Joshua Tree Closes Campsites for the Summer
For most parks around the country, summertime is not only when the living is easy, but also when campsites are packed with visitors. Not so in Joshua Tree National Park, where the park tends to close just as everyone else is getting wild.
The desert conditions of Joshua Tree make it fairly uninhabitable for most of the summer. And, with no guests using the sites, there's no reason to staff them.
This year, the park has decided to close the following facilities starting June 1st:
Black Rock Campground- east side of the campground will close. West side remains open; Cottonwood Campground--B loop will close. A Loop remains open; Indian Cove Campground--west side of the campground will close. East side and the group campsites remain open; Ryan Campground--closed entirely at the access road; Campsite Reservation Service will suspend for summer at noon on June 25th.
The sites will re-open on October 1st, or perhaps sooner, if demand dictates the need for them. Meanwhile, the park's visitor's center, picnic areas, and other campgrounds will be open for use. For more information on which parks are closed, head over to the NPS website.