April 15, 2009
April 25 is Junior Ranger Day at Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park will offer a special slate of children’s activities on April 25 for National Junior Ranger Day. All Junior Ranger activities are free and are open to children from ages 4 to 14.

April 14, 2009
Mojave Max Contest Winner Announced
The 2009 Mojave Max Emergence Contest winner for San Bernardino County is Ryan Blankenship. Ryan and his classmates will receive Mojave Max T-shirts and a pizza party.

April 10, 2009
Photography Exhibit Opens at Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Over 190 stunning color photographs by local nature photographer, David Jesse McChesney, depicting the scenery, plant life, and wildlife of Joshua Tree National Park, will be on display at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center until June 8, 2009. The exhibit is free to the public.

April 2, 2009
Hearing at Joshua Tree to Explore Effects of Climate Change
Washington, D.C. – In an effort to better understand how the National Park Service (NPS) and the new Administration are preparing for the impacts of climate change on federal lands, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, led by Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), will hold an oversight hearing at Joshua Tree National Park in California on "The Impact of Climate Change on America’s National Parks."

March 26, 2009
Revised Park Regulations Issued
Joshua Tree National Park has issued revised park regulations contained in the Superintendent’s Compendium. The Compendium is a list of park-specific regulations National Park Service superintendents are authorized to issue under the Code of Federal Regulations.

March 16, 2009
Riverside Man Dies in Climbing Accident
Curtis Woodrow Stark II, 67, suffered fatal injuries during a fall while climbing a rock formation called the Great Burrito. A second climber, Alfred Kuok, 44, of Claremont, California also sustained injuries during the accident.

March 10, 2009
Desert Managers Seek Funds For Tortoise Conservation
In partnership with the National Park Service, the Desert Managers Group has applied for a grant from California State Parks Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Commission. The grant would be used for education and safety messages focusing on conservation of the threatened desert tortoise.

February 26, 2009
Mojave Max Emerged February 24, 2009
California’s Mojave Max emerged from hibernation on February 24, at 1:52 p.m. Eight-hundred and fifty California students participated in the 2009 Mojave Max Emergence Contest this year.

February 13, 2009
Volunteers Sought to “Hold the Mustard”
Sahara mustard is a non-native plant that is capable of crowding out native Mojave Desert annuals. Please join one or more Hold the Mustard weed pulls that are scheduled on the following Saturdays: February 21, February 28, and March 7, to pick and bag this invader.

December 19, 2008
Bird Count Scheduled For January 3
Joshua Tree National Park will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, January 3, 2009. Birdwatchers who would like to participate should plan to meet at 7:30 a.m. at either the Indian Cove Ranger Station or the West Entrance Station.

December 3, 2008
Desert Managers Group and The Living Desert Form Partnership for Mojave Max
This year California will have its own desert tortoise to mark the beginning of spring. California’s Mojave Max will reside at The Living Desert in Palm Desert California.

October 3, 2008
Public Invited to Open House on Future of Oasis Visitor Center
Joshua Tree will conduct a design workshop on the future development of the Oasis Visitor Center from October 20 through 22 with a public session on October 21.

October 3, 2008
DesertArc Lends Joshua Tree a Helping Hand
October is National Disability Awareness Month. To raise awareness about one local program to benefit the disabled, Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer made a presentation Thursday morning about DesertArc at the Basin Wide Foundation’s monthly breakfast meeting at the Helen Gray Center in Joshua Tree.

October 1, 2008
Research Grant Applications Available
Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer announced today that applications for the park’s 2009 Graduate Student Research Grant program are available on the Joshua Tree National Park website.

September 17, 2008
Volunteers Sought for Public Lands Day
Superintendent Curt Sauer invites local community residents and park visitors to “Get Down and Dirty for America” by joining park staff to work on Public Lands Day projects at Joshua Tree National Park.

September 17, 2008
Paul DePrey to Manage USS Arizona Memorial
Paul DePrey has been chosen as the next superintendent of the USS Arizona Memorial. He will be moving from Joshua Tree National Park, where he is chief of resources management, in October.

September 4, 2008
Reward Offered for Information About Tortoise Death
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of a desert tortoise in Joshua Tree National Park.

August 25, 2008
Temporary Road Closure Planned
The five-mile stretch of Park Boulevard between North Entrance and the turn-off to Cottonwood Spring will be closed for repairs from September 2 until September 4, 2008.

August 19, 2008
Park Seeks Information About Dead Tortoise
On August 4, 2008, Joshua Tree National Park staff discovered a tortoise that had apparently been burned to death in Black Rock Campground. If you know anything about this incident, please call 760-367-5541.

August 6, 2008
Flooding Causes Temporary Closures
Strong thunderstorms moved across the north central area of Joshua Tree National Park on the afternoon of Monday, August 4. Storm damage has forced park officials to temporarily close a number of park facilities. 

June 3, 2008
Summer '08 Campground Closures
Some campgrounds will be fully or partially closed for the summer. They will reopen in October.

June 3, 2008
Park to Host Public Forum on Cultural Heritage
A visiting group of scholars will discuss perspectives related to the park's history and cultural heritage on June 11 at the Black Rock Nature Center.

April 14, 2008
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
After months of anticipation Mojave Max, the famous southern Nevada desert tortoise who resides at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, officially emerged from his burrow at 11:27 a.m.April 14, 2008.

March 21, 2008
Joshua Tree Revises Park Regulations
Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer announced that park regulations contained in the Superintendent's Compendium have been revised.

March 12, 2008
Park Will Host the National Parks America Tour
Volunteers from Boys & Girls Clubs, Scout troops, and local high schools will work on projects to enhance the park landscape at the sixth annual National Parks America Tour on Saturday, April 12.

December 18, 2007
Park Will Hold Bird Count on New Year’s Day
On Tuesday, January 1, 2008, Joshua Tree National Park will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count, which is held each winter as part of the international Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the National Audubon Society.

November 29, 2007
Joshua Tree Displayed at the White House
An ornament depicting Joshua Tree National Park is prominently displayed on this year’s White House Christmas Tree. The tree is the centerpiece of elaborate decorations celebrating the theme of “Holiday in the National Parks.”

November 9, 2007
Joshua Tree Free To Veterans This Sunday
Veterans and active military personnel, along with their families, will be admitted free to Joshua Tree National Park on November 11, 2007.

October 2, 2007
Park Ready for Fall Visitor Season
Park campgrounds and visitor centers will be fully open by October 5, in time for the Columbus Day holiday weekend.

September 25, 2007
Volunteers Needed for Public Lands Day
Joshua Tree National Park is looking for volunteers to participate in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), on Saturday, September 29, 2007.

September 21, 2007
Park Extends Temporary Road Closure
Visitor travel on Keys View Road will remain limited to weekends and holidays until October 16, 2007.

August 7, 2007
Temporary Road Closures Update
Beginning Sunday, 8/12/2007 Keys View Road will be closed from 10 p.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. Friday. In addition, visitors may be delayed due to repairs on Park Boulevard, between Hidden Valley and Cap Rock.

July 24, 2007
Campground Closed Due to Bees
Jumbo Rocks Campground is temporarily closed due to increased bee activity. During the closure the current dumpsters will be replaced and bee activity will be monitored.

June 14, 2007
Joshua Tree Employee Receives Award
Joshua Tree National Park Trails Supervisor Kenneth Hornback received the Jed Davis Leadership Award in ceremonies held in Washington D.C. on May 24, 2007.