3 Reasons to Take the Keys Ranch Tour at Joshua Tree National Park

When you visit Joshua Tree National Park, you’ll find more than just hiking, rock climbing, star gazing, and viewing the iconic Joshua trees. The park is home to Keys Ranch, a place where you feel like you have stepped back in time, surrounded by artifacts from an old movie set in the middle of the desert. In fact, since 1975, this spot in Joshua Tree National Park has been listed on the National Historic Register. The artifacts at Keys Ranch set the scene for a story of grit and determination of Bill Keys and his family. I wasn’t sure initially if this 90 minute ranger-led tour would fit in with our two day itinerary for Joshua Tree National Park, but it was actually a nice break after a few hikes in the morning and lunch. Here’s 3 reasons to book the Keys Ranch Tour on your visit to Joshua Tree National Park, plus a few favorite photos. 

​1. Learn Fascinating History About Life in the Desert.  Research shows inhabitants have been in the Joshua Tree National Park area for at least 5,000 years, including the Pinto Culture, and the Serrano, Chemehuevi, and Cahuilla people. These native people lived off the resources of the land, using everything from mesquite pods and local seeds, to hunting deer, rabbits, and bighorn sheep. As you walk around this remote location in the middle of the desert, and listen to stories of life and adventures of William F. Keys, you can see how working the land also allowed the Keys family to survive under the harsh desert conditions. Bill, and his wife Frances, raise 5 kids on what was known as the Desert Queen Ranch, long before Joshua Tree became a national park. They raised cattle, mined the land, and even grew a small fruit orchard nestled among the boulders in this remote part of California. You will view several old buildings including a house, schoolhouse, barn/workshop, equipment they used, and piles of spare materials Bill “scavenged.” Find out more about the historical significance of Keys Ranch. 

​2. Opportunities to Capture Unique Photos. The backdrop of the desert sky and the massive boulders provides so many interesting photo opportunities. Between the old glass collection scattered across tables, the relics of farming and mining equipment, and the schoolhouse and other buildings, there is no shortage of artifacts to photograph. Here’s some of our favorites! We lucked out with a picture-perfect blue sky day in February. 

3. The Tour is the Only Way to Visit the Property. While the ranch is part of the national park, the property is gated and access is only available through a guided tour. It’s not far from Hidden Valley or Barker Dam, so it fits in well before or after a visit to these sights. If you are traveling directly to the ranch from the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, it is suggested you allow roughly 40 minutes (plus a potential delay up to 30 minutes if there is heavy traffic at the entrance.) The tours are currently offered at 9:30 and 1 p.m. Reservations should be made in advance (available up to 60 days ahead of time), and at the time of this post, the cost was $10 per person for 12 and over, and $5 for kids ages 6-11. Keep in mind that the tours are typically not offered between June and August. 

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