Mountain Project: Climbing Joshua Tree National Park

Submitted By: C Miller on Jul 12, 2002
Administrators: C Miller, Adam Stackhouse
Latitude: 34.0208 Longitude: -116.1659
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Description

Many excellent formations are to be found in this extensive area that generally has short easy approaches. Many classics are found in this area that's not far from the campground but feels like it is. Cracks, faces, mixed routes and even some sport climbs are here.

Classics include- Super Roof (5.9+) and Sidewinder (5.10b), Hot Rocks (5.11b), Grain Surgery (5.10a), Apartheid (5.12a), Jugline (5.11c), Rollerball (5.10b), and Blood Of Christ (5.12a).

Additionally good bouldering is scattered throughout the area as are some local curiosities like The Hobbit Hole and The Iron Door Cave.

Getting There

The Outback is the large collection of formations that are found to the north of Hidden Valley Campground. They extend from near the Quail Springs Road (Steve Canyon) east towards Echo Cove (Peyote Cracks wall) and north to Dutzi Rock. Approaches vary but most are made via Hidden Valley Campground as this typically affords the shortest walk.

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Outback:

Elusive Butterfly 5.7 R Trad Dutzi Rock

Super Roof 5.9 Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet Steve Canyon

Watanobe Wall 5.10a Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet Steve Canyon

Amanda 5.10a Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet The Hot Tub

Candelabra 5.10a X Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Steve Canyon

Grain Surgery 5.10a/b Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet Steve Canyon

Rollerball 5.10b Trad, 1 pitch, 60 feet Rollerball Formation

Sidewinder 5.10b PG13 Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet Steve Canyon

A Woman's Work is Never Done 5.10c Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet Labor Dome

The Decompensator of Lhasa 5.10c/d Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet Steve Canyon

Jumping Jack Crack 5.11a/b Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Steve Canyon

Hot Rocks 5.11b Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Rock Hudson

Rollercoaster 5.11b Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet Rollerball Formation

Apartheid 5.12a Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet Peyote Cracks

Baby Apes 5.12c Trad, 1 pitch, 60 feet Peyote Cracks

Featured Route For The Outback

The big view and pucker traverse on Sidewinder

Sidewinder 5.10b PG13 CA : Joshua Tree National Park : ... : Steve Canyon

Approach from Hidden Valley Campground by skirting along the south end of The Blob and then following a trail along the west face (passing Hobbit Roof) to the mouth of Steve Canyon. As an alternative park on the Quail Springs Road (the main road) and follow a trail leading east towards The Blob and Steve Canyon. Sidewinder climbs face and cracks up to an obvious left-slanting dike system on the large west-facing formation at the mouth of Steve Ca...[more] Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of The Outback

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This arching joshua tree used to stand near the Pe...	In the Outback. Photo by Blitzo.	Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) in bloom, Joshua Tr...
Climbing on Watanobe Wall	An interesting Joshua Tree hiding somewhere in the...	Checker Fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) in the O...
Headed In to the Outback.

Comments on The Outback

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By tom donnelly
Jan 29, 2003

Much of the central outback is getting more and more trampled since there are numerous parallel and criss-crossing trails.

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