Mountain Project: Climbing Joshua Tree National Park

Submitted By: C Miller on Feb 17, 2006
Administrators: C Miller, Adam Stackhouse
Latitude: 33.9718 Longitude: -116.0800
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Description

The Geology Tour Road is an 18 mile dirt road which winds it's ways through the lower end of Queen Valley where numerous rock formations can be found on either side of the Road. Popular areas include the Virgin Isles, East Virgin Isles, The Lost Pencil and Jerry's Quarry.

The unpaved, but occasionally graded, Geology Tour Road is a fairly good dirt road with lots of washboards and ruts in the first few miles and then a fair bit of soft sand after that. While having a 4WD vehicle is not a necessity it is advisable to have a vechicle with a bit of clearance and one that you feel comfortable driving over the odd rough spot. Be aware that some of the parking spots have a fair bit of soft sand which can spell trouble for those without 4WD, especially if trying to turn around in it. Better to keep the vehicle pointed downhill and drive the extra bit to Squaw Tank where a good turnaroud exists.

Getting There

The turnoff for the Geology Tour Road is located in the center of the Queen Valley and across the road from the turnoff for the Desert Queen Mine Area. See the individual crags for more detailed approach information.

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Geology Tour Road:

Light Sabre 5.10b Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet Virgin Islands Area : Star Wars Rock

Between a Rock and a Hard Place 5.10b Trad, 1 pitch, 40 feet Virgin Islands Area : Star Wars Rock

Cedric's Deep Sea Fish Market 5.10d Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet Virgin Islands Area : Star Wars Rock

Perpetual Motion 5.10d Trad, 1 pitch, 60 feet Virgin Islands Area : Perpetual Motion Wall

Equinox 5.12c Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Jerry's Quarry and Lost Pen... : Jerry's Quarry

Featured Route For Geology Tour Road

Equinox 5.12c CA : Joshua Tree National Park : ... : Jerry's Quarry

The line of the route is not hard to spot. It is a unique crack up the vertical west face of the giant boulder which forms the summit of Jerry's Quarry. The start of the crack is thin fingers, and is is covered partially by a huge "ear-like" flake. Mantle onto this, and continue up the thin crack with increasing difficulty. The crux comes at about 25 feet when the footholds vanish and the face overhangs a degree or two past vertical. After this, ...[more] Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Geology Tour Road

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Photo: Bennett Barthelemy	Chared joshua tree from the 2006 Queen Valley Fire...	The Virgin Isles from the Geology Tour Road.
Rock art. Photo by Blitzo.	Joshua Trees and clouds-Geology Tour Road. Photo b...	Brandi sticking the crux on Slashface. Photo: R.Mi...
Murf in the clean corner of Plastic Lizard. Copyri...	Jerry's Quarry Area. Photo by Blitzo.	BETA PHOTO: Sweet Pile of Rocks
BETA PHOTO: Towers of Uncertainty	A western diamondback rattlesnake heading down the...	Malapais Hill, Joshua Tree.
Geology Tour Road scenery, Joshua Tree.	Along the Geology Road, 2001 or so.	Same pile of rocks, Geology Road in 2001 or so.

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