Getting Oriented
Covington Flat is the park's northwest shoulder, entered off Highway 62 on the Yucca Valley side rather than through Park Boulevard and the main entrance corridor. Lower Covington Flat Road runs 4.9 miles of dirt south from its junction with pavement to the Lower Covington Flat picnic area, which is the point the Park Service measures everything else from.
Eureka Peak is 3.8 miles one way from the picnic area, and the climb to it is the steepest driving on the Covington Flat roads. The backcountry trailhead at Upper Covington Flat adds 6.5 miles to the trip and is the start of the Covington Crest Trail, 1.5 miles each way to a vista point over the Palm Springs area.
Elevation is what separates this corner from the rest of Joshua Tree's dirt. Covington Flat carries juniper and pinyon pine among the Joshua trees, and holds winter snow that the Pinto Basin roads at the other end of the park never see.
Current Status
Open as of September 16, 2026. The park's public road-status layer listed all four Covington Flat segments as open on that date, and showed no closed dirt backcountry road anywhere in Joshua Tree.
If fire conditions warrant, the park closes Covington Flats Road and the surrounding area over the July 4 weekend to prevent human-caused wildfire. The park's summer closures page names no other backcountry road for a holiday closure. Park-wide fire restrictions run June 15 through October 1, prohibiting campfires, charcoal, and open flames including in the backcountry, with only self-contained gas stoves allowed.
Dirt roads across the park also close temporarily after significant rain while flood damage is repaired. Driving around a locked gate is a citable offense. Check the park's alerts and conditions page before committing to the drive.
Trail Overview
Native dirt the whole way, and the Park Service calls it relatively easy access to the park's higher and cooler elevations. The steep pitch near the top of the Eureka Peak road is the only difficulty the agency names here. The Park Service describes no boulder pinch or washout on these roads.
NPS still rates the network high-clearance, four-wheel-drive, the same rating it hangs on Old Dale and Berdoo Canyon, which are far rougher. The Park Service applies that rating to every backcountry road here except the Queen Valley roads, so it says less about this road in particular than the label suggests.
Park road data puts the four dirt segments at roughly 10 miles combined: Lower Covington Flat Road at 4.9 miles, the Covington Flats Crossover at 1.8, Upper Covington Flat Road at 1.9, and Eureka Peak Road at 1.4.
Bikes are permitted on the backcountry roads and the Park Service describes the Upper Covington Flat run as a ride or a drive. ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes are prohibited; dual-sport motorcycles must be registered and street-legal under California law. All travel stays on the designated roadway.
Points of Interest
- Eureka Peak, 3.8 miles from the picnic area, looking out over Palm Springs, the Morongo Basin, and the surrounding mountains.
- The Covington Crest Trail, starting at the Upper Covington Flat backcountry trailhead, 1.5 miles each way to a vista point above the Palm Springs area.
- The park's largest Joshua trees. The Park Service singles out Covington Flat for the size of its Joshua trees and for the juniper and pinyon pine growing with them.
- Lower Covington Flat picnic area, the staging point and the last place on the route with any developed facility.
Where to Camp
Camping along the backcountry roads is prohibited, Covington Flat included. That covers car camping, dispersed camping, fires, and drone use anywhere on these roads.
Black Rock Campground is the closest developed option, 99 sites on the Yucca Valley side of the park, reservable up to six months ahead and open year round. Indian Cove, 101 sites, is the next nearest on the north side off Highway 62. Some loops at both campgrounds close through the summer season, so confirm availability rather than counting on a walk-up site.
Wilderness backpacking is a separate system with its own registration boards, and the Upper Covington Flat backcountry trailhead is one of the access points for it.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Fuel and water up in Yucca Valley or the town of Joshua Tree. There is no water in the park's interior and no gas station, restaurant, or store inside the boundary.
- Carry a fully inflated spare, jack, lug wrench, shovel, tow strap, traction board, and basic tools. The Park Service expects drivers on these roads to be able to self-rescue and warns that help can take hours or days.
- Cell reception is very limited park-wide. The park recommends a satellite communicator.
- Higher ground means cooler air, not cool air. Summer highs in the park run near or above 100°F, and the park advises carrying extra ice and water in case air conditioning fails.
- Winter brings snow and ice to Covington Flat. Check conditions before a cold-season run.
- Leave a trip plan with someone who will notice if you are late.
- Entrance is $30 per private vehicle for seven days, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bicycle.
- Pets are allowed on backcountry roads on a leash, but cannot go more than 100 feet from the roadway.
Fuel and Water
No fuel and no water on the route, and none in the park's interior. The Park Service states that Joshua Tree has no gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or hotels inside the boundary.
Yucca Valley and the town of Joshua Tree, both on Highway 62, are the closest services to this corner of the park. Fill the tank before the turn onto dirt. The park warns that vehicles burn fuel faster in off-road conditions, and that a stranded driver may need the engine running for climate control while waiting for help.
Nearby
- Black Rock Nature Center, on the Yucca Valley side near Black Rock Campground, with reduced hours in summer.
- The California Riding and Hiking Trail, with its western trailhead at Black Rock and a route across the park to the North Entrance.
- Indian Cove, off Highway 62 east of Joshua Tree, with a 101-site campground and a ranger station.
- Keys View, reached from Park Boulevard in the main body of the park, for a second overlook across the Coachella Valley.
- Queen Valley Roads, 13.4 miles of dirt off Park Boulevard suitable for most two-wheel-drive vehicles, for a milder introduction to the park's unpaved network.
