Joshua Tree National Park rules and regulations for resource management, camping, vehicles, firearms, pets and safety from DesertUSA (2024)

• Joshua Tree National Park resources belong to all. No one may collect or disturb any animal, plant, rock, artifact or fossil within park boundaries.
• Joshua Tree National Park is a wildlife refuge. Do not feed or bother wild animals. They often carry diseases; some can also bite; others may be harmed by handling or moving. Do not reach into holes or burrows, and do not place hands or feet where you cannot see them.

• All vehicles -- four-wheel-drive, motorcycles, off-road and bicycles -- must remain on designated roads or parking lots. All motorized vehicles and their drivers must be properly licensed. All vehicles must have a muffler.

• Hunting is illegal. Use of weapons is prohibited within the park. Possession of a firearm or air-gun is prohibited unless it is unloaded and cased or otherwise packed to prevent use. Any implement designed to discharge missiles in the air (bow and arrow, crossbow, etc.) is also illegal.

• Camp only in designated locations. Be sure to make your camping plans well before sunset, for roadside camping is not permitted.
• Campfires are allowed only in fireplaces and portable stoves. Wood collecting -- dead or alive -- is prohibited throughout the park so bring or buy your own.
• Trash and waste must be placed in proper containers. Place a container under camper or trailer drains. Dump liquid waste, including dishwater, only at stations or restroom camper sinks.

• Pets must be leashed or confined at all times. Owners are responsible for picking up animal litter and depositing it in proper trash receptacles. Pets are not allowed in the backcountry, on the trails, the Visitor Center or other public buildings.

• Never travel alone. Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
• Be alert for flash floods when it looks stormy. Do not ford low places when water is running. Flood waters can undercut pavement or sweep a car from the road.
• Abandoned mines can be dangerous. Do not explore them without assurance they are safe. Forgotten caches of explosives are sometimes found; do not touch them, but report them to park rangers immediately. Vertical shafts are invisible from within dark tunnels, and wooden supports can give way at any time, both of which could be fatal.
• Carry plenty of water -- one gallon per day per person -- and drink it!
• Wear comfortable, sturdy footwear and a hat; use sunscreen.
• If your vehicle breaks down, stay with it. It is much easier to find a vehicle than a wandering person.

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