Many U.S. national park gateways are becoming destinations on their own. There are a range of choices, from a beautiful city in Utah with two national parks on its doorstep to a historic Western town that remains North Dakota's secret national park gateway . Of course, California, the state with the most national parks in the U.S. (nine), has an abundance of gateway towns as well.

None of them are quite like the town of Joshua Tree , located just outside the Joshua Tree National Park . This little desert village was a counterculture hub in the 1960s and 1970s. Now it's known for its quirky downtown that boasts a surreal Bohemian vibe in contrast with the merging Mojave and Colorado Deserts.

America's Coolest Small Town Neighbors An Underrated National Park

Historic Joshua Tree S

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