Joshua Tree Monuments travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Josh Schweitzer‘s ”monument” is aptly named, for although it is a domestic dwelling, in appearance it is more of a monolith and clear statement of the architect’s philosophy. The monument was built by the architect as a retreat for himself and five friends, and is located just outside the Joshua Tree National Park, California. It is a strange area of rugged and barren beauty, a high desert peppered with jagged rock, spiky yucca plants, cacti and Joshua trees. The house sits amid boulders, and its bold colors reflecting the drama of desert life. Photo by: SoLostAndFound / Bill Lindsay

The higher, drier, and slightly cooler Mojave Desert is the special habitat of the Joshua tree, from which the park gets its name. In addition to Joshua tree forests, the western part of the park includes some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California‘s deserts. The hills are popular amongst rock climbing and scrambling enthusiasts. The flatland between these hills is sparsely forested with Joshua trees. Photo by: apaulgoldblum

There are several hiking trails within the park, many of which can be accessed from a campground. Shorter trails, such as the one mile hike through Hidden Valley, offer a chance to view the beauty of the park without straying too far into the desert. The park is extremely popular with rock climbers. There are thousands of named climbing routes, at all levels of difficulty. The routes are typically short, the rocks being rarely more than 230 ft (70 m) in height, but access is usually a short, easy walk through the desert, and it’s possible to do a number of interesting climbs in a single day. Photo by: apaulgoldblum