Joshua Tree vs. Death Valley: winter crowds

[Scooter]

I'll have the opportunity to visit one of these parks between Christmas and New Years. I'm wondering how best to avoid the crowds. I've heard winter can be popular seasons in each park.

Just how busy are these places (and their campgrounds) during this time?

[Ma3tt]

I love JT! if it is crowded and the sky is clear it is usually astronomy people. use that opportunity to see some stars and galaxies. make sure you have a red lense on your flashlight.

[Q]

I like Death Valley in the winter because of the lower altitude and warmer temps. Sure it can be a bit crowded right around Furnace Creek or Scotty's Castle but the park is huge and it's easy to get away from people if you want to. You can always find a place to camp in the overflow lot at Furnace Creek.

Q

[sdtripper2]

Scooter:

Joshua Tree has been one of my fav spots to go over the years.
Besides the astronomy people as Matt suggests there are quite a few rock
climbers that frequent the park. Many of the rock outcroppings in the park
have climbing routes of various difficulty that are listed in books that these
people use to set out on their climbs.

Park site:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/
Plan your visit:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/index.htm


PDF Map of Joshua Tree park:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/u ... otrmap.pdf
You will note there are two main entrances to the park the South entrance
is off route 10 that goes through to Arizona. I would not take this entrance
unless it is your first time and you want to see wide open spaces. The
North entrance by the town of Joshua Tree is a better entrance and has a
ranger station at the entrance so you could buy your pass there. Most of
the good places to see are closest to the North entrance.

Now my favorite spot is on the North side of the park off a road you will
see on the map East of Joshua Tree and before 29 Palms. This little road
turn off is Indian Cove. So the campgrounds is Indian cove. It is off the
path of most of the campers but take your binoculars to look at the
climbers if they are there. Most of the time the spring break time frame is
the full time there.

The temps are going to be low at this time of year. See weather for up to
15 day outlooks. If you decide on the much lower camp grounds in the flat
Death Valley area I have put the URL to that info below. As "Q" mentioned
this area will be warmer at this time of year. Joshua Tree does have more
different vistas with the trees and the rock formations.

Campground fees:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Reservations 1-800-365-2267
Online:
http://reservations.nps.gov/index.cfm
Weather:
http://tinyurl.com/yj7fec
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/hours.htm
****

Death Valley park information:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/
Weather:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/weather.htm

[Scooter]

That's some SUPER info, thanks a bunch. Alot may depend on the weather enroute, as I'll be traveling from TN. Northern NM and AZ could very well see snow this time of year and I'd like to avoid any flakes if possible. A more southern route would typically be clear of snow unless there'd be a flake or two in the Guadalupe/Las Cruces NM area, but from there it's a much longer haul up to Death Valley. However, extreme southwest AZ gets the majority of snowbirds, and I wanna avoid people as much as possible too.

I just like the desert and wanna see the best of the wide open spaces.

[Ma3tt]

If you you really want the southwest then make sure to see canyon de chelle. near four corners area and Sedona.

[Scooter]

I ended up at Joshua Tree and it was great. Stayed in the Cottonwood cg near the southern entrance for three nights. First night there were maybe 4-5 empty sites of the 30 in my particular loop, but by night three it was only myself and two other RV's several hundred feet away.


Was a good base location for auto-touring the rest of the park. One day I put 130 miles on the car, and since I was getting out for pics at every turnout, by the end of the day I was wiped!!!

I inquired at the visitors center about the possibility of leaving the teardrop there in camp for 4 more nights while I visited friends 3 hours away. She advised strongly against it, saying New Years weekend was their busiest time and they'd be filled up with marines(?) from Twentynine Palms partying it up. (As it turned out, I was able to park the RC free while at my friends' house, despite their highly restrictive neighborhood assoc rules...which I hadn't known beforehand)

Matt I visited Canyon de Chelle several years ago and have to agree it's absolutely stunning. Gotta be one of the best kept secrets in AZ.

http://www.truckwithaheart.com/roadtrip.htm

[emiller]

Nice trip you took there glad everything turned out good for you.

[Nic]

Im thinking about checking out Joshua Tree. My friend Joshua wants to go. HAHA. How is the pull from LA? Will i run into any hard up hill pulls? And how hot is it this time of the year? I have never spent much time in that part of the state.

[sdtripper2]

Nic:

It is a pretty easy pull there.
Warm in the summer.
If there are rock climbers gathering there.
Take binoculars:

Check out the weather and note there are a few spots to camp.

[Nic]

Hey Stece, i dont have an A/C yet. Is going to get that hot this time of year?

[sdtripper2]

Check out uP to 15 days ahead here For Joshua Tree:
http://tinyurl.com/24jvt7

Directions to Joshua Tree:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/directions.htm