California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

Cap Rock Area

Cap Rock Area in California has 7 traditional climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Cap Rock AreaPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
7 routes
5.7 – 5.10d
Trad

Is Cap Rock Area open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists 3 alerts for Joshua Tree National Park.

  • Partial Trail Closure of West Side Loop

    Park alert covering Joshua Tree National Park · NPS · Joshua Tree National Park

  • Inaccurate Third-Party Apps

    Park alert covering Joshua Tree National Park · NPS · Joshua Tree National Park

  • Oasis of Mara Trail Partial Closure

    Park alert covering Joshua Tree National Park · NPS · Joshua Tree National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Joshua Tree National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Cap Rock Area

Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    58° / 38°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    61° / 39°

    3 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 40°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    73° / 46°

    2 wet

  5. May

    82° / 52°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    91° / 59°

    0 wet

  7. Jul

    96° / 66°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    96° / 68°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    89° / 60°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    80° / 50°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    66° / 41°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    58° / 34°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yucca Valley, CA, 16.2 mi away at 3,249 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Cap Rock Area is a climbing area in Joshua Tree National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's network of climbing spots, and a fee is charged for park activities. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Yucca Valley show April highs around 73°F and October highs around 80°F, while July and August average about 96°F. The area has seven trad routes, with grades ranging from 5.7 to 5.10d. Among them are Griswolds, The (aka Hotseat) at 5.7 and Beaver Boulder Free Route at 5.10d. The Molar is about 0.3 miles away, and Stonehenge and Fry Boulders and Picture Perfect Boulder are each about 0.4 miles off. For an overnight stay, Sheep Pass Group campground is about 2.9 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The MolarPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Molar

~0 min drive

The Molar in California has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Stonehenge and Fry BouldersPhoto: Matt_B13, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Stonehenge and Fry Boulders

~1 min drive

Stonehenge and Fry Boulders is a 3-route bouldering area in California.

Rabbit WarrenPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rabbit Warren

~1 min drive

Rabbit Warren in California has 7 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad options.

Picture Perfect BoulderPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Picture Perfect Boulder

~1 min drive

7 bouldering routes at Picture Perfect Boulder in California.

Black Lichen BoulderPhoto: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Black Lichen Boulder

~1 min drive

6-boulder bouldering crag in California with routes on 3 difficulty grades.

John Yablonski RockPhoto: Matt_B13, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

John Yablonski Rock

~1 min drive

John Yablonski Rock in California has 8 routes across 7 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

Stonehenge BouldersPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Stonehenge Boulders

~1 min drive

Stonehenge Boulders in California has 5 bouldering routes across 4 grades.

Seven Grain BoulderPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Seven Grain Boulder

~1 min drive

Seven Grain Boulder in California has 5 bouldering routes at 4 difficulty grades.

Hoi Polloi BoulderPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hoi Polloi Boulder

~1 min drive

7 bouldering routes in California, 5 difficulty grades.

Maverick BoulderPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Maverick Boulder

~1 min drive

Maverick Boulder in California offers 5 bouldering routes across 3 grades.