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The museum contains an assortment of memorabilia from World War II and other military glory days, as well as displays of tanks and artillery; it's open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm (except Thanksgiving and Dec 25). Admission is $4 for adults, $3.50 for seniors 62 and older, and free for children under 12.

Hikes

The good news about Joshua Tree: Its natural wonders are accessible to everyone, not just the extreme outdoor adventurer. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the diversity of hiking and nature trails, which range from a half-mile paved nature trail (ideal for even strollers and wheelchairs) to trails of 15-plus miles requiring strenuous hiking and backcountry camping.

SHORTER TRAILS

Barker Dam Nature Trail

1.1 miles RT. Easy. Access: Barker Dam parking area.

This sandy path leads to a small lake formed in a natural rock basin by an artificial dam. It's a relic of the ranchers who used such "tanks" to water their stock. Signs along the way describe some of the plant and animal life found here, including migratory wildfowl that use the lake as a watering hole on their journeys. After scrambling up the dam, you'll come to some petroglyph sites (see "Historic & Man-Made Attractions," above).

Cap Rock Nature Trail

.4 mile RT. Easy. Access: Cap Rock parking area.

Climbers gather here, and they're as interesting to watch as the short, informative trail leading from the parking lot. In between identifying different desert plants along the paved path, test your footing on some of the rocks to get a feel for the climbing experience.

Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail

.25 mile RT. Easy. Access: Middle of the park, about halfway between the north and south entrances.

This trail winds through an unusually dense concentration of Bigelow cholla, one of the desert's more fascinating residents. Often called "teddy bear cactus" for its deceptively fluffy appearance, cholla is also nicknamed "jumping cactus" for the ease with which its barbed spines stick to the clothing and skin of anyone who passes too close. Any ranger can tell you horror stories of people who've tripped into a cholla bush and emerged porcupine-like and suffering—but please don't let that stop you from enjoying this pretty roadside diversion.

Cottonwood Springs Nature Trail

1 mile RT. Easy. Access: Cottonwood Campground.

The trail leads through rolling desert hills long inhabited by Cahuilla Indians. Signs along the way relate how they used native plants in their everyday lives; the trail culminates at lush Cottonwood Springs. The prolific underground water source supports thick groves of cottonwood and palm trees, plus the birds and animals that make them home.

Desert Queen Mine

1.5 miles RT. Easy to moderate. Access: Dirt road leading from Park Blvd., opposite the Geology Tour Rd.

The "trail" meanders and forks through the ruins of a gold mine that yielded several million dollars' worth of ore between 1895 and 1961. Building ruins, steel machinery parts, and sealed mine shafts dot the hillsides and ravine; there's a signboard at the overlook with information about mine operations.

Fortynine Palms Oasis

3 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: End of Canyon Rd. in Twentynine Palms (outside the park, down Canyon Rd.).

This hike begins with a steep, harsh ascent to a ridge fringed with red-spined barrel cacti. Down the other side, a rocky canyon contains the spectacular oasis whose fan palm and cottonwood tree canopy shades clear pools of green water. Plants (especially spring wildflowers), birds, lizards, and other wildlife are abundant in this miniature ecosystem, and the scorched trunks of trees bear witness to past fires that have nourished rather than destroyed the life here. Beware of rattlesnakes in the shaded brush around the oasis.

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

1-mile loop RT. Easy. Access: Paved spur near Hidden Valley picnic area.

This trail is fun for kids and adults who like rock climbing and intrigue. You can see sport climbers surrounding the small