High Desert Escape | Fireplace, Spa, Views & Stars

Joshua Tree, CA, United States
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About

Set high on Moonlight Mesa in north Joshua Tree, this serene retreat offers sweeping desert views, a private spa, and cozy evenings by the fire. Thoughtfully designed for relaxation and connection, it’s a peaceful escape where you can stargaze from the hot tub, cool off in the cowboy pool, or unwind on the expansive terraces just 15 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park.

Good to know

Shifting Sands House is a peaceful high-desert retreat designed for effortless living and quiet comfort. Perched atop Moonlight Mesa, the home captures endless mountain views and the soft stillness of open desert. The open-concept layout includes a designer Reform kitchen with a breakfast bar, spacious dining nook, and a large, comfortable L-shaped sofa for lounging or movie nights by the wood-burning fireplace. Three bedrooms offer room for everyone, two with king beds and one with a queen, all with memory foam hybrid mattresses, linen bedding, blackout shades, and writing nooks. The primary suite features an en-suite bath with a soaking tub and separate shower. Outside, the private courtyard and multiple patios are designed for full days under the desert sun and starlit nights. Soak in the hot tub, gather around the firepit, or cool off in the cowboy pool (open seasonally). The west-facing terrace is perfect for sunset dinners and golden-hour views stretching all the way to Pipes Canyon and San Jacinto. Highlights Include: - Hot tub with open-sky desert views - Cowboy pool (seasonal) - Firepit and BBQ grill - Wood-burning fireplace indoors - Outdoor fire pit - Outdoor dining and lounge areas - Fully equipped designer kitchen - Central air conditioning and heat - Smart TV and board games - Pet friendly (two dogs max) Calm, comfortable, and filled with light, a true high-desert escape. Great Location: 15 min to Joshua Tree National Park 15 min to Pappy & Harriet’s 20 min to Old Town Yucca Valley Local Experiences: Make the most of your stay with curated local experiences we love to share. Sound baths at the Integratron or with a local practitioner Massage, bodywork, or energy sessions at the house Guided desert hikes and nature walks Yoga, Pilates, or breathwork under open skies Private chef dinners and in-home dining Stargazing and astronomy tours Horseback rides through desert trails Cold plunges and wellness sessions with local experts We’d love to connect you with our favorite local guides and practitioners.

Other Details to Note

— Number of guest The entire property has 3 bedrooms. The maximum capacity is 6. — Parking Please use the large driveway space for parking your vehicles. Please do not block the entry / exit of the property with your vehicle in case of emergency. — Oven Please make sure to turn on the vent while using the oven, if cooking something smokey you should also open the window above the sink to let in a little more air. Note that the oven only turns on when you turn the timer on (oven heat control is the centre right knob, timer is the centre left knob). Also please ensure all knobs are turned completely to OFF when not in use. — Jacuzzi (no extra fees) Please shower before use. The temperature control can be controlled by repeatedly pressing the temperature icon on the control panel on the edge of the Jacuzzi. Please do not turn the heat above 104 as this may cause damage to the system. Please don’t put any liquid/solid soap into it, any extra costs occurring will be charged. No glass is aloud near the jacuzzi. Guests will take all liability and responsibility for your own safety. — Pool Our cowboy pool is not heated, but it is filtered. Please shower before use, and take care. We have the pool cleaned out twice a week, but you may find some stray leaves in there. Use the net to remove any surface leaves before use. Note that the cowboy pool is closed in winter months. Anyone under 18 needs his/her parent’s present while swimming or near the pool for safety reasons. No diving and no glass near the pool. The guests will take full liability and responsibility for your own and your guests safety. — Pets Two well-behaved pups allowed. There is a $95 pet fee, which is paid when booking. No pups on the furniture and no pups left alone in the house (without being crated) or in the yard. Please be aware that there are snakes and coyotes in the desert. — Broken Items We understand that accidents happen, if anything breaks down - even if it's your fault - let us know so we can send someone to fix it or replace it for you and future guests. — Plumbing All houses in Joshua Tree are on a Septic Tank system. For this reason nothing can be flushed down the toilet except toilet paper. Following these guidelines will avoid problems with the plumbing. — Security Camera According to the requirements from Insurance Company, there are security cameras facing the main house entrance and back entrance. — Film/Video and Photos Our property is a beautiful place to shoot photos and videos, we welcome you to tag us on Insta at @shiftingsandshouse. Any shoots with any commercial purposes are priced at a different rate and must be cleared with us in advance of your stay. If you are in doubt, inquire first. We will charge $5000 per violation, plus production fee up to $575/hour. — No-Smoking Smoking (including E-Cig) is not allowed inside or within 15 feet exterior door. Please dispose cigarettes into a plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash can. Please take care as there is a high fire risk in the desert. Ensure butts are completely out before disposing. — Checking Out Please check out of our Airbnb rental by 11:00AM. Please checking out by this time ensures that we have enough time to clean the property and get it ready for our next guest. •Check in time 4:00PM •Check out time 11:00AM WILDLIFE: The desert is alive with nature, you may see coyotes, lizards, rabbits, or hear owls at night. Insects and snakes are rare but part of the ecosystem. We recommend keeping doors closed and pets supervised. The property is treated monthly for pests and well-maintained for guest comfort.

Availability

What this place offers

Amenities

Common

  • Air conditioning
  • Cleaning products
  • Cooking basics Pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper
  • Dishes and silverware
  • Essentials Towels, bed sheets, soap, toilet paper, and pillows
  • Hair dryer
  • Heating Central heating or a heater in the listing
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen Space where guests can cook their own meals
  • Dedicated workspace
  • Pool Private or Shared
  • TV
  • Wifi

Outdoors

  • Alfresco dining
  • BBQ
  • Fire pit
  • Garden or backyard
  • Outdoor seating
  • Patio
  • Sun loungers

Kitchen and dining

  • Baking sheet
  • Barbecue utensils
  • Blender
  • Coffee
  • Coffee maker
  • Dining table
  • Dishwasher
  • Freezer
  • Hot water kettle
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Rice maker
  • Stove
  • Toaster
  • Wine glasses

Common

  • Air conditioning
  • Cleaning products
  • Cooking basics Pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper
  • Dishes and silverware
  • Essentials Towels, bed sheets, soap, toilet paper, and pillows
  • Hair dryer
  • Heating Central heating or a heater in the listing
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen Space where guests can cook their own meals
  • Dedicated workspace
  • Pool Private or Shared
  • TV
  • Wifi

Outdoors

  • Alfresco dining
  • BBQ
  • Fire pit
  • Garden or backyard
  • Outdoor seating
  • Patio
  • Sun loungers

Kitchen and dining

  • Baking sheet
  • Barbecue utensils
  • Blender
  • Coffee
  • Coffee maker
  • Dining table
  • Dishwasher
  • Freezer
  • Hot water kettle
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Rice maker
  • Stove
  • Toaster
  • Wine glasses

Bathroom

  • Bathtub
  • Conditioner
  • Hot Water
  • Shampoo
  • Shower gel

Bedroom and laundry

  • Bed linens
  • Extra pillows and blankets
  • Hangers
  • Iron
  • Room-darkening shades
  • Clothing storage

Family

  • Board games
  • High chair
  • Travel crib

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Exercise equipment
  • Sound system

Home safety

  • Carbon monoxide detector
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Smoke detector

Heating and cooling

  • Ceiling fan
  • Indoor fireplace

Services

  • Cleaning before checkout
  • Long term stays allowed Allow stay for 28 days or more

Parking and facilities

  • Free parking on premises
  • Single level home No stairs in home

Location features

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Private entrance Separate street or building entrance

House Rules

By booking our property you're agreeing to our house rules. - Quiet hours from 10 pm to 9 am. Please be mindful of our neighbors. No loud noise at anytime. - No outdoor music allowed at any time. - No parties or events. - No non-standard use of the property without prior written authorization. - No outside vendors allowed on the property. - No guests besides registered guests. - No wood fires when winds are above 10 mph. - No fireworks or sparklers. - No drones. - No glitter, confetti, balloons, water balloons. - No photoshoots without prior approval (Personal photos are ok. Please tag us at @staycocoon). - No pets allowed. Cowboy tub and Hot Tub: Use at your own risk. We are not responsible for injuries. No jumping or diving, running, rough play, food or glass in the tub. Children cannot use the pool without adult supervision. *Please take care to leave the cowboy tub and hot tub clean, no sandy feet! If you get excess dirt in the pool/hot tub, causing us to have to empty and refill the pool, there is a $100 charge. thank you! Please note:  Failure to comply with the requirements of the San Bernardino County Code Chapter 84.28 (which can be found online), including parking and occupancy standards, as well as public and private nuisance standards, is a violation of the County Code, and such violation may result in enforcement actions to address the violation.  Enforcement may include criminal, civil or administrative actions, or the calling of law enforcement for the removal of guests and their vehicles from the property to the extent authorized by law.  Users of the dwelling unit are prohibited from disturbing the peace of the surrounding neighborhood and doing so is a violation of the Chapter and the rental agreement.

Accessibility

Neighborhood

Situated on top of a hill in 'Moonlight Mesa' a picturesque area in north Joshua Tree with views of the several mountain ranges including the San Jacinto range. 15 mins from the JT National Monument Entrance, 10 mins from Downtown Joshua Tree and all it's amenities. Walking distance to the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum.

Guest Access

Guests have access to the entire home and all outdoor spaces within the property boundary. The garage is not accessible for guests. Parking is available in the driveway. Unfortunately we don't offer laundry on site, but we can recommend local laundry services on request.

Reviews

Liliana
March 2026 · Airbnb
Jenn’s place was perfect for my husband and I to relax and get away. The home was beautiful and let in a lot of sunlight which we loved. Everything was clean and the kitchen had everything we needed to make a home meal. The pool and the hot tub were clean and in great locations! We loved the place so much upon arrival we decided to book an extra night just to really enjoy the space. The grill was easy to use, and the amount of lounge and dining spaces was great. The views around the home were amazing! I will keep an eye out for this listing for my next trip back!
Leslie
March 2026 · Airbnb
Our stay here was truly special. From the moment we arrived, the home felt like a peaceful sanctuary beautifully designed, calming, and filled with such intentional energy. It created the perfect space to rest, reflect, and just be present. We’re so grateful to have spent this time here. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful space with us..it left a lasting impression, and we’ll definitely carry a bit of its peace with us.
Gabriel
March 2026 · Airbnb
Had a wonderful long weekend stay at Jenn's house and loved every minute of it. The house is up on a hill and the views and sunsets are spectacular. Stargazing at night in the hot tub was wonderful and so peaceful. We cooked every night and this was perhaps the most well-stocked kitchen of any Airbnb I've rented. I'd DM'd before driving out to ask about spices and she said they had salt/pepper and olive oil. Turned out there were actually about 20 different spices, plus tin foil/cling wrap and enough pots, pans & dishware for a dinner party for 10 (no microwave). The beds were comfortable and clean. The sofa is perfect for snuggling at the end of a long day, kicking back with a cocktail and watching a movie with the fire going. There was even firewood! (Probably left by the previous renters). The house is bright and airy and secluded enough that we never saw any people beyond a couple cars driving by on the dirt road. To top it all off: Perfect weather. Would absolutely stay again.
Julia
March 2026 · Airbnb
What a beautiful and peaceful home in Joshua Tree! The space is as lovely as the photos—we loved the interior and exterior equally, including watching many sunrises and sunsets around the many seating areas on the property. The kitchen was well stocked and allowed us to cook many meals from home. We also loved using the Sonos system! The home is far enough to enjoy peace and quiet but close enough to get to town and to the park easily. We went to a sound bath in the Integratron, hiked in Joshua Tree National Park, visited The Dez and Tiny Pony Tavern, and saw live music at Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown. Thank you for having us, we’ll be back!
Rita
February 2026 · Airbnb
Great house and location. The kitchen had everything you need and the house was clean and comfortable. The views and amenities of the house were 10/10. Would definitely stay here again
Alex
January 2026 · Airbnb
Jenn's place is fantastic. Perched at the top of a hill with incredible views, the house is well decorated and the yard is fully fenced for dogs. Will definitely stay again.

Find us

Los Angeles —> Joshua Tree: 145 miles, ~2.5 hours (depending on traffic). You can either take the Route 10, then onto the 62, or you can take the 60 to the 62 (which tends to be a little quicker in busier times). Try to leave LA before 3pm if you can as you can get caught in LA traffic if you leave much later - if you leave early you should be able to get to the house in 2.5h from central LA.

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Approximate location. Full address will be provided on booking.