Backpacking the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree (beginner friendly!)
Thinking about backpacking in Joshua Tree national park? Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a newbie, backpacking the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is the perfect way to experience the park, and it’s a great option for beginners!
Dotted with Joshua Trees and dramatic mounds of boulders, this trail takes you through some of the park’s most stunning scenery. Each of the 14 designated backcountry campsites along this trail offer unique and beautiful views. Permits, which are available on recreation.org, cost just $6, which also makes this a great budget-friendly way to stay in Joshua Tree for the night.
See below for our guide to everything you need to know before backpacking the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park!
Why backpacking the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree is perfect for beginners
The Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is the PERFECT backpacking trail for beginners because many of the campsites only require you to walk one mile with your gear! This makes the Boy Scout Trail an ideal choice for beginners, since you can quickly dump your heavy pack before setting up camp and exploring more of the trail. While the full hike is 7.8 miles end to end (one way), you can do as much (or as little) or the trail as you want.
Pro tip: this is also a great trail for testing out new gear because if anything goes horribly wrong you’re not far from your car.
The biggest challenge you’ll run into on this trail is that there isn’t any water, so you’ll need to pack in everything you need for drinking and cooking for the duration of your adventure!
How to get permits for backpacking the Boy Scout Trail
There are two ways to book permits for backpacking the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park: in person and online. This trail is popular, so I recommend booking online to guarantee you get a site!
In person same day permits are available 8:00am – 4:00 pm at the permit office located at 74485 National Park Blvd, Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277, Bldg. 100. Online permits are available on recreation.org. Permits cost just $6.
We camped here in late March, and we booked our campsite about two weeks in advance. If you have your eye on a particular campsite I would try to book further in advance, especially during the spring season (which is the busiest time of year in Joshua Tree National Park!). Saturdays also tend to be the most popular.
Once you have your permit in hand make sure to save a copy to your phone! You may not have cell service in the park, and may need to show proof of permit to a backcountry ranger.
What Boy Scout Trail campsite should I stay at?
If you want to keep your hike short I recommend campsites 1-5 along the northern section of the trail (closest to the Indian Cove Boy Scout Trail parking lot), and campsites 11-14 along the southern section of the Boy Scout Trail. All of these campsites are less than a mile and a half from the two trailhead parking lots! The other campsites, 6-10, require a longer hike in and out.
The campsite we stayed at
We stayed at camp site four, which was beautiful! Located at the northern end of the trail, this campsite is tucked up against some of the park’s iconic boulders, which makes it easy to get aesthetic Instagram-worthy shots of your tent. Depending on the direction, it can also offer some protection against the wind, and some respite from the sun. Note that this side of the trail doesn’t really have any Joshua Trees on it. If you want to camp surrounded by the national park’s namesake, you’ll want book campsites 9-14.
Fun fact: both Amiana (AT&T) and I (Verizon) had weak cell service at this campsite. I’m not sure if that’s a positive or negative thing…
You can find photos and details about all of the campsites here on the Joshua Tree National Park website.
What to pack for backpacking the Boy Scout Trail in Joshua Tree National Park
Beyond your basic backpacking checklist, you’ll want to bring lots of sunscreen and some warm layers to protect you from the sun and the cold (see below for our recommendations!). You might be thinking… warm layers for the desert?! Yes! The wind can be intense in Joshua Tree, and the desert cools down a lot at night!
Our gear essentials for backpacking and hiking in Joshua Tree
- Warm puffer jacket for women and men
- Sun shirt for women and men
- Shorts for women and men
- Pants for women and men
- Hydration reservoir (don’t forget plenty of water! We brought about 3.5L per person, but only used about 2 per person since it wasn’t too hot)
- A tent that can withstand winds, such as the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Tent (this is what we used!)
- Rodent-proof food storage, such as a BearVault.
What to expect on the trail
This trail offers stunning views, but it’s a pretty uneventful hike into most of the campsites! Be aware that you won’t find much shade along the hike, and you can expect to spend most of the trail walking along sand. This may mean your pace is slower than usual!
You can find more outdoor adventure inspiration, gear guides, and backpacking content here!
