Have you ever visited a place that was better than you ever thought it could be? That's what Joshua Tree National Park was for us. We'd heard so much about this place but we just didn't have very high expectations for it... Boy were we wrong!
I can't explain what it is, but there is something magical about this national park. Is it the solitude? The history? The sunsets? Maybe its a mix of all those things and more. One thing is for sure, the place where we most felt that magic was on the Hidden Valley Trail.
Like most hikes in Joshua Tree, this trail is flat most of the way, making it suitable for folks of all ages and fitness levels. The trail is surrounded by walls of massive boulders on all sides (hence the name) and beautiful plant life all along. If you visit during the day, make sure to wear lots of SPF as there is zero shade. If you really want to experience the magic, visit this trail around sunset. The sunrays beaming behind the boulder wall and the myriad of colors in the sky will have you questioning if this is heaven on earth. We visited about 30 minutes before sunset and it was perfect.
To date, this is the only place we've ever visited that actually made me want to cry because it was just so dang beautiful. I truly hope you get to experience it one day.
If you want to see more of Hidden Valley and other areas in and around Joshua Tree, check out this video.
We'll see you on the next adventure!
Xoxo, V