Friendly Hills Hike sits just outside Joshua Tree National Park in San Bernardino County, managed by the Mojave Desert Land Trust. The trail winds through classic high desert terrain—you’ll see plenty of Joshua trees scattered across the landscape, along with the kind of wide-open vistas that make you understand why people drive hours to get out here.

Dogs are welcome on the hike, and the path itself is straightforward and easy to navigate. The well-maintained trail doesn’t have any tricky elevation gains or technical sections, so it’s manageable even if your dog isn’t a serious hiker. That said, leashes are required throughout, and the land trust asks that you pack out waste to keep the trail in good shape for everyone else using it.

The location is genuinely convenient if you’re visiting Joshua Tree National Park. Rather than dealing with the crowded parking lots at the park’s main attractions, you can slip over to Friendly Hills and get a solid desert hike without the hassle. It works well whether you’re a local looking to get out for an hour or two on a weekend morning, or you’re passing through San Bernardino County and want to break up a drive with some actual time outdoors.

The desert here has that particular kind of quiet that makes you realize how much noise you’re usually surrounded by. Bring water—for both you and your dog—because there’s no shade to speak of, and the sun reflects hard off the pale sand. The exposed landscape means you’ll have good views the whole way, but it also means there’s nowhere to cool off if the day gets hot. Going early in the morning or later in the afternoon makes a real difference, especially outside of winter months.