Desert Queen Mine  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  34.0158, -116.0688 Map Page Views:  13,109. Good page?    Administrators:  C Miller, Adam Stackhouse, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  C Miller on Apr 4, 2003 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: Desert Queen Mine showing the Gold Dust area (lowe...

Description 

Located north of the Queen Valley Road, somewhat midway between Jumbo Rocks and Sheep Pass CG, is this fairly accessible area with a remote and somewhat wild feel. Depending upon your motivation or proclivity you might climb close to the car, or venture out into one of the Park's lesser-visited areas and possibly discover some relics from the area's rich mining past. This is an area to visit if seeking solitude and quality engaging routes, of which there are many. Those seeking cracks will be rewarded with such gems as Tiers For Fears (5.10b), The Golddigger (5.10c), Petrodynamics (5.10d), Silverado (5.11b) and Nerve Storm (5.11c). Face climbing enthusiasts will want to do Once In A Lifetime (5.7), Get The Balance Right (5.10a) Times Of Holyness (5.11c), I Have The Touch (5.12b) and Cosmic Trigger (5.12d).

Getting There 

Driving east from Sheep Pass CG, there is a right turn towards the signed Geology Tour Road; more or less directly across from this is the dirt road to the Desert Queen Mine area. Drive the dirt road, staying right when necessary, to a parking area one and a quarter miles from the paved Queen Valley Road. The trail to the various rocks lies at the east end of the parking area and winds downhill to the base of a large hillside with several sealed mineshafts. Climbing back up to a large plateau behind the mineshafts leads to a rough landscape of valleys and hills with scattered rock formations. Scattered throughout this landscape are many enticing routes. Plan on thirty to forty-five minutes to Fraggle Rock, the furthest crag from the parking area.

The Classics

Featured Route For Desert Queen Mine

Desert Profit 5.11d  CA : Joshua Tree National Park : ... : Queen Crimson Dome

Two difficult slab / face cruxes are found on this climb. The first crux comes after the second bolt and the second crux is encountered between the 5th and 6th bolts on the rounded arete. A moderate runout exists between the 7th and 8th bolts. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Desert Queen Mine Slideshow

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Desert Queen Mine area. Photo by Blitzo.	View towards the Wonderland from the road into Des...	Odd things in the desert...
BETA PHOTO: Mother Lode Wall	Desert Queen Dome	BETA PHOTO: Scary Tree Pinnacles
One of the many mines in the area. This one is ve...	BETA PHOTO: The Gold Nuggets. Note hikers in the lower portion f...	San Jacinto as seen from Queen Valley. Photo by Bl...