Where is the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness?

The Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness is located about an hour south of Las Vegas, in the new Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. The exact trailhead is difficult to find on mapping systems, but the coordinates for the trailhead are 35.51437, -115.10509. It's a remote area with no facilities, and the parking lot is small, usually not crowded.

What is the difficulty level of the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness hike?

The hike in Wee Thump is easy, with a flat trail following an old wagon road. It's a simple out-and-back hike with no challenging terrain, making it suitable for most hikers. The main challenge is dealing with the intense sun, especially during summer months.

How long is the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness hike?

The hike is an out-and-back trail, so you can hike as far as you like and turn around whenever you've had your fill of Joshua Trees. If you hike to the end, the trail is about 3 miles, where you'll find an old ranch site.

What gear do I need for the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness hike?

This is an easy hike that doesn't require special equipment, but sun protection is essential. Bring at least 1 liter of water, and in the summer, avoid hiking when temperatures are too high. Be cautious of the Cholla Cactus along the trail, which has painful barbs.

What should I expect to see on the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness hike?

The hike offers a dense forest of Joshua Trees, with some towering over 700 years old. The trail follows an old wagon road, offering great views of these iconic trees. At the end of the trail, you’ll find an old ranch to explore.

When is the best time to hike in Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness?

The best time to visit the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness is in the winter when the temperatures are cooler and more manageable. Summer temperatures can be too high for a safe hike, so winter provides more ideal conditions.

How do I get to the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness trailhead?

To access the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness, take the Joshua Tree Highway south from Las Vegas. The trailhead is located at the coordinates 35.51437, -115.10509. There are no signs or facilities at the trailhead, but it’s a small, quiet spot with parking.

Is a permit required for the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness hike?

No permit is required to park or hike in the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness. However, be aware that the area is remote, so it's important to be self-sufficient and prepared for your hike.

PLAY VIDEO

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 1-3 hours

Total Climbing: 400 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Crowds: Quiet

Dogs: Leashed

Quick Links
🔥 Essential Gear - Closures - Weather - Ask Me a Question

The Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness is only 6050 acres, but it packs a big punch; it's one of the densest Joshua Tree forests in the world. This hike through Wee Thump is simple and easy and gives you lots of time with these remarkable trees. Maybe you'll even spot one of the 700+ year-old trees!

"Wee Thump" means "ancient ones" in the Paiute language and refers to the age of the trees, some of which are over 700 years old.

Where is Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness?

Even the drive to Wee Thump is spectacular. You'll drive down the Joshua Tree Highway, which goes through one of the densest areas of trees that you'll ever see.

Wee Thump is located about an hour south of Las Vegas in the new Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. There are two trailheads to access Wee Thump, and this one will start in the middle of the wilderness area. It's such a remote and unvisited area that most mapping systems have no reliable address. Your best bet is to use latitude and longitude. Here's the link on Google Maps:

35.51437, -115.10509

Wee Thump Location — The trailhead is about one hour south of Las Vegas.

Wee Thump Parking — The parking lot is small, but I've never seen it full.

There are no facilities at the trailhead. You do not need a permit to park here.

Gear Recommendations

This is an easy hike, and you don't need any special equipment. What you do need to prepare for is the sun. In the summer, temperatures are too high to do the whole hike safely. Winter is the best time to visit. The sun is always intense, so protect your body and bring at least 1L of water.

Chollla Cactus — Some parts of the trail are overgrown. Just steer clear of the Cholla Cactus, which has sticky barbs that are painful to remove.

Gear I Love Right Now

Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth

Garmin inReach Mini 2

Uphill Help & Save Your Knees

BD Carbon Cork Poles

Easy & Reliable Safe Water

Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter

Solid All-Around Hiking App

AllTrails Plus (30% off)

Not Sponsored, Just What Works

October 2025 Full Gear List

Wee Thump Trail Maps

The great thing about this hike is you can just go as far as you'd like and turn around. The trail is a straight line following an old wagon road. When you've had your fill of seeing Joshua Trees, turn around and head back. If you hike to the end, there's an old ranch to visit. You can also drive to the ranch if you don't want to do the whole hike.

Click to activate map

Print Map, Work With It Yourself

View Hike on CalTopo

Bring the Guide to Any GPS

Download the GPX File

The hike is flat and easy.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike Directions

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 8 — The trail starts behind the Wee Thump sign.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 7 — Go through the fence and start hiking straight back into the wilderness.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 4 — Right away there are plenty of Joshua Trees to see.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 6 — When you reach the trail post after about 5-10 minutes, make the hard right onto El Dorado Wagon Road.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 5 — Follow the road straight. There are no trail junctions. You just follow the road.

Turn around whenever you've had your fill of Joshua Trees.

Wee Thump Featured — Trees that are tall and wide are older.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 3 — Some sections have more trees than others.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 2 — When you reach the road, you've come to the end of the Wee Thump Wilderness. Make the right and hike down the road to visit the ranch.

Wee Thump Joshua Tree Hike 1 — Enjoy the ranch and then come back the way you came.

Related Guides
Hike Grapevine Canyon Trail (NV) – Home to ancient petroglyphs and a desert waterfall, hiking the Grapevine Canyon Trail in Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is spectacular. The hike is not too strenuous but has enough twists and turns to make it exciting.
More Hiking Trails