Off the Beaten Path Hiking and Rock Scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park

We absolutely love hiking and rock scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park! The hiking trails that incorporate some rock scrambling and hidden treasures along the way like Rattlesnake Canyon or Lost Palms Oasis are both beautiful and adventurous. And our favorite way to explore the area is just simply picking a huge pile of boulders and scrambling to the top. The climb is always rewarding in itself but the views from the top are pretty amazing too. While we were camping at Sheep-hole Wilderness we headed out to explore the area and we ventured into an off the beaten path hike in Joshua Tree National Park. We were in a granite boulder heaven! And this is now one of our favorite spots for rock scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park. Read on to see why 🙂

Quick Info: Hiking and Rock Scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park – The Secret Side

Directions: From Twentynine Palms, follow the CA-62 East for about 38 miles. There is a pull out on the right side of the road as well as a Joshua Tree National Park Boundary sign. From here just wander to wherever catches your eye!

Distance: This is a very free and wild hiking adventure with no route or set distance. Go play!

Difficulty: Make this hike as hard or easy as you would like! We love the challenge of rock scrambling in Joshua Tree so we chose to play on the rocks a lot but there are also stretches of sand and washes if you like to keep your feet on the ground. Either way it is gorgeous!

Before You Go: Make sure to pack enough water and sun protection. And it’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. In case of emergency, the chances of encountering other people out here are slim.

Our Experience Hiking and Rock Scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park – The Secret Side

We packed up for a full day of adventure and made the short drive from our camp spot in Sheephole Wilderness to the granite boulder playground. From the highway, we headed south through the desert for about a half mile before reaching the rocks. Once we made it to the rocks we chose to get to climbing! We scrambled around discovering cool caves and rock formations.

And we were just in awe of the sprawling rugged desert scenery with the unlimited rock scrambling ahead of us! We played and climbed and took on some unnecessary challenges to add to the adventure.

We had so much fun rock scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park that we came back a few days later and did it again! And the best part is that every time it’s possible to have a completely different adventure.

This time we parked a little bit further west and shot towards a different granite mountain. So now we were rock scrambling on a completely different trajectory and experiencing new climbs and viewpoints.

Explore it Later – Pin it Now!

When rock scrambling in Joshua Tree there is an adventure around every bend! Either a unique formation or a fun rock climbing move. One of the highlights of this adventure was stopping for lunch on top of a rock pile and spotting a bobcat down below! We watched it make its way across the desert before disappearing. Sometimes holding still and taking in the scenery reveals its own surprises!

While exploring this off the beaten path Joshua Tree area, we had it all to ourselves! On both of these adventures, we did not see any other humans with the exception of people driving on the CA-62.

There are two main things to remember when you go rock scrambling in Joshua Tree. One is simply keeping in mind as you wander into the wilderness that you have to go back out just as far as you go in! Plan accordingly and don’t get stuck out there after dark! And second, make sure to be really aware of which direction you parked your vehicle. It is very easy to get off track and overshoot where you think you need to go. We suggest using a compass and really focusing on taking note of specific features to ensure after your long day of adventuring, you reach your vehicle safely. And not to be annoying, but please leave no trace and be careful not to trample plants. This place is incredible exactly how it is!

Thanks for Reading!

We had an incredible time rock scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park away from the usual hot spots! Being somewhere with such amazing geology and having it completely to ourselves made it feel like an out of this world experience. Can’t wait to come back and see some more of this cool area!

If you would like to see some of our other hikes and adventures, check out the links below!

• Hiking to an Oasis on Black Canyon Trail
• Exploring Hoodoos on Red Mountain Trail
• Backpacking to North Halfmoon Lakes + Mount Massive

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