4) Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernadino County
The Joshua Tree National Park in San Bernadino County offers its visitors a plethora of hikes and trails to explore the unique terrain, flora and fauna of this infamous park. But one part of the park stands out as a particularly beautiful spot to spend a day, or night. Spectacular granite boulders give Hidden Valley its name and serve to make this spot feel fairly secluded even on the busiest of days. Climbers rejoice in Hidden Valley’s unusual landscape of stacked, jumbled rocks and nature buffs embrace the area’s beautiful pinyon pines, oaks, yuccas and desert wildlife. If you hang around and stay the night Hidden Valley is also a perfect place to admire the night sky, light-pollution free. Last but not least is the lure of the stark limbs of the other-worldly Joshua Trees that can be seen all along the Hidden Valley trail.
