Picnic tables are setup near the parking lot to make for a fantastic lunch if desired. I would definitely come back to this trail!

We loved Joshua Tree as a whole - Hidden Valley was our favorite part. It's a very short and easy hike, but you could spend lots of time playing around the rocks and watching the rock climbers. I recommend going early in the day or later afternoon when it's not so hot so you can spend some time exploring without overheating.

Very happy with this national park visit in California. Joshua Tree is a very big site and much of it is similar, but it’s nice how they have marked key locations such as hidden valley. We came here, Hemingway, and quail springs. Each was a great hike with various rock formations to climb. With young kids it was fun to try different climbs and explore. There are options for all difficulty levels. And at night the stars were beautiful, especially with the harvest moon and Mars in view.
The park entrance fee is very reasonable. And the visitor center at Joshua Tree town was really good. Good info and a nice spot for some souvenirs.
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and will come again.

Started our day at the park here. Beautiful, easy hike for any age. I'd highly recommend this as a stop!

If you only do one hike, this is the one to do. This one mile hike is suitable for almost anyone especially families. It is an easy walk along a sandy path, but do expect some steps. You will wander around some huge boulders, yuccas, prickly pears, sparse grasses, and Joshua trees. The valley is enclosed by the rock formations and we saw several rock climbers. The walk offers great photo ops and info signs along the way. It took us 45 minutes and we are late 60's.

One of the better hikes in this wonderful National Park. It takes about an hour and to scamper over the entrance rocks and then circle around the hidden valley. We spent the day inside the park, and this hike was probably our favorite. When in the Palm Springs area, it is close by and totally worth it.

The two times after 1997 I could visit Joshua Tree National Park! The park is truly unique and is home to a ton of cacti and great rock formations! Parking is very limited and even in November I had to park "wildly" on the street! In high season, avoid Friday and Saturday!

Hidden Valley: Hidden treasures await! Weaving through majestic rock formations and discovering secluded spots was a thrilling adventure. Don't miss this hidden gem in Joshua Tree!

Did a day trip to Joshua tree and this was one of our stops. Really worth hiking/strolling through this valley. Spectacular scenery!

I went on this hike with my 80 year old father (granted, he is in fantastic shape for his age or someone 60). The hike took about an hour with stopping to see the formations everywhere. There was a variety of cool rock formations, different cactus and a variety of other cool things to look at. There is a bit of a small climb to get on to the loop. Overall, it is a great start to your trip through Joshua Tree.

Like nothing you have seen before. Even though the government shutdown left the park without staff, it didn't leave it with less than a day's worth of sights, adventure, and awe. Dedicated staff and visitors keep the open restrooms clean, and with toilet paper. Those are some special people! The trails are at all levels of skills, and around every turn is an amazing sight, or learning experience. It was a wonderful day.

Made a stop a Josua Tree NP on the way from LA to Kingman (AZ). Took the smaill trail in the Hidden Valley - very beautifull and hot - remember to bring water :-)
The teenagers loved to climb the rocks.

The place where cattle thieves hid their cattle. Very interesting vegetation - much more lush than the rest of the park. Interesting rock formation. A hike for everyone - not strenuous at all.

A nice, hour long hike. In a spring or winter day, this is advisable, as it's very hot in the summer. If you want to climb up on the rocks (and if you're able-bodied, you probably do) bring shoes with good grippy soles. The Vans and Converse and other street sneakers we mistakenly wore were a bad idea!

There's something for everyone in Hidden Valley. It's a short enough loop that little kids and the elderly can hike it (and can shortcut across the middle if you want to make it even shorter). There's rock scrambling a-plenty for anyone who wants to on some really massive formations. And there's sheer technical climbing for those with the gear and the skills, which is great viewing for the rest of us!

Hidden Valley was pretty crowded on a Saturday morning. I drove into the parking lot at Hidden Valley and ended up getting the very last open spot at the very end of the horseshoe-shaped parking lot (by the picnic area) around 9:50am. Every other spot was taken! Thankfully, even though Hidden Valley is a fairly small area, there are a zillion different ways to find your own path and keep your distance. The possibilities are endless, and we didn't make very much progress along the trail for the first hour, instead going up and down and then up and up and WAY up and then back down. Rinse and repeat. You get spectacular views in every direction once you make it to the top of one formation or another. We probably could have stayed there all day.

There were also signs instructing one-way traffic (clockwise) for social distancing reasons. Most people obeyed the signs, but not all. I will state that almost EVERYBODY was wearing masks throughout the whole trip! Thank you, smart and considerate people!

The temperature for us in mid-November was about 64 degrees when we arrived. In direct sunlight we felt warm, but in the shade when the wind blows through you get chilled quickly, and there was a LOT of shade given how big the rocks were and the angle of the winter sun in the morning. We were thankful to have a long-sleeve base layer beneath our shirts. The days after got up into the mid-70s and we didn't need the base layers.

Hidden Valley is one of the must-do items on any visit to Joshua Tree NP. The Park itself is a fantastic place to visit in the winter, especially late winter when the longer days and the sunshine are welcome, but not too hot. The day I visited in early March was in the mid-60s and just spectacular. The snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains could be seen in the background to add to the varied scenery.

The Visitors' Center and the West Entrance to the Park (in Yucca Valley) are by far the most popular, and the Hidden Valley picnic area and nature trail are only a short drive from the entrance. The Park Service has done a great job to restore the Park to its pristine beauty following the senseless vandalism during the Government Shutdown from late December through January.

Like most short hikes in National Parks, the NPS has done an excellent job to mark the trail and provide informative placards along the way. The history of Hidden Valley is also most fascinating for its rogue past as a repository of stolen livestock. It brings the visitor back to the Wild West. The trail is mostly flat but there are plenty of modestly rock climbing opportunities and longer hikes beyond the marked trail. After a vigorous one-hour hike, the picnic area is ideal to recharge before visiting other hiking or climbing sites.

In short, Joshua Tree National Park and its many hiking and rock climbing opportunities are a great one-day escape from metro Southern California, especially in the cooler months of the year.

Lots of parking for this hike and plenty of picnic tables. The path is fairly well marked with signs. But it is important to still watch where you walk and where the path leads. Many people do create new paths and if you follow one of those, you might get lost. We followed one couple for awhile and then didn't see them but later when we were standing on a rock to take pictures, we noticed they they were going down another path. I yelled to them if they were okay and they said, no they were lost and going in circles. They were close to the real path but not on it, so just caution. Enjoyable hike, lots of nice boulders to see and Joshua Trees

I only had 1 day in JTNP and this valley was an easy first choice. I was also hiking alone and so didn't want to be too far into the wilderness. Finally, it was forecast to be over 100F the day I was there, so I started early... really early and I am SO glad I did. It was still dark when I arrived at Hidden Valley. The sky was just beginning to lighten as I started up the trail from the carpark. For my entire walk, as the sunlight gradually threw shadows across the formations and the occasional wind whistled eerily through the rocks, breaking the ear-ringing silence, I was alone. Alone with the beautiful scenery. No crowds, no chatter, no noise, just solitude. It is a super-easy walk, no more than a few uneven rocky stairs at worst but mostly flat. The trail is quite easy to follow and it's only a mile. No special gear or shoes required (I was in flip-flops). The place is beautiful. Go as early as you can.

We didn't want to spend all day at the park so this was a perfect 1 mile hike that allowed us to get a feel for what this unusual national park has to offer. We climbed to the top of one of the rock formations and took a lot of great photos throughout. Not too far of a drive into the park. It did cost our vehicle $25, but that pass is good for several days. We unfortunately were only able to stay for this one trip. There were bathrooms in the parking lot before you enter the trail.

We did several hikes in the park over three days. This one was great but for those with mobility concerns maybe not. It was not a difficult hike at all but there was a requirement to go up and down some. Plenty to see, well marked, and not much more than one mile although we stopped frequently to have a good look around.

This is a paradise for nature lovers. Watching the sunset across these rock formations, and the landscape gives an outer-world feeling. The desert fauna and flora give a good geological lesson.

We came to the States in the main to tour some of the desert regions..... and the Joshuah Tree was our favourite area.

This relativeley short hike was superb - gorgeous rugged scenery - stark rockfaces and easy underfoot. Not a long walk by any means the circular route took us well under an hour but for such a small area the photo oppertunities were outstanding.

There's plenty of parking at the trailhead as well as picnic tables and some toilets.

A perfect hike - very memorable !

Beautiful hike in a valley ringed by rocky hills. A warning for those with mobility issues, though - many reviewers call this an easy hike. If you have knee and ankle issues like me, it's more challenging than that. There are lots of stairs and rocks on the trail, and some of them are pretty big rises. You might need a friendly hand or a good walking stick to navigate some of it. It was definitely worth it, but - not so "easy" for me.

Our first day in Joshua Tree was very windy with gusts up to 50 mph so even though it was in the 50’s, with the wind it was, at times, bitterly cold. Park rangers at the entrance advised us to hike Hidden Valley and Barker Dam as both are somewhat protected from the wind by rock formations. Such. Great. Advice. Nice one mile loop.

Loved the Joshua Tree National Park and the town of Joshua Tree. Well worth a visit with some stunning scenery and amazing rock formations. Highly recommended.

Start out at the Cottonwood Information Center on the southeast side of the park. Look for Jimmy, one of the park rangers for some great info. He was so helpful and knowledgeable about how best to take in the park in one day. We drove up into the heart of the park to Hidden Valley trail head where we went on about a 1 mile walk (not tough most anyone can do it). We were able to see all different types of topography and learned from signage about the area wildlife. ThIs park is great for families of all ages as well as couples or singles. Great way to see nature in the desert. Follow this up with a stop in town at the Joshua Tree Saloon - great food and atmosphere. Enjoy!

This short 1 mike walk is a beautiful loop on a path that’s easy to follow, well marked, and good for most individuals with limited exceptions. The walk offers multiple beautiful scenes that would be a great walk for kids, family, or anyone that’s out to get a little exercise. With minimal elevation gain accept from the parking lot up to the loop...this is a hike that is for almost anyone.

This hike was so fun! It was short but every turn included different rock formations to surprise you. We did the mile loop and the stop was pretty busy but the trail wasn’t crowded.

We hiked for 45 minutes thru the valley in flip flops and no water/snacks with no issues. It was a beautiful walk with so much to see, would love to see it in the spring vs fall

I love the Hidden Valley Trail- amazing for all ages + the little markers give so much information about the origins and area!!!

This is one of the recommended stop-off places for large tour groups so it can be busy. But it is well worth the short turn-off from the main road and a walk into the valley with its interesting history and unusual vegetation is worth doing.

Amazing hike and stunning views of hidden valley. Educational signs are very interesting. Easy hike for most abilities.

The boulder in and around Joshua Tree are quite extraordinary and worth a little hike to get in amongst them. Several walks around, so no matter your fitness you'll find something to suit. A very enjoyable few hours touring and walking in the area

Used by cattle rustlers decades ago, this spot is now great for hiking and rock climbing. Very nice hike on a well-marked path with informational placards. Good one for kids with lots to see.

This is a nice short hike in a loop. It is very nice in the valley with good information about the ecosystem and history.
I come back to this place each time I go.

Great short walk, easy, with beautiful vistas, lots of Joshua trees. Not my favorite location in JT but still very good and recommended.

mesmerizing hikes, very surrealistic view. we were staying on the campground and had an amazing experience