Home › California › Joshua Tree › Friendly Hills Hike
Friendly Hills Hike
4.9 ★★★★★ 45 Google reviews · Running trail in Joshua Tree, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Friendly Hills Hike yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Friendly Hills Hike
“Great views on a well maintained, dog friendly trail, overlooking the town of Joshua Tree and one entrance to the NP.”
“This is a beautiful hike with lively wild life everywhere and vast beauty of natural desert and amazing rock mountains full off hidden gems to discovery.”
“A wonderful, well-marked trail for a morning or evening hike.”
“Did a quick night walk, so peaceful & serene.”
“This a beautiful, easy trail maintained by the Mojave Desert Land Trust.”
For the people saying “this isn’t a hike, this is a walk”, that’s irrelevant West Coaster nonsense. Nobody cares. Chill out. This is a beautiful trail with some ups and downs and LOTS of wildlife I’ve seen (jackrabbits, chipmunks, cactus wrens, black beetles, etc.) It’s a wildlife preserve.
Such a cool hike; it's not inside Joshua tree national park so it's a little more accessible and dog friendly. The entrance to this hike was like 5 minutes drive from the air bnb I'm staying at but the views and the vegetation are totally nuts, it feels like a movie set on an alien planet or something.
I'm 65 yrs old, overweight, and found it to be a moderate walking trail due to slight incline. Lovely views, flora, rock piles, and birds this spring.
We agree with the reviewer who said it was more of a walk than a hike. Specifically, it climbed very gradually up and then went very gradually down and it is pretty flat.
Trail conditions & character
“This is a beautiful hike with lively wild life everywhere and vast beauty of natural desert and amazing rock mountains full off hidden gems to discovery.”
“Parking is on the left side of the road as you're approaching the entrance, there's a tiny hard to see sign that says parking here”
“I'm 65 yrs old, overweight, and found it to be a moderate walking trail due to slight incline.”
“Great views on a well maintained, dog friendly trail, overlooking the town of Joshua Tree and one entrance to the NP.”
“Did a quick night walk, so peaceful & serene.”
“A wonderful, well-marked trail for a morning or evening hike.”
“Did a quick night walk, so peaceful & serene.”
Plan your run at Friendly Hills Hike
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Running trails near Joshua Tree
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Machris Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 112 reviews
Small park featuring a baseball field and a children's play area, plus swings and picnic tables.
Black Rock Canyon Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 97 reviews
Hiking area featuring varied trails through a landscape of wildflowers, cacti, and Joshua trees.
Essig Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 233 reviews
Fenced park featuring a playground, separate areas for small and large dogs, plus picnic tables.
Hi-View Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 178 reviews
A 1.3-mi loop through Joshua, pinyon pine & juniper trees, with a lookout offering mountain views.
Panorama Loop Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 61 reviews
Sandy 6.6-mile path with mountain views & a 1,000-ft elevation gain, plus access to other trails.