California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

The Hatrack

10 bouldering routes in California, 5 distinct grades.

The HatrackPhoto: Lukáš Lalinský, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
10 routes
V0 – V3
Bouldering

Is Hatrack, 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 Hatrack

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, 16.1 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 Hatrack is a bouldering area in Joshua Tree National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with Cap Rock and its faces and the Cap Rock bouldering area all about 0.1 mile away. The area is a bouldering destination, with 10 routes listed, all of them boulders. The grades run from V0 to V3, with V0 being the most common. Some of the named routes are Capuchon at V0, Turban at V1 and Panama at V3. 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. A fee is charged for park activities. The closest trail is the Cap Rock hike, about 0.1 mile away, and the Minerva Hoyt Trail is about 0.4 mile off. For an overnight stay, Sheep Pass Group campground is about 2.7 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Cap Rock - South FacePhoto: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cap Rock - South Face

~0 min drive

Cap Rock - South Face in California has 8 trad climbing routes.

Cap Rock - Southeast FacePhoto: Robert Anders, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cap Rock - Southeast Face

~0 min drive

Southeast-facing granite climbing on Cap Rock in California.

Cap Rock - North FacePhoto: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cap Rock - North Face

~0 min drive

Cap Rock - North Face in California has 17 climbing routes across 11 grades.

Cap Rock BoulderingPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cap Rock Bouldering

~0 min drive

Cap Rock Bouldering in California has 28 bouldering routes.

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

John Yablonski Rock

~0 min drive

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

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.

Sandy Wash CorridorPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sandy Wash Corridor

~0 min drive

Sandy Wash Corridor in California has 5 climbing routes with 5 difficulty grades.

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

Rabbit Warren

~0 min drive

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

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

Stonehenge and Fry Boulders

~0 min drive

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

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.