Isles in the Sky (Northeast Face)
Isles in the Sky (Northeast Face) in California has 22 climbing routes with 15 difficulty grades.
Photo: Robb Hannawacker, while working for Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- 22 routes
- 5.3 – 5.12b
- Trad · Sport
Is Isles in the Sky (Northeast Face) 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 Isles in the Sky (Northeast Face)
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.
Jan
58° / 38°
4 wet
Feb
61° / 39°
3 wet
Mar
67° / 40°
3 wet
Apr
73° / 46°
2 wet
May
82° / 52°
1 wet
Jun
91° / 59°
0 wet
Jul
96° / 66°
2 wet
Aug
96° / 68°
2 wet
Sep
89° / 60°
2 wet
Oct
80° / 50°
1 wet
Nov
66° / 41°
2 wet
Dec
58° / 34°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yucca Valley, CA, 20.7 mi away at 3,249 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.
Isles in the Sky (Northeast Face) is a climbing area in Joshua Tree National Park, California, set within the Joshua Tree Wilderness. The National Park Service manages the land, and the Northeast Face adds to the cluster of climbing on the Isles in the Sky. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Yucca Valley run to highs around 73°F in April and 80°F in October, with summer highs in the mid-90s and winter lows near freezing. The area draws climbers with a range of routes. There are 22 routes in total, including 14 trad and 8 sport, with grades from 5.3 up to 5.12b. Notable climbs include Blackbird at 5.3 and White Mamba at 5.12b, along with Bird of Fire at 5.10a, which was first ascended by John Long and Ray Ochoa in 1974. The Southeast Face of Isles in the Sky and the Isles Corridor sit about 0.1 mile away. The Split Rock Trail is 0.4 mile off, and Sheep Pass Group campground is about 3.4 miles away.
Routes (22)
Facts about this crag
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