Hidden Valley
A short March walk among the boulders is a good alternative to a long desert hike. NPS rates the loop easy, but it has rocky steps, little shade and uneven ground.
1-mile loop · easy rating · carry water
What to see and do in Joshua Tree in March
Start with a short boulder walk, watch for spring flowers and consider staying for the stars if the forecast suits.
Desert wildflowers
March overlaps the usual bloom windows at lower and middle elevations. Cottonwood and Pinto Basin often flower before higher areas, but rain and temperature decide what you will see.
Seasonal opportunity · stay on established trails
An evening under the stars
March’s mild daytime weather does not guarantee a warm evening. Bring extra layers and a red light; choose your night around the moon and forecast rather than expecting a particular sky.
After dark · warm layers · red light
Joshua Tree weather in March
March’s normal high is 74°F and low is 49°F, with 0.35 inches of precipitation. These are Twentynine Palms gateway normals, not park-wide temperatures. Higher stops such as Hidden Valley can be colder.
Cooler Hotter
Jan
High63°F
Low42°F
Precip · in0.50
Feb
High67°F
Low44°F
Precip · in0.56
March
High74°F
Low49°F
Precip · in0.35
Apr
High81°F
Low55°F
Precip · in0.12
May
High90°F
Low63°F
Precip · in0.05
Jun
High99°F
Low71°F
Precip · in0.00
Jul
High104°F
Low77°F
Precip · in0.40
Aug
High103°F
Low76°F
Precip · in0.65
Sep
High97°F
Low69°F
Precip · in0.34
Oct
High85°F
Low58°F
Precip · in0.15
Nov
High72°F
Low47°F
Precip · in0.19
Dec
High62°F
Low40°F
Precip · in0.56
Joshua Tree crowds in March
March averages 410,905 recreation visits, the park’s highest monthly average.
LowestLowModerateHighPeakAverage month: 255,294March
Tips for your March visit
For a first day, we suggest a short walk and a few nearby stops rather than trying to see every district. Add time for separate areas or an evening under the stars.
AWest Entrance StationBNorth Entrance StationCSouth Entrance (Cottonwood)
Markers show reviewed park entrance points, not trailheads. Use official approach directions rather than unfamiliar backcountry shortcuts.
- Selected paved park roads
- Park boundary
Choose your approach
West enters from Joshua Tree; North from Twentynine Palms; South from Interstate 10 near Cottonwood. Match your entrance to your planned stops.
Allow for spring break
NPS identifies March to mid-April as a busy period, with lines and limited parking. Arrive early and keep a second short outing in mind if a trailhead is full.
Separate entry and campsite booking
Entrance reservations are not required under the normal rule. Reserve camping separately; an entry pass does not secure a campsite or parking space.
Pack for sun and cold
Bring your own water, food and layers for cold or windy mornings. Download an offline map before arrival; cell service is limited.
How we built this page.
An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.
- Crowds
- 2021–2025 monthly averages. NPS recreation visits, compared with the park’s own busiest month. Visits are not unique visitors or a count of people on a trail.
- Weather
- 1991-2020 climate normals. NOAA’s Twentynine Palms station. These describe typical weather at the station, not every part of the park or a forecast.
- Roads & lodging
- Normal seasonal schedules. NPS guidance and official operator information. Confirm access, hours and availability before you travel.
Historical records and data-quality checks
- Visit history: 1979–2025 NPS monthly recreation visits.
- Weather history: 1935–2025 daily observations, separate from climate normals. We average daily highs and lows and total the rain for each month.
- Complete months only: every day must pass our quality checks for that metric. Missing or incomplete records stay blank; we never interpolate.
- Excluded measurements: flagged, presumed-zero and lagged values. Trace rain counts as zero measurable rainfall.