How We Do It

Friends of Joshua Tree is a grassroots access group for Joshua Tree National Park representing all those who love nature’s wild places to explore and recreate responsibly in. Climbers, hikers, wildlife viewers, night sky enthusiasts, trail runners, backpackers and campers are all part of our community. We work to ensure that future generations of climbers and other park enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the park. The following are our areas of focus:

National Park Liaison

Over the past twenty years, Friends of Joshua Tree has established a proactive dialogue with the National Park Service to ensure continued climbing access in the park. Through collaborations with the park administration, Friends of Josh has had a guiding hand in the Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan, and is playing an integral part in the writing of the new Joshua Tree National Park Climbing Policy.  We are the first climbing advocacy group in the country to secure a Memo Of Understanding (MOU) with the National Park Service.

Trail Restoration

Friends of Joshua Tree works with the Access Fund and the National Park Service to establish and maintain trails in the park, and urges climbers and others to approach crags only via designated trails. Several times per year FOJT musters a strong volunteer corps to effect positive impact in the Park’s myriad trails and damaged or sensitive natural areas.

JOSAR (Joshua Tree Search & Rescue) 

FOJT continues to be the driving force behind funding and material support for Joshua Tree Search & Rescue, a cooperative effort of Joshua Tree National Park and the climbing community. The all-volunteer JOSAR organization trains at the highest level for SAR and uses up-to-date gear and methods for serving all of the users of the Park with SAR and PSAR (Preventative SAR) services 24/7/365. 

 

Joshua Tree Climber Stewards 

Started in 2016 with one active part-time steward living in the Park, this cooperative agreement with JTNP now hosts several in-season full time stewards living in the Park and helping visitors practice desert-aware behavior, recent Park updates like raptor closures, and to  stay found. Climber Stewards are representatives of the best the climbing community has to offer and frequently participate in stewardship projects with Park staff, as well as drum up and support other volunteer efforts. 

Fixed Anchor Replacement

Historically, Joshua Tree local advocates have contributed mightily to the safe replacement of fixed anchors in the Park. This group of hard-working experts in fixed anchor replacement are working nearly all year on upgrading existing hardware on some of Joshua Tree’s most famous climbing routes; some are over 40 years old and the old bolts are just no longer safe. FOJT supports the effort with gear and funds for creating modern, state-of-the-art bolts, chains, anchors and hangers.

Climber Coffee

The  most visible to you is Climbers Coffee every Saturday & Sunday 8-10 am at Hidden Valley Campground in Joshua Tree National Park, during the climbing season. We’ve been supporting this program for over 10 years and the original sponsor of Climbers Coffee in the Park.  

Desert Ecology

Friends of Joshua Tree advocates Leave No Trace practices, urging climbers and others to respect the sensitive plant and animal life flourishing in the fragile desert ecology. Joshua Tree sits at the ecotone of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, and at an average of 5000 ft elevation, is home to a number of endangered and unique flora and fauna that every visitor would want their great grandchildren to experience firsthand… that means being sensitive and very gentle on the terrain wherever one goes. 

Litter-Free Desert

Friends of Joshua Tree urges climbers and others to pack out all trash, and to use designated bathrooms whenever available. When using dumpsters or vault toilets, make sure there isn’t anything a critter can get into spilling over or outside of the specially designed bins (over 100 in the Park!). 

Joshua Tree Facelift – Act Local

The first ever Joshua Tree Facelift lifted on in 2022. Over 80 volunteer rallied to get trashy in Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, 29 Palms and on nearby BLM land. So many folks were willing to give u a Saturday to put some care into our amazing high desert. This event was a FoJT collaboration with Yosemite Climbing Association Cliffhanger Guides, SCMA, Visit29, Pure Project and JTNP. See our event photos!

Park Improvements

Friends of Joshua Tree provides input on various park issues such as automobile parking, raptor nesting protection, various user trails and environmental impact,  and others important to climbers and other visitors.

We also work directly with climbers to educate them on important park issues. Through events, slide shows, public gatherings, and town hall meetings, climbers learn about issues ranging from crag access and bolting policy to park preservation and desert plant & animal protection. FOJT keeps its members up-to-date through this website and the newsletter published three times a year.

Community Relations

Friends of Joshua Tree actively communicates with the local Joshua Tree business community, advocacy network and the tribal leadership who all consider Joshua Tree National Park and environs extremely important. Through events, collaborations, meetings and activations online, FOJT brings together the people who share the incredible natural and cultural resources of the area. Our Local Area Advisory Group, Joshua Tree Facelift, the Tribes Forum and Climb Smart bring together diverse minds to work out solutions and inform decision-making in the various organizations and communities of Joshua Tree.