How To Make Your Trip To Joshua Tree Pet Friendly
As dog lovers, we know how hard it can be to leave behind our furry family members when traveling. We also know how challenging it can be to bring them along for the adventures, because it often requires additional planning. For those who are visiting Joshua Tree National Park with their pups here's where to stay, what to pack and know to help ensure that you and your dog have an incredible experience in the high desert!
1. Stay At A Pet Friendly Airbnb Close to the Park Entrance
Things are farther than they appear at Joshua Tree. Dogs are allowed in Joshua Tree National Park, but they are not allowed on trails. If you plan to hit the trails in the park, make sure to choose a pet friendly Airbnb close to the park entrance so you can check on your furry family member throughout the day. Any lodging north of Highway 62 will be a far haul if planning to go back and forth to Joshua Tree National Park.
@nubethesamoyed enjoying the WKNDR Airbnb at Joshua Tree National Park
The WKNDR Airbnb At Joshua Tree National Park
The WKNDR Airbnbs are an ideal dog friendly vacation rental for visitors traveling to Joshua Tree National Park. That’s because the WKNDR Starside is the closest Airbnb to the north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. It’s also just a few minutes from the only dog friendly trail in the area. The Oasis of Mara is a paved nature trail located at the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center in 29 Palms. Click Here To Book The WKNDR On Airbnb
If the WKNDR getaways are not available for your stay, there are other pet friendly vacation rentals throughout 29 Palms and Joshua Tree. When reviewing pet friendly lodging for your and your pet’s stay we recommend that you ask the owner about their guidelines for pets and select a location near the park entrances to allow for effortless travel. Keep in mind that even if an Airbnb seems reasonably close to the park (within 20 minutes), you should also factor in 30 minutes for a line in and out of the park entrances. This is especially relevant to the West entrance of the park in Joshua Tree. Read more here about why we prefer the North entrance to Joshua Tree National Park.
2. Prepare For The Elements
Just like humans, dogs need a few extra items when visiting the high desert. Here’s our shortlist of what to pack for your dog when visiting Joshua Tree National Park.
Sunscreen For Dogs
Sun protection for our pups is especially important when they are being exposed to the desert sun and should be number one on your list of what to bring when traveling to Joshua Tree with your dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, “Just like people, dogs are prone to sunburn and to other complications and diseases associated with sun exposure. Taking certain safety measures can lower your dog’s risk of developing serious sun-related medical issues. This includes choosing a dog sunscreen that’s formulated for your best friend.”
Easily Accessible Water
Equally important as sunscreen is ensuring you have enough water for your dog and a travel-friendly dog water bowl. Humans nor their dogs should never wander around Joshua Tree National Park without water, especially in the summer. With the heat and dryness, it’s very easy to become dehydrated and disoriented.
We like the combo dog water bottle bowl that’s easy to carry on a walk or the insulated stainless steel bottle with bowl attachment. This one keeps water cold when it gets hot.
In addition to the water you bring for yourself and your pup for rehydration during your adventures, we also recommend keeping an extra gallon of water per person and per pup in your vehicle for spring and summer visits to Joshua Tree. The desert is hot and dry, and most visitors underestimate the amount of water they need resulting in unfortunate and preventable deaths every year.
GPS Dog Tracker
Joshua Tree National Park spans 800,000 acres and not all pet-friendly AirBnBs have fences as to not obstruct the desert views. For these reasons, if your dog is not microchipped and is not always on leash, a global positioning system (GPS) dog tracker is highly recommended in the event you and your dog become separated. This will provide added peace of mind to you and your pup’s trip.
Tweezers and Comb
Joshua Tree is the desert and in true desert form, there are many cacti. It is possible that your dog might get a little too close for comfort with a cactus. If your pup does get pricked and the sticker finds its way into the skin, it’s helpful to have a pair of tweezers or tick remover tool, which can double as tweezers. Also, make sure to pack a comb. In the event your dog gets more than one pricker, a comb will help remove them faster.
Pet First Aid Kit
Not only is it good to be prepared for an unforgiving encounter with a cactus, but for really anything that could potentially happen to your dog while traveling. If you don’t already have a pet first aid kit, we highly recommend you purchase one. This is especially helpful if you are road tripping your way into the Joshua Tree area since much of the trip is on roadways with nowhere to stop for assistance or supplies, like food and water. As a reminder, there is also no cell service inside Joshua Tree National Park. First aid kits are important in the event you need to provide aid before it is possible to get help.
Pup Cooling Accessories
During the spring and summer Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding areas’ temperature can easily soar past the 100s (Fahrenheit). To help ease the heat for your pups, there are dog-friendly cooling accessories from pop-up shades to cooling bandanas and vests. These accessories will certainly help your dog beat the heat and enjoy their time in or outside of the Park.
Booties To Protect Their Paws
To protect your pup’s paws from the desert heat and rugged terrain are pet booties. Paw coverings will help your dog endure throughout your time together in the desert. They will also help protect their paws from other unexpected objects they could potentially step on in the desert landscape.
Leash With A Flashlight
The desert night sky can be incredibly dark and for those pups who may need a bathroom break in the middle of the night when you are half asleep and may not have your phone flashlight or head lantern readily available a leash with a built-in flashlight is perfect. It will help you and your pup find your way quickly to where they need to go to do their business while also helping to avoid rocks and keeping nighttime wildlife at bay.
3. Know The Rules
Are dogs allowed in Joshua Tree National Park? Yes, but not everywhere. Dogs are not allowed on trails but are allowed on unpaved roads. We recommend Geology Tour Road as it has plenty of parking at the start, minimal traffic, and beautiful views.
Here are the rest of the rules regarding pets at Joshua Tree National Park from the National Park website. Find more information here.
All pets must remain on a leash at all times.
Leashes must be 6 feet (1.8 m) long or less.
Pets are allowed within 100 feet (30.5 m) of roads, picnic areas, and campgrounds.
Owners must pick up any droppings and put them in the trash.
Regulation violators are subject to a fine.
Bring plenty of water for your pet.
Let us know in the comments your favorite must bring items for when traveling to the high desert with your pup.
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