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Boy Scout Trail

Joshua Tree National Park · San Bernardino · Managed by Joshua Tree National Park (NPS)
Difficulty 14/100 · Easyout and back#desert#beginner-friendly#rock-scrambling#dark-skies
Distance
15.6 mi
Total gain
1,600 ft
Net gain
1,200 ft
Net loss
1,200 ft
Elevation
2,800–4,000 ft
Days
2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires prohibited

Overview

The Boy Scout Trail is Joshua Tree's signature backpacking route: 7.8 miles of sandy wash and slickrock between the 4,000-foot trailhead and Indian Cove, winding below the Wonderland of Rocks. Backpackers camp in one of 14 designated sites tucked against boulder piles, carrying every drop of water they need. It is desert backpacking at its most approachable — and its most photogenic at sunrise.

Highlights

  • The Wonderland of Rocks — a maze of domes, cliffs, and corridors lit gold at dawn
  • Designated campsites at the base of boulder piles, each with a view
  • Dark-sky camping; Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park
  • Optional side scrambling up nearby rock formations

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Boy Scout Backcountry Trailhead (4,000 ft · parking: Backcountry trailhead parking off Keys View Road / Indian Cove Road)
  • Water: None anywhere on the route — carry all water (at least one gallon per person per day); water caches are permitted at designated lockers.
  • Resupply: None on trail; Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley have full services.
  • Shuttle: Optional — the trail can be hiked one-way between the Boy Scout and Indian Cove trailheads.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route

Permits

  • Agency: Joshua Tree National Park (NPS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Boy Scout zone camping requires a designated-site permit; 14 sites, no zone-wide quota.
  • Reservation window: Bookable up to 6 months in advance.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires prohibited. Campfires are illegal everywhere in the Joshua Tree backcountry. Backpacking stoves are allowed. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: October, November, March, April.

Snow: Year-round, but winter nights drop below freezing.

Heat: Avoid May through September; daytime highs regularly exceed 100°F.

Bugs: Minimal.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • There is no water anywhere on this route — a gallon per person per day is the park's recommendation
  • No campfires, ever, in the JTree backcountry
  • Summer (May–September) is dangerously hot; this is a cool-season route
  • You must camp in a designated site — no dispersed camping in the Boy Scout zone

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Backpacking. Joshua Tree National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Permit requirement and fees, zone system, no-fires rule, water requirements, and camping rules.
  2. The Boy Scout Trail Zone. Joshua Tree National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/the-boy-scout-trail-zone.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Trail length (7.8 mi), elevation range (2,800–4,000 ft), and the 14 designated campsites with capacities.
  3. Joshua Tree National Park Backcountry Permits. Recreation.gov / National Park Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675329. Accessed 2026-09-07. Online permit reservations for Boy Scout zone campsites.