I met my brother Nick and our friend Nick Todaro in LA a couple of weeks ago and we immediately headed east toward Joshua Tree. We spent a few days in the park exploring everything that landscape has to offer. It's such a cool place.

We did several hikes and each one, although different, had very cool features. 

The desert experience did not disappoint. It came complete with three scorpions, several desert foxes, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and a chunk of Cholla Cactus in my leg. My advice to anyone going to the Cholla Cactus Garden: obey the warning signs and stay on the designated path!

My favorite activities of the trip were scrambling over boulders in the Wonderland of Rocks Wilderness and hiking to the summit of Ryan Mountain for sunset. The views from Ryan are awesome. 

Below are some of my favorite pictures from the trip. I tend to see in black and white when I'm out west because I shoot in color so much while I'm in North Carolina, but I also took some fun color images while in the park. Hope you enjoy, 

JD

Sunset, Boulders, From Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Boulders, Clouds, Wonderland of Rocks Wilderness, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Cholla Cactus, Garden, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Evening Light, Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Evening Light, Ridges, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Joshua Trees, Morning, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Desert Plants, Sunset, on Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Boulders, Sunrise, Hidden Valley Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Joshua Tree, Moon, Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Evening Light, Ridges, From Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Sunset, Moon, From Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Desert Plants Sillhouette, Sunset, on Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, CA