Where to See Bighorn Sheep in Joshua Tree National Park

Sighting map

Bighorn Sheep sightings in Joshua Tree

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Where Bighorn Sheep has been reported, from 129 sightings. Not a live tracker: animals move, and an empty area doesn’t mean there are none.

Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Timing

When to look

12 AM1% of the busiest hour1 AM1% of the busiest hour2 AM1% of the busiest hour3 AM2% of the busiest hour4 AM7% of the busiest hour5 AM28% of the busiest hour6 AM78% of the busiest hour7 AM94% of the busiest hour8 AM83% of the busiest hour9 AM61% of the busiest hour10 AM44% of the busiest hour11 AM28% of the busiest hourNoon17% of the busiest hour1 PM17% of the busiest hour2 PM22% of the busiest hour3 PM39% of the busiest hour4 PM67% of the busiest hour5 PM89% of the busiest hour6 PMBusiest hour7 PM89% of the busiest hour8 PM39% of the busiest hour9 PM11% of the busiest hour10 PM4% of the busiest hour11 PM2% of the busiest hour

Bighorn Sheep is most seen 7 AM and 5–8 PM. Bars compare each hour with the busiest one.

Bighorn Sheep sightings by hour, as a share of the busiest hour
Hour	Share of busiest hour
12 AM	1%
1 AM	1%
2 AM	1%
3 AM	2%
4 AM	7%
5 AM	28%
6 AM	78%
7 AM	94%
8 AM	83%
9 AM	61%
10 AM	44%
11 AM	28%
Noon	17%
1 PM	17%
2 PM	22%
3 PM	39%
4 PM	67%
5 PM	89%
6 PM	100%
7 PM	89%
8 PM	39%
9 PM	11%
10 PM	4%
11 PM	2%

Audio tour

Hear about Bighorn Sheep on the drive.

Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays stories like this one as you drive Joshua Tree, triggered by GPS and read through your car’s speakers.

Joshua Tree Tour Guide

Built to Grip the Cliffs

0:00 / 0:29

“For a desert bighorn sheep, a steep rock face can be an escape route. Its hooves are split, with sharp outer edges and soft pads that grip the rock.”

Plays as you drive near Cottonwood Visitor Center in Parkwolf’s Joshua Tree Tour Guide.

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Where to look

Joshua Tree spots that mention Bighorn Sheep

Compare with the sightings

Places and trails whose Parkwolf guides talk about Bighorn Sheep. A good start, never a guarantee.

Places

SightRyan MountainClimb through ancient banded rock for a 360-degree summit view.

SightCottonwood SpringPalm oasis, Cahuilla mortars and gold-mill remains, steps from the road.

SightFortynine Palms OasisA shaded palm grove at the end of a desert ridge hike.

SightLost Palms OasisA rare palm oasis, reached only after a long desert hike.

SightWillow HoleA seasonal green pocket tucked into a granite maze

SightEureka PeakA steep dirt-road detour to a wide 360-degree summit view.

CampgroundCottonwood CampgroundDark-sky camping with a signed path to Cottonwood Spring.

Trails

EasyBarker Dam Nature Trail1.3 mi · 1 hrA short boulder loop to a ranching-era dam

ChallengingRyan Mountain Trail3 mi · 2 hrA steady ridge climb to a 360-degree desert panorama

ChallengingFortynine Palms Oasis Trail3 mi · 2.5 hrA desert ridge hike ending at a hidden fan palm oasis.

ChallengingLost Palms Oasis Trail7.5 mi · 4 hrA long desert hike ends at palms tucked below a rocky bluff.

ChallengingLost Horse Loop6.3 mi · 3.5 hrAn exposed loop past a historic mine with broad desert views.

ChallengingEureka Peak Trail9.6 mi · 7 hrA long sandy climb to a 360-degree summit view.

EasyCottonwood Spring Nature Trail0.2 mi · 15 minFan palms and a Cahuilla mortar, a few minutes from the lot.

EasyMoorten’s Mill Trail1.2 mi · 1 hrFollow Cottonwood Wash to a five-stamp mill site.

Wolf sightings in Yellowstone on Parkwolf’s Find Wildlife map, brightest around Lamar Valley — Wolf sightings in Yellowstone, in the app

Find Wildlife in Parkwolf

Every sighting map, in your pocket.

16 sighting mapsfor Joshua Tree, on the same park map as your route
Works offlineout where the animals are and the signal isn’t
89 audio storiesplay as you drive Joshua Tree, wildlife included

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Wildlife

More wildlife in Joshua Tree

All 16 sighting maps

15 sightingsGolden EagleAquila chrysaetosMost seen 9 AM–1 PM & 2–6 PMSighting map

413 sightingsDesert TortoiseGopherus agassiziiMost seen 8 AM & 5–7 PMSighting map

275 sightingsCoyoteCanis latransMost seen 5–7 AM & 6–8 PMSighting map

47 sightingsBobcatLynx rufusMost seen 6 AM & 6 PMSighting map

32 sightingsMule DeerOdocoileus hemionusMost seen 5–7 AM & 6–8 PMSighting map

34 sightingsGray FoxUrocyon cinereoargenteusMost seen 5–7 AM & 5–7 PMSighting map

78 sightingsCooper's HawkAstur cooperiiMost seen 7–9 AMSighting map

187 sightingsRed-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisMost seen 9 AM–3 PMSighting map

Where to see Bighorn Sheep in Joshua Tree