Real Hidden Valley

I managed (barely) to lead this classic route on m...

Description 

Real Hidden Valley is a circular-shaped area - I'm not sure if “box canyon” is quite the precise term for it, but hopefully you get the idea. It is home to some J-Tree super-ultra-mega classics such as the delightful Sail Away (easily protected 5.8 crack), Loose Lady (5.9+ well-bolted face/friction), the adrenaline-pumping Run For Your Life (5.10b scary runout face/friction), Clean And Jerk (5.10c crack), Leave It To Beaver (5.12a - usually done as a TR), the masochist's dream Fisticuffs (5.10b fists and larger), and of course the ever-popular Illusion Dweller (5.10b perfect crack).

Sports Challenge Rock and The Thin Wall are excellent (read: popular) top-rope areas, each with a high concentration of fun routes.

Locomotion Rock has a few short, easier routes for the aspiring leader.

Several excellent bouldering problems lie just beyond the parking area (both west and south).

Getting There 

A short walk south along the now paved road from Hidden Valley Campground puts you in the Real Hidden Valley parking area.

Featured Route For Real Hidden Valley

Hidden Arch 5.11d  CA : Joshua Tree National Park : Houser Buttress Area

From the Real Hidden Valley parking area approach as per Loose Lady via the marked climber's trail. The climb is not visible for most of the approach as it is west-facing. Once up at the base of Houser Buttress the climb will be obvious as a left-facing arching crack/corner system down and left from Loose Lady. A bit of easy scrambling leads down to the base. Face climbing past two bolts (5.10) leads to the base of the arch where ...[more]

Add Photo Photos of Real Hidden Valley

Real Hidden Valley. Photo by Blitzo.	Real Hidden Valley. Photo by Blitzo.	Balanced Rock near Real Hidden Valley. Photo by Bl...
Wandering in Real Hidden Valley. Photo by Blitzo.	A Claret Cup cactus blooms in the Real Hidden Vall...	BETA PHOTO: The Boulders with the sunset light are those which...
Hidden Tower. Photo by Blitzo.	Real Hidden Valley Houser Buttress area. Photo by ...	Looky-loos!
The Tumbling Rainbow formation in Real Hidden Vall...	Great Burrito formation from the bird's eye!	BETA PHOTO: "Aerial view from Real Hidden Valley"
Afternoon thunderhead with Three Pile Island in th...	BETA PHOTO: Elephant and Snake Domes	The Wailing Wall. Photo by Blitzo.
Beavertail and Sports Challenge Rock. Photo by Bli...	Yuccas neat The Entrance Boulder. Photo by Blitzo.	Spring bloom in the Real Hidden Valley. April 08.