Plus: The California State Fair & Food Festival opens today.
 
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Today’s Forecast

52º | Partly cloudy | 7% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:23 a.m. | Sunset 5:01 p.m.
 

Road trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Our guide to visiting 7 of the best national parks
A single joshua tree against a desert landscape and streams of sun.
The tallest Joshua trees in the park are 40+ ft. high. | Photo by Christopher Prentiss Michel via Wikimedia Commons
When you think you’ve seen all of Joshua Tree, you haven’t — two completely different ecosystems combine to create this bewitching and iconic desert landscape. The low Colorado Desert and the high Mojave desert offer richly different experiences inside this national park (there’s even a podcast called Where Two Deserts Meet). Throw in shimmering night skies and hundred-year-old trees, and you won’t want to say goodbye.

Here’s our advice for a well-worth-it road trip to this national treasure.

Getting there
There are three entrances to Joshua Tree. Note that the National Parks Service advises not to use GPS directions, which may try to take you on inaccessible roads or dirt trails.
  • North entrance — Recommended point of entry during the park’s busy months (October through May). Use Highway 62 to drive to Twentynine Palms, then use maps or road signs to find the entrance three miles south of the Highway 62 + Utah Trail junction.
Looking to use public transportation? Check Basin Transit for bus schedules.

A pink and blue sky behind two large rock boulders.

Be wary of the summer months at Joshua tree — it’s best to plan a spring or fall trip.

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Open hours and seasons
Great news for desert enthusiasts: The park is open year-round, accessible 24 hours a day.

Time of year can be key for making or breaking your Joshua Tree experience — the desert is prone to temperature extremes. Read before you go: Rain events and surviving summer in the park.

A red desert landscape with a Joshua tree and a pink sunset sky.

Be prepared with plenty of water if you plan to camp.

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Photo by Jarek Tuszyński via Wikimedia Commons

Fees and reservations
Reservations are not required, but all visitors must have an entrance pass. While you can buy a pass in person at these entrances and visitor centers, why not buy it online ahead of time to expedite your park entry? Pass options include a $30 private vehicle pass that’s good for seven days and a $55 annual pass good year-round.

Pro tip: The park offers five fee-free days throughout the year, including a day celebrating The Great Americans Outdoors Act (Friday, August 4) and National Public Lands Day (Saturday, September 23).
Where to camp + hike
Events
Friday, July 14
  • Read to a Dog | Friday, July 14 | 3-4 p.m. | Orangevale Library at Jane Wise Community Room, 8820 Greenback Ln L, Orangevale | Free | Kids are invited to read to furry and friendly canine volunteers and their trainers.
  • Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Friday, July 14-Saturday, July 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Jean Henderson Performing Arts, 607 Pena Dr., Davis | $8-$18 | Catch the last performance weekend of Stephen Sondheim’s masterful play.
  • Friday Night Swing Dancing | Friday, July 14-Friday, Dec. 29 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Midtown Stomp, 2534 Industrial Blvd Ste. 150, West Sacramento | $10-$15 | Grab your dancing shoes and tap your feet to the sounds of swing music — and spend the first hour getting a lesson if you feel the need.
Saturday, July 15
  • Pocket-Greenhaven Farmers Market | Saturday, July 15-Saturday, Nov. 25 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | Riverside Blvd. + Florin Road, 6446 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento | Free | Shop a plethora of goods from local bakers, brewers, creatives, and more.
  • Pick Your Own Bouquet | Saturday, July 15-Saturday, Nov. 18 | Times vary | Park Winters, 27850 County Rd. 26, Winters | $35 | Wander through the Farm at Park Winters and pick a bouquet of cosmos, marigolds, poppies, and sunflowers.
Sunday, July 16
  • Old Town Elk Grove Farmers Market | Sunday, July 16-Sunday, Nov. 26 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Old Town Plaza, 9615 Railroad St., Elk Grove | Free | Shop for locally-produced goods while you enjoy live entertainment at this weekly market.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Civic
  • Good news for renters: A new rent raise cap went into effect this month. Sacramentans with apartments covered by the Tenant Protection Program won’t see annual rent raises over 9.2% — that’s down from 10% previously. Read more about the protection program. (Sac Bee)
Festival
  • The California State Fair & Food Festival opens today. Read our guide to the concerts, food, and attractions worth checking out before the fair ends on Sunday, July 30.
Development
  • South Sacramento’s Delta Shores may see some new apartments in addition to the single-family homes project already underway. A proposal for a 235-unit apartment community has been submitted to the city. Located across from the Delta Shores commercial center, the apartments would feature a pool deck, dog park, and work stations. (Sac Bee)
Active
  • A rock climbing gym may be coming to Rosewood. Alpine Climbing Adventure Fitness submitted a proposal to the city to build a climbing gym + fitness center at 1730 Freedom Way near Topgolf. If approved, the center would include a 60.5-ft climbing wall, bouldering area, open gym, and climbing for kids. (Sac Biz Journal)
Travel
  • Sacramento International Airport announced its first nonstop route to Miami. The route is via American Airlines, with flights beginning on Thurs., Dec. 21. Pro tip: Add SMF as an airport to your free Going membership + get alerts when flights like this are discounted.
Jobs
  • La Familia Counseling Center is hosting a job fair today, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. aimed at advancing women and English learners. Register to attend the event at the Maple Neighborhood Center (3301 37th Ave.) and explore job opportunities in industries including health, manufacturing, and professional services. (Patch)
Show
  • You’ve seen a comedy show before, and maybe you’ve seen a drag show, too, but have you ever seen both at the same time? Experience it for yourself at LoLGBT+ Presents: Queens & Comedy, happening on Sunday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Punch Line Sacramento. Get ready to slay, honey.*
Finance
 
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The Wrap
 
Sarah Leonhardt in a grey sweater

Today’s edition by:
Sarah
From the editor
Hi everyone, Sarah here. I’m a Senior National Content Editor, working at SACtoday’s parent company, 6AM City. Along with working with Jordan, I also support other newsletters like SJtoday and SDtoday. I always enjoy helping out in the City of Trees... that Read to a Dog event? Get outta here (slash sign me up immediately).
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