California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

The Cathouse

Cathouse, The in California has 26 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

The CathousePhoto: David Balmer, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
26 routes
5.1 – 5.10c
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Is Cathouse, The 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 The Cathouse

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, 14.3 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.

The Cathouse 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 bouldering and rock climbing spots, and a fee is charged for access. 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. Several other climbing areas lie right next door, including Slanta Claus Rock, Worthwhile Pile and Playhouse Rock, each about 0.1 mile away. The Cow Rock hike is about 0.4 mile off.

Routes (26)

Dwarf Among MidgetsFA: Mary Moser, Tony Moser5.1Tourette's SyndromeFA: Jack Roberts, Pam Ranger, Alan Bartlett & Bob Harrington, January 19905.10cFun in the SunFA: Joan, Tony, Lisa, Mary5.2FelixFA: Todd Swain 10-1991.5.4Alley CatFA: Bob Gaines & Frank Bentwood, Dec., 20095.5San Rio CrackFA: Todd Swain5.5Casa del GatoFA: Todd Swain, Allen Steck, John Thackray, Joe Fitschen 11-20055.6Feline PineFA: Chris Miller, January 19995.6Little Brown JugFA: Alan Bartlett & Amy Sharpless, January 19905.6Marmac's CrackFA: Alan Bartlett & Amy Sharpless, 1/905.6Right of Garfield5.6SidestepFA: Tony, Mary, Joan, Lisa5.6Fat CatsFA: Frank Bentwood & Bob Gaines, Dec, 20095.7Felix Brown5.7GarfieldFA: Todd Swain, October 19915.7Chicken Pox Leave Bad ScarsFA: Joan,Lisa,Mary,Tony5.8Feed the KittyFA: Chris Miller, November 19995.8HeathcliffFA: Todd Swain, 19915.8Limited PartnershipFA: Alan Bartlett, 2/905.8Nine LivesFA: Chris Miller 19995.8SiameseFA: Bob Gaines and Frank Bentwood, Dec. 20095.8Not that good, but not that bad eitherFA: Joan5.8-Cat Scratch FeverFA: Chris Miller, 19985.9Hello KittyFA: Chris Miller, 19985.9HighstepFA: Joan, Tony, Lisa, Mary5.9BobcatFA: (TR) Chris Miller, January 1999, First Lead: Bob Gaines and Frank Bentwood, Dec. 20095.9+

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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Also worth it near here

Cow Rock

~1 min drive