Keys Ranch Tour

Joshua Tree National Park Tours and Programs

Join us on a ranger-led tour and learn about the cultural history of Keys Ranch. Topics include Native American history, mining, ranching, homesteading, the Keys family, and the site’s transition into a protected historical site.

Joshua Tree National Park acknowledges the 15 associated tribal communities as the original stewards of the land on which Joshua Tree National Park now sits. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with the indigenous people of this place. We pay our respect to the people past, present and emerging who have been here since time immemorial.

This area can only be visited with a ranger. Ranch tours last 120 minutes and involve about a half-mile of walking. Ranch tours are currently limited to selected dates as shown on the Recreation.gov calendar. Due to temperature extremes, tours might not be available during the hottest summer months (May, June, July and August). Reservations are available up to 60 days in advance and until the day before the tour.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• Meeting Place

  Keys Ranch tours begin at the Keys Ranch locked gate and parking area (not at the visitor center). Do not rely exclusively on your mobile GPS, Siri, or similar automated navigation systems for directions to Keys Ranch as routes can be misleading or incorrect. Please be at the Keys Ranch gate 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Tours begin promptly at the start time and the locked gate will be opened. You will continue driving down the road to a second parking area where the walking tour begins. Once all the cars are through the gate, it will be locked. There is no way for latecomers to join. Refunds will not be issued if you are late.

• Directions to Keys Ranch

  From the Joshua Tree Visitor Center (located at 6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree CA.): Drive south on Park Blvd for about 5 miles to the West Entrance (Park Blvd is also known as “Quail Springs Road”). At West Entrance gate, proceed another 8.9 miles. Turn Left onto Barker Dam Rd. Drive on Barker Dam Rd. for about 0.7 miles. Turn Left onto Keys Ranch Rd. (Look for the sign that says “Ranch Tours”). Drive on Keys Ranch Rd. (a dirt road) for about 1 mile until the locked Keys Ranch gate. There is a small parking area and restroom facility at the locked gate. This is your meeting place. Drive time to the Keys Ranch from Joshua Tree Visitor Center is approximately 35 minutes and does not include any additional delays caused by congestion at entrance gates. Delays at this entrance gate due to congestion often add an additional 30 minutes to travel time so please plan accordingly.

  From Park Headquarters (located at 74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA.): Drive south on Utah Trail for about 3.4 miles to the North Entrance. At North Entrance gate, proceed another 16.5 miles. Turn Right onto Barker Dam Rd. Drive on Barker Dam Rd. for about 0.7 miles. Turn Left onto Keys Ranch Rd (Look for the sign that says “Ranch Tours”). Drive on Keys Ranch Rd. (a dirt road) for about 1 mile until the locked Keys Ranch gate. There is a small parking area and restroom facility at the locked gate. This is your meeting place. Drive time to the Keys Ranch from Oasis Visitor Center is approximately 40 minutes and does not include any additional delays caused by congestion at entrance gates. 

  From the Cottonwood Visitor Center (located off I-10 at exit 168 near the south border of the park): Drive north on Pinto Basin Road/Cottonwood Springs Rd for about 29.7 miles. At the stop sign, turn Left onto Park Blvd and drive 11.9 miles. Turn Right onto Barker Dam Rd. Drive on Barker Dam Rd. for about .7 miles. Turn Left onto Keys Ranch Rd (Look for the sign that says “Ranch Tours”). Drive on Keys Ranch Rd. (a dirt road) for about 1 mile until the locked Keys Ranch gate. There is a small parking area and restroom facility at the locked gate. This is your meeting place. Drive time to the Keys Ranch from Cottonwood Visitor Center is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

• Travel Times to Keys Ranch

  From Joshua Tree Visitor Center, travel time to the ranch is approximately 35 minutes, plus an additional delay of up to 30 minutes due to congestion at the gate. 

  From Oasis Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms, travel time to the ranch is approximately 40 minutes. 

  From Cottonwood Visitor Center, travel time to the ranch is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

  Please be on time. If you are not at the Keys Ranch gate by the time your tour is scheduled to begin you will miss the tour and will not receive a refund. You cannot arrive late and join a tour that is already in progress.

• Reservations Required

  Visiting Keys Ranch is by reservation only. Reservations are available up to 60 days in advance and until the day before the tour. No walk up tickets are available. Ranch tours frequently sell out and reservations are the only way to ensure a spot is available for you and/or your party. All visitors must have a ticket, including infants. Tickets are NOT available at the national park or visitor centers. Tickets and reservations are available only through Recreation.gov. Visitor Centers cannot make changes to existing reservations.

• Booking Window

  Tour reservations can be booked up to 60 days in advance. Advance tour reservations end at 9:00 pm Pacific Time prior to tour date. No walk up tickets are available.

• Restricted Area

  Keys Ranch is a protected historic site. Visiting Keys Ranch is restricted to ranger led tours only. Unauthorized access without a ranger may result in arrest and/or fines.

• Fee Area

  Keys Ranch is located within Joshua Tree National Park and a fee is required to enter the park. Interagency Annual, Senior, and Access passes are accepted. For more information about park fees, please visit https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/fees.htm  

• Time Zone

  Joshua Tree National Park is located in the Pacific Time zone and observes daylight savings time.

• Duration

  Keys Ranch tours last approximately 120 minutes and involve 1/2 mile of walking.

• Be Prepared

  Sturdy walking shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and a hat will add to your comfort. Dress in layers to be prepared for changing weather conditions.

• Photography

  Cameras are welcome on the Keys Ranch tour, however tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are prohibited.

• Pets

  Pets are not permitted on the tour and cannot be left unattended in vehicles. Service animals are allowed in accordance with federal law.

• Smoking and Eating

  Smoking and eating are prohibited on the Keys Ranch Tour.

• Strollers

  Strollers are prohibited on Keys Ranch tours. Infant backpack or carriers are permitted. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older on all tours.

• RVs

  RVs and motorhomes over 25-feet in length may not be able to navigate the rustic road to Keys Ranch.

• NPS App

  Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps, information, and more

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