California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

Ken Black Memorial Dome

Ken Black Memorial Dome in California has 14 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Ken Black Memorial DomePhoto: _foam, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
14 routes
5.5 – 5.11a
Trad · Sport

Is Ken Black Memorial Dome 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 Ken Black Memorial Dome

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, 13.9 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.

Ken Black Memorial Dome 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 visits. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. 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 climbing areas lie right next door, including the Blas Beemer Area and the Left Hand of Darkness - E. Face and West Face. The Quail Springs Historic Trail is about 0.2 miles away, and the Sheep Pass Group campground is about 4 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Blas Beemer AreaPhoto: Ed Dunens, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Left Hand of Darkness - E. Face

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Hemingway Buttress (East Face Center)Photo: blachswan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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