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Indian Cove

Submitted By: Brian Reynolds on Jun 20, 2002
Administrators: C Miller, Adam Stackhouse
Elevation: 3,200 feet
Latitude: 34.0938  Longitude: -116.1566 
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Rainbow in Indian Cove right after the rain.


Description 

Indian Cove is a stand-alone section of the park, located to the north of the main park and around 1000 feet lower in elevation. This, plus the fact that it is relatively sheltered, make it a good destination on cold winter days. Additionally, unlike the main park, the campsites in Indian Cove can be reserved and cost $$ (currently $10/night) -- on the other hand, though, there's no park entrance fee.

The rock tends to be slightly grainier than some of the other popular areas (Lost Horse, Real Hidden Valley), and many of the routes are a bit shorter. Nonetheless, there's some great climbing here, probably close to a thousand routes from 5.2 all the way up, and as a bonus most of it is within a hundred yards or so of the road, so the approaches are practically non-existent. A few less populated crags lie up on the slope of the Wonderland of Rocks (the south side of IC) or up Rattlesnake Canyon in the Wonderland.

Certain formations at Indian Cove can be overrun with gang-ropers (Feudal Wall, Short Wall, Billboard Buttress, Pixie Rock), so plan accordingly. Other great areas to check out include Moosedog Tower, Dos Equis Wall, Corral Wall, Wonder Bluffs, and more that I don't have time to list here. One general word of warning: the further north you get, the grainier and more crumbly the rocks tend to get. Grain Central Station has that name for a reason, and although Morbid Mound is relatively popular, I can't figure out why.


Getting There 

Follow the 29 Palms Highway past the entrance to the main park in the town of Joshua Tree. The entrance to Indian Cove is between the towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Keep a look out for Indian Cove Road, on the south side of the highway. If you're approaching from the west, look for a Del Taco billboard to mark the spot.

Turn south on Indian Cove Road and head straight into the park. After a couple of miles, you'll pass a small ranger station, and after another mile or so, you're there.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Indian Cove:
200 Motels   5.8-     Trad, 1 pitch, 110 feet   Rattlesnake Canyon : Rattlesnake Buttress
Taken For Granite   5.8-     Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet   Rattlesnake Canyon : Rattlesnake Buttress
Palmreader   5.8     Trad, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Indian Cove CG : Palmreader Wall
The Reverend   5.8     Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Indian Cove CG : Billboard Buttress
Exfoliation Confrontation   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Rattlesnake Canyon : Corral Wall
Direct South Face   5.9     Trad, 3 pitches, 200 feet   Indian Cove CG : Moosedog Tower
Canadian Driftwood (aka The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance)   5.9     Trad, 2 pitches, 250 feet   Rattlesnake Canyon : Upper Dodge City
Apparition   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Indian Cove CG : Apparition Rock
Silent Scream (aka Shock the Monkey)   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Indian Cove CG : Pixie Rock
Right V Crack   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Indian Cove CG : Short Wall
Witch Hunt   5.10b     Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet   The Valley Of Kings : Slatanic Area
Party in the Desert   5.10b     Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Rattlesnake Canyon : Corral Wall
Third Time's a Charm   5.10b     Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet   Indian Cove CG : Moosedog Tower
Firewater Chimney   5.10b     Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet   The Valley Of Kings : The Arrowhead
Goodbye Mr. Bond   5.10c     Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Indian Cove CG : King Otto's Castle
Sweat Band   5.10c     Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Indian Cove CG : King Otto's Castle
Boortemus   5.10d     Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Rattlesnake Canyon : Iceberg Boulder
Monaco   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Feudal Wall : Feudal Wall (Left Side)
California Crack   5.11a     Trad   Feudal Wall : Feudal Wall (Right Side)
Campfire Girl   5.11d R     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Campfire Crag : Campfire Crag - North Face
Browse More Classics in Indian Cove

Featured Route For Indian Cove
Vern styling yet another deep Wonderland classic. At the top of the layback; just below the crux. Copyright 2003, by Randy V.

Powered By Old English 5.11d  CA : Joshua Tree National Park : ... : The Lynch Crag
This thin layback and face route lies on the right side of the south face of The Lynch Crag. Climb the thin layback and face (11d) past 5 bolts to where the climbing eases and the crack widens. Above a final bolt protects a 5.10c move to a 2 bolt anchor. Rappel 85 feet to ground....[more]   Browse More Classics in CA


Photos of Indian Cove Slideshow Add Photo
Clouds and Rays at Indian Cove.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Clouds and Rays at Indian Cove.
Photo by Blitzo.


Desert Iguana.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Iguana.
Photo by Blitzo.


Mojave Yucca-Indian Cove.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Mojave Yucca-Indian Cove.
Photo by Blitzo.


Watch where you put your hands.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Watch where you put your hands.
Photo by Blitzo.


Thunderhead-Indian Cove.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Thunderhead-Indian Cove.
Photo by Blitzo.


Desert floor in bloom-Indian Cove.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert floor in bloom-Indian Cove.
Photo by Blitzo...


Rock and yucca.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Rock and yucca.
Photo by Blitzo.


Some new route in Indian Cove.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Some new route in Indian Cove.
Photo by Blitzo.


Indian Cove-snow.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Indian Cove-snow.
Photo by Blitzo.


Indian Cove Panorama.

Indian Cove Panorama.

Billboard outside Indian Cove. Be sure to look your best at the crags!

Billboard outside Indian Cove. Be sure to look you...

The new market at Indian Cove.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

The new market at Indian Cove.
Photo by Blitzo.


Desert Tortoise.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Tortoise.
Photo by Blitzo.


Hedgehog cactus in bloom.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Hedgehog cactus in bloom.
Photo by Blitzo.


Rainbow in Indian Cove right after the rain.

Rainbow in Indian Cove right after the rain.

A nice fat chuckwalla pumping in the sun.

A nice fat chuckwalla pumping in the sun.

Indian Cove-Spring Storm.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Indian Cove-Spring Storm.
Photo by Blitzo.


Rattlesnakes are well camouflaged.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Rattlesnakes are well camouflaged.
Photo by Blitzo...


Walking Stick, photographed in Group Campsite 1, Indian Cove.

Walking Stick, photographed in Group Campsite 1, I...

Desert Tortoise, found crossing the main road into Indian Cove.

Desert Tortoise, found crossing the main road into...