Hiking to Arch Rock and Heart Rock at Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park

Eyes open and wide awake, I was ready to tackle the first part of the day, Arch Rock Trail, in Joshua Tree National Park. It was a quarter to 5 a.m., so I rolled over to turn off the alarm that was set to buzz my wife and me awake in 15 minutes.

“Wake Up! Rise and shine!” I said to her. “It’s still completely dark out,” she said, groggy yet distinctly unimpressed.

It took a few minutes to get up, but we made it. It was a chilly spring morning at the Ryan Campground. We broke down and got in the car. The sun was beginning to warm up the sky, but it was still reading 37 degrees out.

As we arrived at the Arch Rock Trailhead at the Twin Tanks Parking Lot, a sense of exclusivity washed over us. We were delighted to find that we were the only car there, which added a touch of surprise to the hike. Being the only car in any Joshua Tree parking lot is a rarity.

Hiking to Arch Rock and Heart Rock in Joshua Tree

The goal was to catch the sunrise at Arch Rock, a popular spot in the park, especially at sunrise. Along the way, we intended to visit another famous rock formation, Heart Rock. The first part of the 1.2-mile lollipop loop is relatively flat. It was dotted with wildflowers and exceptionally bright red stands of bushy Indian paintbrush.

After about a half mile, we reached the loop portion. The sun had not crested yet, so we took a short spur trail to check out Heart Rock. It was short, only a few hundred yards. “Wow, it really does look like a heart!” My wife said as we got closer. It was terrific, with a sweeping view.

By the time the sun crested, we had arrived at Arch Rock. It was an awesome site to see. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the sunshine quickly lit up the shadows surrounding the rugged rocks. We spent about 15 minutes relaxing and enjoying Arch Rock and the sunshine. Some other people started arriving, so we decided to move on and head back to the car, letting them enjoy the scenery to themselves.

From start to finish, we spent about an hour on the trail but certainly took our time. If you were just hiking and taking a few photos, this could be done much faster. Regardless of how much time you spend doing it, I certainly recommend making the time for it. This was a wonderful trail that is great for nearly everyone.

Where is Joshua Tree National Park located?

Joshua Tree National Park is in southern California, about 130 miles and two and half hours from Los Angeles. It’s about 160 miles and three hours from San Diego and a little less than a 4 hour drive from Las Vegas.

Where to stay in Joshua Tree National Park?

There are campgrounds in the park, but no lodging. If you plan on camping, reservations can be booked at Recreation.gov. There are also plenty of hotel options in Joshua Tree the town and Twentynine Palms.