Keys View — Joshua Tree National Park Summit Overlook

Keys View sits at 5,185 feet on the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains and delivers one of the finest desert panoramas in Southern California. On a clear morning you can pick out the Salton Sea shimmering sixty miles south, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the southeast, and the trace of the San Andreas Fault running through the valley floor. It’s a paved, ADA-accessible pullout with interpretive signs — nothing rugged about the access — but the view earns a stop every single time.

The road to Keys View is paved all the way from Park Boulevard and any rig can get there. Crowds peak on weekend mornings; roll up at dawn or at dusk for a quieter experience. No camping here — day use only. Cell signal is surprisingly decent given the elevation. Worth noting as a navigation and orientation anchor before heading out onto Geology Tour Road or the backcountry.

Salton Sea to San Andreas in one sweep.