Joshua Tree National Park Permit Guide 2026

California · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

Joshua Tree National Park protects the high desert where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet in Southern California, famous for its twisted Joshua trees, granite boulders, and dark night skies. A backcountry camping permit is required for overnight trips in the park's designated backcountry zones and along the Boy Scout Trail, and popular dates can book up well in advance.

Joshua Tree National Park issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota runs year-round - Boy Scout Trail campsites hold 1 party each; backcountry zones hold about 5 parties per night. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota runs year-round - Boy Scout Trail campsites hold 1 party each; backcountry zones hold about 5 parties per night.

Fees

  • Reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable, covers the whole group)

How to get a Joshua Tree National Park permit

  1. Choose your backcountry zone or a Boy Scout Trail campsite and your entry date.
  2. Each entry date opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window - first-come-first-served, with no lottery and no later drop. Quota runs year-round.
  3. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Joshua Tree backcountry camping permit (4675329).
  4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens.

Notable trails

Joshua Tree's backcountry zones and Boy Scout Trail campsites connect to some of the park's best desert hikes. A few notable routes:

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Joshua Tree National Park entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Joshua Tree National Park permits open?

First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota runs year-round - Boy Scout Trail campsites hold 1 party each; backcountry zones hold about 5 parties per night. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in California

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Joshua Tree National Park passes · Book on recreation.gov