Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens

Riverside County, California

4.4/5

based on 8 reviews

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Details

Distance

0.25 miles

Elevation Gain

0 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Ryan Dewane

Cholla Cactus Garden is home to thousands of cactus with some wildflowers during the right season. This is a great sport for sunrise and sunset as the cacti begin to glow in the light.

The Cholla Cactus Garden is something everyone can appreciate and enjoy. The trail is in total about a 0.25 loop, but you are certainly free to wander around more. Plan on spending at least 30 minutes to an hour enjoying the scenery.

If you are a photographer, you will be enthralled by the lighting conditions. The garden is located off of Pinto Basin Roa in Joshua Tree. The parking lot is 20 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center and almost impossible to miss as it is surrounded by the thousands of cactus that make the spot so famous.

During the early morning or sunset, the needles on the cactus begin to look like they glow and it creates quite a scene. It is usually not too crowded so it is a great spot to just relax at after a long day of hiking or rock climbing. Jumbo Rocks and White Tank campgrounds are both near by if you are staying in the park overnight.

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Features

Camping

Photography

Hiking

Easy Parking

Picnic Area

Scenic

Wildflowers

Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens Reviews

Andreas Slette

Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens

05/24/17

watch your step. i moved to the side as an elderly couple passed and got attacked by the jumping cactus, which is a well earned name, i didn't even get close to one, but sure enough i was picking spines out all day long. still worth 4 stars though

4.0

M McD

Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens

03/22/16

A must see if you are at J Tree. It is awesome!

5.0

Lim Tong

Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens

02/25/16

These "jumping teddy bears" are no joke. My girlfriend got one stuck in her ankle and if it weren't for a few rocks lying around, I'm not sure how we would have gotten the cactus out of her! (nearly a year later and she still has little "scars") Don't let this steer you away, though. Other than the dark skies, shooting these Cholla at sunrise was what I was MOST excited about at Joshua Tree. The color of the sky mixed with the Cholla glow is a photographer's paradise!!

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens

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Photograph the Cholla Cactus Gardens Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Backcountry Camp in Joshua Tree

Night Shoot at Arch Rock

Camp at Joshua Tree's White Tank Campground

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Camp at Joshua Tree's Jumbo Rocks

Skull Rock Trail at Joshua Tree National Park

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