The Black Rock Nature Center is nestled in the heart of the Black Rock Campground, surrounded to the east, south, and west by the Little San Bernardino Mountains with dense forests of Joshua trees all around. The main campground road leads south from the entrance to a small parking area in front of a single-story rectangular building with a low peaked roof. The building is painted pale yellow and the roof has bright red shingles. There is a set of 6 stairs with a center handrail that lead up to the building’s entrance. The building may also be accessed without stairs by using a sidewalk on the west side. The entrance to the building is a single swinging door that opens out. The entrance door leads to a hallway. On the right side of the hallway is a counter where rangers greet visitors and provide information. On the left is a closed door that leads to a conference room and a large map mounted to the wall showing trails in the area. After the counter on the right is the entrance to a small gift shop that sells books and souvenirs. After the entrance to the gift shop on the right is a display window with information about the current exhibit. Past the display window and also on the right is a water fountain and bottle fill station. Across from the display window, on the left side of the entry way is a bench with 2 seats separated by a low table and another closed door that leads to the conference room. The entry way has an exit door opposite the entrance door which opens out to a sandy staff parking area. Passing straight through the gift shop is a small gallery. The walls and ceiling are made of wooden planks, art is displayed on white exhibit boards. There is a low bench with three seats in the center of the room. The gallery changes three times a year to feature work from the park’s artists in residence and local students. Continuing straight through the gallery along the right-hand wall is a low ramp with a handrail on the left side. Up the ramp and to the left is a hallway with two single occupancy bathrooms on the left side of the hallway.

Located in the heart of beautiful Black Rock Campground. Bookstore, water, flush toilets, picnic area.

The front of a building with a large arrowhead sign. A large Joshua tree grows in front.

Black Rock Nature Center

Three pieces of art on white panels on a wooden wall.

Black Rock Gallery

Two statues on pedestals and art hanging on the wall of a wooden room with a padded bench.

Open October-May only. Closed for an hour from 11 am to 12 pm each day.

Summer Limited Hours

A Joshua tree with many branches and clumps of leaves at the end of each branch.

Joshua Tree Stamp

Joshua Tree National Park, Black Rock Nature Center in a circle around the date.

Black Rock Nature Center Stamp

The Black Rock Nature Center has a dated stamp specific to Black Rock Nature Center as well as a picture stamp of a Joshua tree.

The Cottonwood Visitor Center sits on a high desert plateau in the transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado deserts. To the northeast, Eagle Mountain stands lofty as a rugged backdrop. Weather can be extreme. Summers are blistering, with bright sunny weather and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees daily. Winters are cool to cold, with strong winds and sub-freezing nights. Snow is possible. The occasional rainstorm poses the threat of flash flooding. There is abundant flora and fauna nearby. Desert wilderness surrounds the visitor center. Around the building we find short desert plants. There are cacti and various flora with thorns and sharp points. Cat’s-claw acacia and many of the shrubs can be unforgiving if brushed up against. There are also plants native to the Mojave, such as yucca, juniper, and sage. In spring, red berries appear on the purple bush. Prince’s Plume are adorned with yellow flowers. The ironwood trees near the Bajada Nature Trail sprout pink and purple flowers. After a rain, the Ocotillo grow red flowers and green leaves. The Prince's Plume, ironwood trees, and Ocotillo are native to the Colorado desert. Gambel’s Quail call out throughout the day, often scurrying around the parking lot. Mule deer, coyotes, and even bighorn sheep frequent the nearby landscape. Throughout the day ravens and turkey vultures soar overheard. Black-tailed jackrabbits nervously hop along, as a red-tail hawk eyes it’s next prey from the sky. In the warmer months, rattlesnakes and desert tortoise roam the nearby sandy trails. There are three one-story buildings that comprise the visitor center facilities: The visitor center, a restroom, and a staff office. From the parking area, the visitor center is located to the left. The restroom is situated to the right of the visitor center and 30 feet across from the parking lot. The men’s restroom is located on the left side of this building, and the women’s restroom is located on the right side. There are picnic tables and bulletin boards between the restrooms and the office to the right. The visitor center also serves as a gift shop and fee-entrance station. The door is located on the south side of the building. As you enter, there is a brochure table 6 feet from the inside of the door. On the right side of the building you will see interpretive panels with information about the geology, history, and geography of Joshua Tree National Park. On the walls on the south and east side of the building are panels with quotes about the park. This side also has displays with merchandise sold by the Joshua Tree National Park Association. The front counter is 25 feet from the door where you can buy park passes and merchandise. A window on the west side of the building that has been modified to receive payments for entrance fees, directly to the left of the front counter. Plexiglass hangs around the front counter for the protection of staff and visitors. The building has standard lighting and when the blinds are up, the outside sun provides ample illumination. To the right of the front counter there are more displays for merchandise. On the east wall, there is a window with a majestic view of Eagle Mountain, Mastodon Peak, and the surrounding desert. South of this window there is a bookcase with various publications on Joshua Tree National Park. In the center of the visitor center there is a life-sized mold of a desert tortoise enclosed in glass. On the west side, to the left of the brochure table, there is a window. Next to this window there is a fold-out sign that says “Encuentra Tu Parque” (“Find your Park” in Spanish). There are more store displays as you make your way closer to the front counter. There is a small, slightly shaded courtyard in-between the visitor center and the offices. There are creosote bush and beavertail cactus in the middle. A small bench is located about 10 feet to the north of the offices. There is also a bulletin with park information, maps, and trail guides. All facilities are accessible through paved and level walkways. Outside of the visitor center, there are sidewalks between the parking lot and the buildings. The parking lot has 2 handicapped spaces, with accessible ramps and paved paths to the visitor center, restroom, and office. The office is restricted to park staff and those with authorization to enter. To the right of this building is a flagpole and a sign showing air quality and fire danger. There is also a sign that displays fees to enter the park. There is a short tenth of a mile dirt nature trail that is immediately east of the visitor center. The trail is a loop that starts a few feet from the paved path that leads to the main entrance. It ends on the east side of the parking lot. There are signs along the way identifying various plants and shrubs that can be found in the area. Park rangers here every day to answer questions and provide guidance into Joshua Tree National Park.

Near the South Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. Exhibits, bookstore, water, and flush toilets onsite. Picnic area nearby.

A ranger talking with two visitors at a desk in a visitor center

Cottonwood Visitor Center Front Desk

A yellow one story building next to a paved road in a desert valley with mountains in the distance.

Cottonwood Visitor Center

A desert palm with a curved trunk and large palms hanging from its top.

Palm Tree Stamp

Joshua Tree National Park, Cottonwood, CA in a circle around the date.

Cottonwood Visitor Center Stamp

The Cottonwood Visitor Center has a dated stamp specific to Cottonwood, CA as well as two picture stamps, one of a Joshua tree, and one of a desert palm.

The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is located south of highway 62, by about half a block on Freedom Way. The building is surrounded by parking spaces and walkways on all sides. The visitor center is in the middle of the town of Twentynine Palms. There are other buildings in sight as well as sparse desert vegetation. To the south the mountains in the north boundary of Joshua Tree National Park can be seen. The visitor center itself is a dark tan, single-story building. There is a flag pole and shade structure near the front of the building facing highway 62. The parking spaces on the northside of the building are the closest to the front door and there are a few handicap parking spaces. There is a sidewalk surrounding the building.

The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is located in downtown Twentynine Palms and features educational exhibits, a bookstore and giftshop, and visitor information.

A building with a sign that reads Joshua Tree Cultural Center

Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center

Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center Exterior

The Joshua Tree Cultural Center expected opening is May 6, 2022.

Joshua Tree Cultural Center

A red circle with a date in the middle and the words Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, CA

Joshua Tree Cultural Center Stamp

Joshua Tree Visitor Center is located outside the park in the village of Joshua Tree, population 8,000. It is five miles north of the West Entrance on Park Boulevard close to where Park Boulevard and Highway 62 intersect. From the intersection, heading south on Park Boulevard, the visitor center is on the right. The gravel parking lot, just south of the visitor center, can comfortably fit 40 cars. There is a curved cinder block wall that divides the parking lot from the visitor center. From the parking lot, there is a cement sidewalk leading a short distance through a modest cactus garden and ends at a small cement courtyard in front of the visitor center on the east side of the building. In the garden stands a flagpole and a rusted metal sculpture. The exterior of the single-story visitor center has walls that resemble corrugated metal. From the courtyard, another short cement sidewalk leads through a large wooden gate into an outdoor patio between the cinder block wall and the south side of the building. The patio is enclosed on its south end by the previously mentioned cinder block wall. Inside the patio, the ground is dirt and slopes down from the cinder block wall towards the double glass doors that lead into the visitor center. Two tables are on the patio near the doors where rangers can help visitors with information. Once entering the building, there is a one-room exhibit area with panels depicting geology, ecology, and history of Joshua Tree National Park. There is a life-sized replica of a Joshua tree accompanied with panels about the Joshua tree. There is a guitar and a U2 record album on display that represents the creative aspects of Joshua Tree National Park. There is a television that plays a 2-minute video about the park’s geology. The exhibit opens into the one-room bookstore. On display are souvenirs—stickers, patches, t-shirts, hats, stuffed animals, mugs, postcards, and books. On the side of the bookstore closest to the exhibit is a counter with three cash registers. Opposite the counter, on the north side, are two doors that open directly into the men’s and women’s bathrooms. Exit through the bookstore's double glass doors back to the courtyard on the east side of the visitor center. The northernmost section of the building, with a single glass door that opens out into the courtyard, is a cafe.

The first stop for park visitors headed towards the West Entrance. Located in the village of Joshua Tree on Park Blvd. just south of Hwy 62. Exhibits, bookstore, cafe, flush toilets onsite; public telephone and showers nearby.

A sign that reads, "Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center", a flag pole, vegetation, and building

Joshua Tree Visitor Center

A bookstore filled with tables and displays of books, postcards, and other items for sale.

The bookstore in the Joshua Tree Visitor Center

A paved path through shrubs to a covered courtyard and a metal building with glass doors.

Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree, CA in a circle around the date.

Joshua Tree Visitor Center Stamp

A desert Tortoise with its legs and head extended from its shell.

Desert Tortoise Stamp

The Joshua Tree Visitor Center has a dated stamp specific to Joshua Tree, CA as well as two picture stamps, one of a Joshua tree and one of a desert tortoise.

The Oasis Visitor Center sits at the corner of National Park Drive and Utah Trail. These roads surround the building on the south and east sides. A large parking lot with access to the front entrance of the visitor center is also located at the intersection of these roads. To the west, the Oasis of Mara is scattered with California fan palm trees and other desert plants. To the north of Oasis Visitor Center lies the Park Headquarters building. The visitor center itself is a pale-yellow, single-story building with green and red roofing. The parking lot to the east side leads to the entrance on a sidewalk. Along the right side of the pathway, also on the east side, visitors will find an entrance to a courtyard. On the east side of the courtyard, there are restrooms, a women’s restroom on the right and a men’s restroom on the left. In the center of the courtyard, there is a drinking fountain and water refill station. On the north side of the pathway, there is a garden running along the side of the building filled with native desert plants and a geo-kinetic metal art structure. This sculpture contains two large circles with animals that slowly move in the wind. The pathway also leads to the visitor center doors. The main Oasis Visitor Center entrance is closest to the parking lot. Visitors walking from the parking lot will find the main entrance on their right. The main entrance consists of glass double doors that open outward. The other entrance to the visitor center is a few steps away, around the corner on the west side of the building. This side entrance is a single glass door that opens outward. The pathway continues past both doors and to a patio with several picnic tables. The back patio leads to the Oasis of Mara Nature Trail. Both entrances open-up to a shop that sells books and other souvenirs. Straight ahead from the main entrance is the register where one can purchase their souvenirs or a pass to enter the park. On the right-hand side of the registers, the visitor center opens into another room filled with educational exhibits about the ecology, geology, and history of the park.

This visitor center has permanently closed. The native gardens, outdoor art displays, restroom facilities, and Oasis of Mara trail remain open to the public.

A large sign that says, "Joshua Tree National Park", surrounded by vegetation and buildings.

Oasis Visitor Center

Two building separated by a walkway with desert shrubs, small trees, a sculpture, and flag in front.

A family looking at visitor center exhibits.

A metal sculpture with two circles containing various animals and two sets of bars.

Oasis Visitor Center Geo-kinetic Sculpture

This visitor center has permanently closed. The native gardens, outdoor art displays, restroom facilities, and Oasis of Mara trail remain open to the public

Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, CA in a circle around the date.

Oasis Visitor Center Stamp

The Oasis Visitor Center has a dated stamp specific to Twentynine Palms, CA as well as a picture stamp of a Joshua tree.

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself.