Sight · Joshua Tree National Park
A rare palm oasis, reached only after a long desert hike.
Overview
Lost Palms Oasis is a remote stand of California fan palms at the bottom of Lost Palms Canyon in the southeastern part of Joshua Tree. A permanent water source keeps the grove alive in the desert, and it is one of the park's five fan palm oases. This is a destination hike, not a quick roadside stop: the out-and-back from Cottonwood Spring is 7.5 miles. Go if you want a long desert walk with a rare green payoff; skip it if you are looking for an easy palm stop.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs the hike worth it?Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Joshua Tree Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Joshua Tree National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Joshua Tree audio tourRecorded for this place
Cottonwood Spring for a Short Oasis Stop“You're coming up on Cottonwood Spring, an oasis of fan palms and native cottonwoods a short walk from the parking lot. Allow ten to twenty minutes for the easy path, staying outside the protected grove.”
Plays as you drive up to Lost Palms Oasis in the Parkwolf Joshua Tree Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The route gains about 500 feet and crosses sandy washes and rocky ground. At the far end, the oasis sits down in a canyon, and the return includes a strenuous rocky climb out. Set aside most of a half day rather than squeezing it between short stops.
This is one of five fan palm oases in the park. The permanent water supports California fan palms and other plants, and the sheltered grove attracts birds and mammals; bighorn sheep are seen occasionally. Wildlife is a possibility, not a promise, so enjoy the palms and canyon even if the animals stay out of view.
The palms rise among boulders below steep, rocky canyon walls. Look around the grove before heading back up; it is a compact patch of shade and greenery after miles of open desert. For a photo, frame a palm trunk with the rock walls behind it so the picture shows both the oasis and its canyon setting.
There is very little shade, and the park does not recommend this hike in summer heat. Carry adequate food and water for the full outing and bring sun protection. The water source sustains the oasis ecosystem; plan your drinking water before leaving Cottonwood Spring.
Wildlife
129 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
15 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
413 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
275 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
47 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
32 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Joshua Tree. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyBajada Nature Trail0.3 mi · 18 min · 3.1 mi awayA short, flat loop through Colorado Desert plant life.
ChallengingLost Palms Oasis Trail7.5 mi · 4 hr · 3.2 mi awayA long desert hike ends at palms tucked below a rocky bluff.
EasyCottonwood Spring Nature Trail0.2 mi · 15 min · 3.2 mi awayFan palms and a Cahuilla mortar, a few minutes from the lot.
ModerateCottonwood Spring and Mastodon Peak Loop2.4 mi · 2 hr · 3.2 mi awayA 2.4-mile loop through bouldery canyons and old mine ruins.
ChallengingConejo Well Trail13.6 mi · 8.5 hr · 3.2 mi awayA remote desert roadbed to Conejo Well, with hard navigation.
EasyMoorten’s Mill Trail1.2 mi · 1 hr · 3.2 mi awayFollow Cottonwood Wash to a five-stamp mill site.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayMastodon MineA close-up look at mining history on the Mastodon Peak loop.Sight · 3.2 mi awayCottonwood SpringPalm oasis, Cahuilla mortars and gold-mill remains, steps from the road.
Sight · 3.4 mi awaySouth Entrance Welcome SignA wooden welcome sign against the Colorado Desert and rocky peaks.
Campground · 3.6 mi awayCottonwood CampgroundDark-sky camping with a signed path to Cottonwood Spring.
Picnic area · 3.7 mi awayCottonwood Picnic AreaCovered tables make this a useful meal stop in the southern park.
Visitor center · 4.3 mi awayCottonwood Visitor CenterMaps, drinking water, and ranger advice make this a useful first stop.Parkwolf’s Joshua Tree ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
