Joshua Tree National Park is located east of Los Angeles, California at the convergence of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. The western half is Mojave Desert habitat. Amid boulder stacks are pinyon pines, junipers, and the wild-armed Joshua tree, which isn't really a tree, but a species of yucca. The eastern half of the park, below 3,000 feet above sea level, lies in the Colorado Desert. Amongst the habitat in this area of the park is the jumping cholla cactus, also called teddy bear cholla. But you don't want to get too close to these fellas because they will cling to you, and they are painfully difficult to get out of you skin.
Below are pictures from our time in Joshua Tree National Park in October 2016.
Joshua Tree Forest
Balanced Rock and Lone Juniper
Jumbo Rocks
Joshua Tree Sunset
Sun Dipping Behind Mountains
Crescent Moon Over Joshua Tree
Cholla Cactus Garden
Arch Rock
Strange Rock Formation
Cap Rock