Keys View - Joshua Tree National Park
Coachella Valley seen from Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
As we head into the heart of the holiday season, Nate & I are still getting situated in our new home, but we had time for a November adventure in Joshua Tree National Park — this week I’m sharing one of the park’s famous viewpoints…join me at Keys View.
Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
Location
Located at the edge of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, you get incredible panoramic views of the entire Coachella Valley at Keys View, and you can reach this famous spot with less than a 30 minute drive from the northwest park entrance. While you could plan a picnic here or hike the beautiful 2 mile trail from Keys View to Inspiration Peak, this is a great quick stop if you don’t have a lot of time. It’s also one of the few wheelchair accessible views inside Joshua Tree National Park. The gentle sloped .2 mile path is fully paved and offers plenty of parking (& handicapped parking) spots.
Coachella Valley seen from Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
Views
Not only do you get spectacular views of the Coachella Valley (including Palm Springs and the 10,800-foot San Jacinto Peak behind), the San Andreas Fault cutting through the valley below is on full display here. To the south you can marvel at the Salton Sea (see my full Salton Sea blog post here), and on a very clear day you can even see all the way to Mexico from this overlook.
San Andreas Fault seen from Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
Salton Sea seen from Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
Know Before You Go
• There is no shade here, so always bring extra water and use wisdom when hiking. Summer temperatures often hover above 100º here. It can also be quite windy, so hold on to your hat!
• There is a large paved parking lot here with a few spots big enough for large vehicles/trailers. Restrooms are also available.
• Entrance fees to Joshua Tree National Park are currently $30 per vehicle. Consider purchasing an America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass for $80, which grants you access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a 12 month period.
• Please be sensitive when exploring the great outdoors and remember the Leave No Trace Principles to help keep this special spot pristine, so that others may enjoy it for years to come.
Top 10 Joshua Tree Attractions
Jumbo Rocks & Skull Rock
Keys View
Barker Dam Nature Trail
Split Rock Loop Trail
Hall of Horrors
Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thank you so much for joining me in Joshua Tree National Park today. For a virtual visit of Keys View, make sure to check out my Behind the Blog YouTube video below. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go!
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