Joshua Tree: The Complete Guide: Joshua Tree National Park Paperback – February 1, 2014

We are planning a trip to Joshua Tree in April, and this book made it so much easier to make a plan for our small group of not hikers. Would it help hikers? Oh my, yes! The maps are labeled well, and each trail or hike is rated on both a small charted page and in the detailed description of the trail. The stories about the history are engaging; the recommended sights, food, and extras are informative. Great buy!

A super little companion for my Joshua Tree trip! I no longer need print guides with mundane details, so this slim volume of fun stories was perfect. I read every page, many twice, before and during my trip.

This well written and well researched book greatly enhanced my family trip to Joshua Tree NP this week. I've been to Joshua Tree 4-5 times over the past couple decades, and this trip was by far the most rewarding because I saw and did things I wasn't aware of on past trips all thanks to this book.One of my hesitations in the past about venturing out on certain hikes in the park was not knowing the difficulty or what to expect on the trail. This guide told me all I needed to know about each potential hike, so I was able to plan my day in the park before we even arrived.More than just a planning guide to the park, the book also provided extensive history about the park and surrounding area, as well as a rich assortment of information about the geological, animal and botanical components that we encountered in the park.All in all, an entertaining and informative guide book!

This book covers a broad range of topics and is a great primer for people new to the park. Not super detailed, but the content is well written and covers enough territory to get you excited about your visit. You can find additional resources later if your visit gets you hooked on the majesty of the park. Definitely recommend.

Book was just what I wanted. Took grandkids to JT NP. What a big help. Bought used, but in good condition. Helped with research several weeks before we actually went to the park. By the way...Joshua Tree NP is wonderful. You won't be disappointed. Very good restaurant about 1/2 mile east of Holiday Inn Express. Near corner. On south side of same road the hotel is on. I think on SE corner of Adobe Rd. and Twentynine Palms (62). Sets back a little. Not far from corner. Spaghetti - Oh My! Large portions for a hungry crowd! And great food! Inexpensive. The Rib Co. looked good but too crowded (little west of Holiday Inn).

This book was a great resource on our visit, especially while in the park where there is no internet.

This book is beautiful, comprehensive guide to Joshua Tree National Park and it's surrounding communities. It provides vividly colored photos of the landscape and a brief guide to plants and animals one may encounter. It provides general maps of JTNP as well as very good detailed maps of specific points of interest which are being described. A causal browser of this book might well be inspired to visit. One can use it to plan a visit, and A visitor can confidently pack this along as a guidebook to find points of wonderment. Not only does the author provide guidance within Joshua Tree NP, but in the communities that border this park as well. Motels, restaurants, and points of interest are mentioned in enough detail for a reader to determine if they want to stop by and check them out. As a former visitor to JTNP, I found it to be very thorough, and as someone who is planning another trip, I plan to take it along as a guidebook to find new places to discover within and outside the Park. I hope this author undertakes a book on the Mojave National Preserve in the same style that this book was written.

This book is by far the best guide to Joshua Tree National Park. I visit Joshua Tree at least a couple times every year. It is one of my favorite places to visit here in California. Wether your visit is for a day to a weekend outing, this book covers everything you will need to know and learn about Joshua Tree. The layout is excellent. The book is filled with incredible photographs of all the top sites to see in the park, wildlife, plus several historical photographs. Besides covering popular sites in the park, this book gives you a history of the park as well. There is even a section that covers the wildlife and plant life in the park. There are very useful maps of the main campgrounds. For the hikes listed, each includes a beautiful photograph and a brief description. This book even lists a few places to eat outside the park in 29 Palms. For anyone planning to travel to Joshua Tree, this book is a must have.Although this book covers all the most popular hiking trails and short excursions, it doesn't get into extreme detail about overnight backpacking in Joshua Tree. Besides this book, I highly recommend On Foot in Joshua Tree by Patty Furbush. Both these books are all you need to help you discover Joshua Tree National Park.

I hadn't realised there was so much to see in Joshua Tree National Park before I bought this book, it's an excellent companion. The book is full of great photographs and descriptions of places to visit and trails to follow. I defy you not to spend extra time in this wonderful desert park following a purchase of this guide.The guide is well presented and has a great layout, taking you on a tour of all the best sites the park has to offer. Joshua Tree is best visited in the Spring, when all the desert flowers are out, and the guide devotes a section to the wild flowers. There are plenty of other great things to see as well: wildlife, strange rock formations, mountain views and of course the Joshua trees themselves for which the park is famous.Be warned that Barker Dam, full to overflowing in 2005, is now completely bone dry - it's not really worth visiting anymore. The Hidden Valley, a hideaway for early cattle rustlers, and Keys View with wonderful panoramic views of lower-lying California, remain a must for any day visitor.

As someone who has never been to Joshua Tree National Park I found this book most informative. Written in an easy to understand way yet gave interesting detail of the Park's origins and covered its interesting history. I was able to plan my visit using this book and identify the nature trails and hiking trails I wanted to walk.Contains good photographs of some of the interesting sights in the Park.Recommend bye if your a first time visitor.

LOVE Joshua Tree so much!!! This is a great book to learn more about the place, the trails and great photos!

A great help for planning our trip this spring

Great book. Arrived early.