PRINT: Rock Climbing in The Thin Wall, Joshua Tree National Park

The Thin Wall

California > Joshua Tree NP > Hidden Valley Area > Real Hidden Valley

Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

The Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent's Compendium states that:
1. Vegetation is not allowed to be used as an anchor.
2. Only neutral or rock colored bolt hangers are allowed.

For a complete list of climbing rules and closures visit:
nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/…

Description

Crowded beginner area.

Getting There

Approach from Real Hidden Valley parking area.

Routes from Left to Right

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 6 ● Count Your Blessings Trad, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R 149 ● Child's Play Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R 138 ● Congratulations Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 376 ● No Calculators Allowed Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 338 ● Count on Your Fingers Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 76 ● Peculiar Taste Buds Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 86 ● Conservative Policies Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 312 ● Butterfingers Make Me Horny Trad
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c R 129 ● Chocolate is Better Than Sex Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 20 ● Square Root Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 278 ● Almost Vertical Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 60 ● The Face of Tammy Faye Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 272 ● Ain't Nothing but a J-Tree Thing Trad
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c 13 ● Felicitations Trad, TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 18 ● Hidden in Plain Sight Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 1 ● Sandbag Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 1 ● Keith's Work TR

● Count Your Blessings

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR

● Child's Play

149

5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R Trad

● Congratulations

138

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R Trad

● No Calculators Allowed

376

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad

● Count on Your Fingers

338

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad

● Peculiar Taste Buds

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Conservative Policies

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Butterfingers Make Me Horny

312

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Chocolate is Better Than Sex

129

5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c R Trad

● Square Root

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Almost Vertical

278

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad

● The Face of Tammy Faye

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Ain't Nothing but a J-Tree…

272

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad

● Felicitations

5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, TR

● Hidden in Plain Sight

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad

● Sandbag

5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad

● Keith's Work

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c TR

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The Thin Wall-West Face.<br>
Photo by Blitzo.

The Thin Wall-West Face. Photo by Blitzo.

Climbers at the Thin Wall.

The Thin Wall from afar.

Leading at Thin Wall. photo: D. Blattel

On lead at Thin Wall - photo: David Blattel

The Thin Wall

Joshua tree thin wall

View from the top of the Thin wall of a rather large thunderstorm moving in.

Playing on the thin wall, dodging the lightning bolts

The Thin Wall

A typical weekend at Thin Wall.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Tony B
Around Boulder, CO

Maybe I was more dialed in at this crag then I was at others, but in my honest opinion, the ratings at this crag were more merciful. I found 5.10+/11- to be at the limit of my ability at most J-tree crags, but not so hard here. Jul 2, 2002

David Evans

The West face has a route called "Sandbag" that is a very technical lead. One should be a solid 10c leader. Remember to double back your harness. The one time I forgot to was when I led this route. Thank God I didn't fall! Jan 24, 2003

Steve Powell

I agree with Tony. I thought that the route ratings were more in line with other crags in the country. in other words, I thought these routes were overrated for Josh. Apr 8, 2003

Josh Beck

Agreed, the ratings on the Thin Wall feel quite soft to me. Apr 8, 2003

The Gray Tradster

re: crux at top. That's so typical of Josh. the crack gets wide at the top and a little groveling is involved. It's not just the Thin Wall. Done many a route here and cruse'd the crux only to feel like a beached fish at the top. Jul 18, 2003

Tyler Logan
Bishop, CA

Is this officially the most popular formation in Joshua Tree? (based on average # of visitors a day compared to # of climbs) Jul 31, 2003

Randy
Lassitude 33

Don't confuse the terms "most popular" with "most crowded." There are plenty people who avoid the area like the plague. Aug 1, 2003

Fat Dad
Los Angeles, CA

Just a comment on how the area has changed over the past few years. This area used to be a ghost town since it was primarily a top roping crag and I guess must have lacked a certain cache. I mean you could have shot a cannon at its base and only graze a few plants. Gladly, it's nice to see that its popularity hasn't resulted in a proliferation of bolts. Jan 5, 2009

Adam Stackhouse

Lynn Hill climbing the Thin Wall

youtube.com/watch?v=qWfa6IZ… Feb 18, 2012

MoeSARcase
Cashmere WA

So I've made many pilgrimages to the climbing Mecca of JTree. Yes I'm a guide book snob. So most of the references to this area talk about the hordes of people. There are no starred routes in the most popular guide to the area. Don't let that keep you away. There are many moderate lines from 5.6 to 5.10. This wall is in the shade most of the day, yet 20 ft. From the base you and your friends basque in the sun and watch the show. We had for lines set up for TR and had fabulous day on half a dozen routes. Mar 18, 2013

tomallen112190
yucca valley, ca

To whom it may concern: I took some friends to thin wall the other day and noticed the bolted anchor up top is getting pretty loose. I don't feel qualified to adjust bolts or replace them, but I feel it's worth mentioning to anybody who can fix it. May 10, 2016

Lee Payne
Austin, TX

Climbed a short OW between routes 1081 and 1082. Anyone know the name? Dec 4, 2017

Mike Cummings
Joshua Tree, CA

@Lee Payne Square Root 5.8 Dec 4, 2017

Erik Gearhart

Heads up there seems to be someone hitting popular formations with long established rappel anchors and removing anchors. The anchors at the top of "Count on Your Fingers" and "Child's Play" were stripped as of early March 2022. Hangars AND bolts removed. Mar 9, 2022