THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
Joshua Tree National Park will temporarily close public access to the Covington Flats area from Thursday, July 2, 2026, to Monday, July 6, 2026, to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Official NPS source
Joshua Tree National Park has implemented fire restrictions beginning June 15, due to hot, dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger. The restrictions will remain in effect through October 1, 2026, unless park leadership determines otherwise. The restrictions apply throughout the park, including all campgrounds, backcountry sites, and picnic areas.
Official NPS sourceThe west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, including the restrooms, will close to inbound and outbound traffic from 6 a.m., Jan. 12 through 7 a.m., Jan. 17. Park Boulevard will also close to vehicle traffic for six miles from the west entrance to Quail Springs Picnic Area. This closure includes the Maze Loop and Bigfoot Trailhead parking areas. Visitors may not drive to or park at these trailheads during the closure. All other park roads are expected to remain open.
Official NPS sourceThe west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, including the restrooms, will close to inbound and outbound traffic from 6 a.m., Dec. 3 through 6 p.m., Dec. 5.
Official NPS sourceA new National Park Service report shows that more than 2.9 visitors to Joshua Tree National Park in 2024 spent $179 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $214 million.
Official NPS source
The Oasis of Mara trail at Joshua Tree National Park is closed because of damage caused by flooding. Recent summer monsoonal events caused severe erosion of the paved trail and impacted the cultural site. Several sections of the trail have been undercut and others have steep drop-offs, creating unsafe hiking conditions. The trail will be closed until repairs are completed.
Official NPS sourceThe west entrance of Joshua Tree will be closed to inbound and outbound traffic beginning 6 a.m. August 25 through 6 p.m. August 29th. Visitors must enter or exit the park via Twentynine Palms or Cottonwood.
Official NPS sourceFirefighters continue to make progress on suppression and containment of the Eureka Fire. The fire has burned a total of 214 acres and is at 85% containment. Crews are focused on extinguishing remaining hot spots and on suppression repair, minimizing resource damage to several key species in the footprint area. The weather continues to be favorable with low winds and higher humidity.
Official NPS sourceThe Eureka Fire in Joshua Tree National Park is maintaining at 214 acres and 80% containment as of 6:00pm. Crews will continue suppression work this week. Equipment assigned to the fire tomorrow, June 3rd, includes 4 engines and 1 hand crew.
Official NPS sourceThe Eureka Fire in Joshua Tree National Park is maintaining at 214 acres and 75% containment as of 6:00pm. Crews will continue suppression work this week. Equipment assigned to the fire tomorrow, June 3rd, includes 4 engines and 1 hand crew.
Official NPS sourceThe ongoing response to the Eureka Fire in Joshua Tree National Park had crews working through the night on containment lines. There was a slop over fire on the southeast side of the line early this morning. Crews quickly contained the 4 acres. The fire is at 212 acres and 40% containment as of 9:00am.
Official NPS sourceJoshua Tree National Park staff has been responding to a fire 3 miles Northeast of Eureka Peak in the Covington Flats area of the park.
Official NPS sourceA wildfire in Joshua Tree National Park's Covington Flats area has burned approximately 20 acres as of May 30, 2025, with containment efforts underway by park, BLM, and county fire crews amid gusty conditions.
Official NPS sourceJoshua Tree National Park presents “Brushes, Beats and Beyond,” a student art exhibition featuring work from 11 local elementary schools, created through artist-led workshops in partnership with Groundwork Arts and Morongo Unified School District. On view starting April 9 at the Black Rock Art Gallery and 29 Palms Visitor Center, the exhibition celebrates youth creativity and artistic exploration.
Official NPS source
The west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park will be closed to inbound and outbound traffic beginning 6 a.m. Monday April 7 through 6 p.m. Thursday April 10. Visitors must enter or exit the park via Twentynine Palms or Cottonwood using the north entrance station in Twentynine Palms or the Cottonwood entrance at the park’s south boundary.
Official NPS source
Joshua Tree National Park management is pleased to announce Other Worlds, a new art exhibition by renowned local-area artist Diane Best. For many years, Diane has painted remote, uninhabited, and overlooked corners of the desert. Interested in recording a single incredible moment of converging light and landscape, she felt it important to encourage preservation by showcasing the desert wilderness as it exists.
Official NPS source
The winter holidays often bring heavy traffic to Joshua Tree National Park. Crowded conditions create limited parking, full campgrounds, and lines at park entrances. High traffic is anticipated on most weekends and during the week of Thanksgiving and the two weeks around Christmas and New Year's Day.
Official NPS sourceStarting today Cholla Cactus Garden and 49 Palms Oasis Trail will be temporarily closed until March 2025
Official NPS sourceJoshua Tree National Park will increase fees for all reservations on recreation.gov including campgrounds and tours starting December 1, 2024. There will be an expanded amenity fee increase starting on January 1, 2025. First Come First Serve campgrounds will increase from $15 to $25 per night January 1, 2025.
Official NPS sourceTWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.– Joshua Tree National Park staff will be performing construction on paved roads throughout the park starting on Monday, October 28. This work is expected to last through Monday, November 11 and requires temporary road closures for successful project completion and public safety.
Official NPS source