Ryan Mountain Trail
It's all about the views on the out-and-back hike to the crest of Ryan Mountain, roughly at the center of the national park.
Plan Around Ryan Mountain Trail
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Ryan Mountain Trail Details
It's all about the views on the out-and-back hike to the crest of Ryan Mountain, roughly at the center of the national park. The three-mile roundtrip dirt trail climbs 1,075 feet with numerous stone steps. The summit, at 5,461 feet, offers panoramic views of the surrounding jumbled rock formations and Joshua Tree forests. Hikers will begin the trail heading south, and the elevation gain begins almost immediately, but the well-constructed trail is in great shape. As the trail climbs, it wraps around the west side of the mountain, where hikers will get views toward the Wonderland of Rocks. The top section of the trail offers views to the north and east over Pinto Basin, and on a clear day, hikers will see Mount San Jacinto and Mount San Gorgonio from the top of the trail. Circle around the summit to take in the full panorama before heading back down the trail. The trailhead for this 3-mile strenuous out-and-back trail is in the Ryan Mountain parking area of Sheep Pass Campground.
Difficulty
High
Distance
3 miles
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Ryan Mountain Trail
Compare nearby parks around Ryan Mountain Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Ryan Mountain Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Ryan Mountain Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.6 mi away
Hall of Horrors
Hall of Horrors is the colorful name given to one of Joshua Tree's most popular climbing areas.
0.9 mi away
Sheep Pass Group Campground
The six sites at Sheep Pass Group Campground are tent-only.
1.2 mi away
Ryan Mountain
Ryan Mountain is the second-highest peak in Joshua Tree at 5,461 feet, located roughly in the center of the park.
1.6 mi away
Wonderland of Rocks
In the north-central area of the park is the famed Wonderland of Rocks, a 12-square-mile backcountry maze of monzogranite boulder piles.
1.6 mi away
Wall Street Mill Trail
During the first half of the 20th century, Joshua Tree was scattered with miners hunting for gold, and the ore from Desert Queen Mine and others ended up at Wall Street Mill.
