Mountain Project: Climbing Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is a world famous area with thousands of routes, countless boulder problems and a very limited number of campsites. Long popular as a winter destination, it's appeal has only grown throughout the years as climbers of all abilities have discovered the mild temperatures, grippy rock and surreal landscape which make it a must visit area on any climber's list.

Today�s park visitor comes from around the globe, with some here to climb and others simply here to gaze at the wonder. Looky-loos can crowd some areas during the weekends, but that�s part of the park�s mission allowing everyone the opportunity to enjoy the park.

That said, sometimes Joshua Tree's popularity outgrows its carrying capacity, and is often the case, overnight camping can become very scarce, very fast. While the park service has made strides to expand the number of campsites, it has strengthened its rules about the number of campers per site, along with the number of vehicles per site. Current prices of overnight camping can be found here, along with other specific campground information. Other overnight options are listed below.

The fee to enter Joshua Tree is currently $15 per vehicle, which is good for 7 days from the date on the receipt. When time permits, the rangers will check the out-going traffic for valid receipts. An annual pass is also available, and at $30, stands as an excellent value for those visiting the park more often. Both are purchased at the check stations at the entrances to the park. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

The rock itself is quartz monzonite and tends to be fairly solid, but the less traveled and/or newer routes can have the dreaded "ball bearings underfoot syndrome" making those friction moves a tad more dicey. The best rock sports a coating of "desert varnish" or patina which darkens and solidifies the rock appreciably.

Kudos to this page's founding father M.Morley. In June 2002 the website "climbingjtree" went online.

CAMPING

There is no running water in the Park. Come prepared with a 5-gallon or more jug if planning on staying more than a day.

HOTELS, MOTELS, B&Bs, and VACATION HOMES

Weekends are crowded during peak season! With its proximity to Los Angeles and San Diego, the Park draws more than 1 million visitors annually. Plan accordingly and have a backup plan if the campgrounds are full. There are numerous inexpensive motels in the nearby towns of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and 29 Palms.
Lodging Overview

REST DAY ACTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

GEAR, SUPPLIES AND MEDICAL

GETTING HERE

Other Interesting Stuff

What makes the largest variety of Yucca special? See here

Some formations are in designated Wilderness Areas, while others are not? Which is where?

Sport climbs of Joshua Tree

Current Weather

The Classics

Photos of Joshua Tree National Park

Slideshow

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Below Loose Lady (10a).	Joshua Tree Sunset	Figures on a landscape...
Loner	Bird and Brodie launching the Space Pod. Photo: Er...	Desert Tortoise. Photo by Blitzo.
Welcome to Joshua Tree	Quite the sunset	"L"
Saddle Rocks at sunset. Photo by Blitzo.	I beg to differ.	Joshua Tree sunset. Photo by Blitzo.
Night Sky. Photo by Blitzo.	A typical Josh spring flower show...	Bob Cat. Photo by Blitzo.
Hawks and moon. Photo by Blitzo.	Road Runner in a willow. Photo by Blitzo.	Horny Toad. Photo by Blitzo.
Tarantula. Photo by Blitzo.	Stinkbug. Photo by Blitzo.	Butterfly. Photo by Blitzo.
Joshua tree blossom. Photo by Blitzo.	Joshua Tree-snow. Photo by Blitzo.	Dune Primrose. Photo by Blitzo.
Desert Lily at sunset. Photo by Blitzo.	Datura blossom	Desert Willow. Photo by Blitzo.
49 Palms Oasis. Photo by Blitzo.	Beavertail in bloom. Photo by Blitzo.	Hedgehog flower. photo by Blitzo.
One of a million Joshua Tree pebbles	Love those desert town murals...	Giant Nolina. Photo by Blitzo.
An imitation Blitzo	J Tree in the fall	The little town of Joshua Tree at night. Photo by ...
BETA PHOTO: Days forthcoming...	Sunset in Jtree- stop the car and get out... you c...	Wacky clouds on a gorgeous afternoon.
Just another gorgeous afternoon in the Tree	A typical Jtree sunset	Joshua Tree Sunset
Yucca/Rock/Moon	My version of a Josh sunset...	Captured aura atop a small unknown formation
One of the many cool things about this park... Ma...	More cool history from the park. Would love to kno...	Too bad about the LA smog but the view was cool fl...
Labeled this one (see other shot), I think they ar...	Spring bloom at the cholla garden. April 08.	Furry creatures at the Cholla Garden, Joshua Tree ...
Hummingbird and Ocotillo, Joshua Tree NP	Springtime 08 at the Cholla Garden.	Winter can bring snow and a different look to the ...
Joshua Tree Sunrise	A true fixture in the Park.	Patty Fienup and one very large Joshua Tree.
Juvenile Sidewinder Rattlesnake. Photographed at ...	Spring bloom in the Ocotillo patch. April '08.	Tarantula
Cottonwood Springs	Dropping into the beautiful and vast Pinto Basin.	Pinto Mountain (elev. 3983) surrounded by the lowl...
Unusual sand dune formation in Pinto Basin	Leafing Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) in Pinto B...	Roadside Ocotillos
Cholla cactus (Opuntia genus)	The vast Pinto Basin	A Climber's Friend. Scrub Oak Jay on top of an old...
Anyone know what kind of cactus this is??	Mountain Project gets around.....	Odd looking rock.
Another stunning January day of romping around in ...	Instead of Glinda, good witch of the North, it was...	Another scrub oak jay.
Trees, rocks, and sky...	It's an artsy kinda thing...	Just getting started...
Weekly rentals, great location, cheap!	Horny toad spotted by my wife on the Oasis hike.	If you stare long enough something happens....
Sunset brought to you by Joshua Tree	Another spectacular sunset in Joshua Tree, CA	JT Sunset
Pretty yucca	Joshua Tree sunset	Afghan hound or indian headdress?
Classic Desert Sunset in Joshua Tree	My 1000th photo submission!	One Joshua Tree helping out another...
Joshua Tree Shadow at Sunset	This is my favorite reason to be in Jtree.	Only a shadow of himself...
The Three Musketeers	The Fish	Ryan Ranch ruins
Wildlife	Hall of Horrors Area and Saddle Rocks Area	Old film shot from the Wonderland, when extra satu...
A joshua tree that died and went to heaven long ag...	Joshua Tree NP	A hopping roadrunner. Photo by Blitzo.
The first sunset of 2010, Joshua Tree NP	A golden afternoon in Josh	Rainbows are nice! Photo by Blitzo.
Climbers on Loose Lady	Key's View; Mt. San Jacinto (L) and San ...	Climbers on SW
Climbers on Figures	Mrs. C Schaumann enjoying Peet's in the morning su...	The rarely deserted Indian Cove Campground.
The venerable Joshua Tree.	Kris Solem on Headstone.	Headstone Rock
San Gorgonio from Queen Valley. Photo by Blitzo.	Bachar collection....	In the Jumbo Rocks Area. 3-7-10
Given all that it had...	Balanced boulder...	Focus now...
Snow Bluejay	Santa Claus?	Cap Rock
GP memorial area	Desert Blooms	Desert Blooms
BETA PHOTO: Look up to Grit Roof	A view to the east...	We've been approved to open and In-n-Out in the Hi...
An ugly plant yields a stunning bloom in April.	The Cholla Garden looked really nice with all the ...	There's a guy up there, hanging from the rock!
Hidden Valley Campground	Left Ski Track, 5.11- Intersection Rock	All the pretty colors of the native grasses and sh...
Screen shot of old "climbingjtree.com" home page a...	whitetank campground jt ca	desert tortous jt ca
Ryan Campground	Yucca and stars.	Jtree
Dusk in Indian Cove Campground	Key's View	There's a new Pizza joint in town. Photo by Blitzo...
Yum	No sunsets like J-Tree...	This sunset only got better.
And the culmination.	A view of San Gorgonio.	action figure
Barbar-like boulder	alcove	Joshua Tree
best end to a day	Joshua Tree, the early days-1974	Cooling down in early season.
Joshua Tree	Joshua Tree	Let it snow
let it snow 2	la luna	beware the coyote shoe thief. he steals one of you...
Recycle	Evening Sky at Joshua Tree	Sunset in Jtree
Flourescent Cactus	Bring tape!	Lightning in JTNP
The Joshua Tree Saloon	Good short double Hand crack.	Bouldering at the Meadows Boulder, Joshua Tree NP
Metallic Bighorn, Joshua Tree NP	Quit your job, Joshua Tree NP	right near the entrance of The 29 Palms Inn is thi...
close up of notations	scrap metal welded together, including rebar rope	Nomad Ventures, Joshua Tree