California Trip (Part 3): Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park has been one of those dream destinations we kept tucked in the back of our minds for years. Even during the four years we lived in California, we never made it—and it always felt like a missed opportunity. Still, we quietly held on to the hope that someday, somehow, we’d get our chance.
Years ago, Deeply Rooted Magazine ran a cover shoot set in Joshua Tree. I wasn’t able to go, but I remember pouring over every photo, living vicariously through the lens of the photographer who captured it all. That only deepened the longing.
So when Ethan had the opportunity to attend the Shepherd’s Conference and we realized Joshua Tree was just a few hours from L.A., we knew—this was it. Our opportunity had finally come.
We hiked for miles, scrambled up boulders, even napped on a few of them under the desert sun. Every turn revealed something new—strange silhouettes, sun-bleached landscapes, life blooming where you least expect it. It’s wild how even a cursed creation can still offer so much beauty, right there in the cracks and dry places.
These are the last of my photos from our California trip—and quite honestly, some of my favorites.
We came across snow in the desert!
