With rocks to climb, exotic trees to admire and silence to enjoy, Southern California’s Joshua Tree Park is an oasis for those seeking an easy getaway.

Just 140 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and even closer to Palm Springs airport, the park lies at the intersection of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts, covering over a million acres. The area was proclaimed a national monument by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 and designated a National Park in 1994.

The Mojave is home to the park’s namesake, the Joshua tree, a type of lily dependent on well-timed rains and winter freeze.

In December, though, the weather is all but freezing with daily temperatures averaging 60 degrees and a brilliantly blue sky. Nevertheless, a bone-chilling wind can whip up in open areas, so be sure to bring a warm jacket.

With a myriad of large rocks sprinkling the terrain, one isn’t hard pressed to find a nook well-protected from the wind to have a picnic, meditate, or lie down and enjoy the sound of desert stillness.

These same boulders make Joshua Tree Park one of the world’s most popular rock-climbing spots. Rocks of every size and shape provide a broad spectrum of difficulty levels that anyone from small children to professional climbers can enjoy.

Hikers enjoy the scenery and relax on a rock, of which there is no shortage, at Joshua Tree Park. (Mike Powell/Getty Images)

Jumbo Rock, located near the park’s northern entrance is a great place to go if you’re traveling with kids. Its large stones, with their granular surface that is easy to climb without slipping, makes it a natural playground.

Another of the park’s highlights is Keys View, a windy vista overlooking an impressive stretch of land and water, including the San Andreas Fault, Palm Springs, and Salton Sea. On a clear day, one can see all the way to Mexico. Nearby, the one-mile loop of Hidden Valley nature trail offers a taste of the park’s unique wildlife.

This wildlife has already been damaged in some areas due to interaction with human visitors, reducing the park’s natural beauty and endangering a fragile ecosystem. Park rangers are entrusted with the job of maintaining the balance between ensuring the visitors’ fun and protecting Joshua Tree’s plants and animals.

As a visitor, you can assist the rangers in this difficult task by disposing of trash properly. Even organic items like orange peels or egg shells cannot decompose in the dry climate, so be sure to bring plastic bags to take garbage with you until you can throw it in the allotted bins. The park also asks that visitors not feed the coyotes, as it turns them into beggars.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive taste of the outdoors, the park offers plenty of organized campgrounds to stay in, though desert nights can be chilly. Otherwise, you might want to try the Motel 6 in the nearby town of Twentynine Palms, where you can also enjoy a hot tub under the stars.

For those who prefer more luxury, the touristy Palm Springs offers hotels, spas, golf courses, and shopping an hour away.

And if you’re one of those people who can’t go too long without e-mail or Chai Latte, you can check out the Beatnik Café in the small town of Joshua Tree just outside the park.

If you haven’t been there yet, find a chance to discover the park’s wonders for yourself. You too will not regret it.