How bad is JTree Crowding at Thanksgiving?

As the title says, how bad is JTree crowding at Thanksgiving?

Looking at scheduling a trip down there in November. We can go either the week before Thanksgiving (Nov 11-19), or the week of Thanksgiving (Nov 18-26). Going the week of Thanksgiving has various advantages in terms of work and vacation days. But for obvious reasons I'm concerned about the park being a crowded junkshow. How bad is it? Especially traffic, parking, hiking trails, etc.

Some relevant details and sub-questions:

- We'd get an Airbnb in town (in Joshua Tree or in 29 Palms). We'd book this now, and lots are available. As such, not concerned about camping. But this does mean driving in through the park gate each day. Does the park entrance get excessively backed up?

- Mostly a vacation/tourist/hiking type trip with my girlfriend. Plus I'd do some bouldering sessions mixed in. So not too worried about route crowding since bouldering can generally handle more people before it becomes an issue, and is actually kind of nice to have a bit of scene (more pads; meeting people). Unless the classic boulders get completely overwhelming crowded?

- Hiking trails and parking: Totally clogged up? Or manageable? We're OK with the strategy of choosing one destination for the day and arriving by 9:30 am to get parking. But if everything fills in before 8 am, that's less pleasant.

- If its just crowded for a day or two (like the Friday-Saturday after Thanksgiving) we can handle that. But if the whole week is a mess that's less ideal.

- Driving down from Sacramento, so we'd be coming through Barstow and presumably not dealing with the worst of LA traffic on the way to/from.

Overall, if it is busy by manageable we'd go over Thanksgiving. But if Thanksgiving is an unmanageable mess we'll arrange to go a different time.

It won’t be that bad on the weekdays. Relatively speaking.. the crowds and traffic are heinous as compared to just 5 years ago. The east entrance near Indian Cove is always pretty open and doesn’t back up like the main entrance, but if you get there before 8-9 am that one is also usually fine.

All the popular hiking trails and parking areas will be mobbed on the weekend. It’s starting to feel like an amusement park around Hidden Valley whenever the weather is good. But still nowhere near as bad as Yosemite..

Get your airbnb in 29 Palms and go in that entrance. I would say (wild guess) that 85% of traffic enters the park through the west entrance (aka Park Blvd).

Besides the 29 Palms entrance sets you up for great climbing at Split Rocks, Emerald City, Beak Rock, Vector, etc. and lesser crowded areas like Rattlesnake Buttress and such.

jt newgard wrote:

Get your airbnb in 29 Palms and go in that entrance. I would say (wild guess) that 85% of traffic enters the park through the west entrance (aka Park Blvd).

Besides the 29 Palms entrance sets you up for great climbing at Split Rocks, Emerald City, Beak Rock, Vector, etc. and lesser crowded areas like Rattlesnake Buttress and such.

Ok cool, good beta. Thanks! The 29 Palms Airbnb options look better/cheaper anyway.

I guess here's another question: would Thanksgiving necessarily be that much worse than any other November weekend? Or kinda the same regardless?

Basically, worth avoiding thanksgiving, or all all the weekends a junk show anyway such that it's not a distinction worth planning around?

It’s more or less the same every weekend that time of year. The popular trails will be very crowded on weekends but the climbing areas never seem too busy (except the most popular routes). Good idea to go in the 29 palms entrance but the west entrance is OK too before 9am. 

JCM wrote:

I guess here's another question: would Thanksgiving necessarily be that much worse than any other November weekend? Or kinda the same regardless?

Basically, worth avoiding thanksgiving, or all all the weekends a junk show anyway such that it's not a distinction worth planning around?

Yes, it will. It’s noticeable, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to make it not worth it. That is… Unless you only want to climb classic or super popular routes.

The park is HUGE, and there is so much room to spread out and find cool things to get on. A mile off the road and you’ll barely see anyone all day.

As mentioned above, heading out to areas in the Pinto Basin are a great way to avoid people. I’ve never once seen another party out at (for example) the Beak Boulders. The Wonderland is also VAST. Just a bit of walking and you’ll swear it wasn’t the most popular weekend in the park.

My main tip is: Get in a bit early (like… Before 9), find parking to be out all day and then hike out! Don’t try to move your car and go to another spot in the middle of the day. That’s a recipe for a bad time.

Good advice y'all .

I mentioned couple of those areas for their climbing but just realized they could be great gal pal spots too. Hiking up to Rattlesnake Buttress from Indian Cove particular is a great one. Start at Indian Cove, some light scrambling will land you on a beautiful scenic picnic ledge at the base of 200 Motels and Taken for Granite.

Good one for a weekday: with some good instincts you can class 1 to the top of South Astrodome. Look for the solitary pinyon pine on top!

I like approaching Vector and Beak Boulder not from Split Rocks but from the famous "Distinguished Yucca" sign road pullout. Those small pullouts make for good base of operations when the main trailheads get mobbed. Such as, Skull Rock which has been massively hashtagging lately lol

jt newgard wrote:

Good advice y'all .

Good one for a weekday: with some good instincts you can class 1 to the top of South Astrodome. Look for the solitary pinyon pine on top!

Took my dad up here when he was 75, It was a huge hit!  

As a general rule I try to stay on "trail" till past my objective in the wonderland then work back to it.  There's generally a reason the trails don't make a beeline for them.

It’s a shitshow, except on the crags more than 10 minutes from the road.  For sure go in via 29 Palms.  That other entrance can have delays of actual hours.  No parking spots anywhere in the park after 10 am.  Town is a joke, so bring your own turkey.

Best plan is to stay home and watch FreeSolo

JCM… go for it. Enter via 29stumps. The zoo is HVCG and environment.

Honestly I love the HVCG shit show, near and dear to my heart. Lots of food and new friends

Go for it! JTree is a dream that time of year. I've been then and have never been bothered by the crowds. 

Ultimately, everything comes down to a good attitude (which it seems like you have). Don't be a crusty climber who hates the site of another person at a national park and you'll be good. 

Thanks everyone! We decided ded to go for the week of Thanksgiving. Will keep in mind all the beta given here for managing the crowds.

The traffic driving in that whole week may surprise you. Perhaps consider at least driving out early on that Sunday, or buckle up for a very, very long ride back home. At least a few accidents on slim desert roads are guaranteed to turn a reasonable 5 hour drive into a 9 hour one that week, particularly at the end. 

The main crux of JT any time of serious usage is the Quail Springs Road Entry. Just use a different entrance or get up early. 

They should really fix that station so there's a 2nd lane for people with annual passes. 

New west side entrance station is in the planning stages:

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=83105

JCM wrote:

Thanks everyone! We decided ded to go for the week of Thanksgiving. Will keep in mind all the beta given here for managing the crowds.

I think you’ll be glad you did.  Just get an early start on the weekends and be willing to walk a bit to avoid roadside crowds and you’ll find plenty to do.