Imagine a place where granite monoliths rise out of the ground in fantastical shapes...where otherworldly Joshua trees grow as dense forests...where secluded palm oases beckon weary desert travelers...where the ruins of old ranches and gold mines stand as monuments to men's Herculean efforts and shattered dreams...where bare rugged mountains loom over vast sand dunes...where the Milky Way glitters at night like no man-made light show ever could. The place is real: It's called Joshua Tree National Park.

Located in Southern California, Joshua Tree is an increasingly popular destination for day trippers and tourists alike. But with the park's incredible size of 1,235 square miles and the crowds, how can you ensure that you see its main sights when vacationing or driving through? That's what Best Sights to See at Joshua Tree National Park answers. In this volume, we've listed the top 10 most popular sights and detail the top day hiking trails to best experience them.

ROB BIGNELL is an avid backpacker who's been hiking with his son for more than a decade. Together, they've scaled summits almost two miles high, crossed America's driest deserts, and walked beneath soaring, 20-story trees. Bignell is the former Opinions page editor of Palm Springs' The Desert Sun newspaper.