California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

Mel's Diner

Mel's Diner in California has 23 climbing routes ranging across 10 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Mel's DinerPhoto: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
23 routes
5.8 – 5.11a
Trad · Sport

Is Mel's Diner 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 Mel's Diner

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, 13.7 mi away at 3,249 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Mel's Diner is a climbing area in Joshua Tree National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, including Bush Dome, Mel's Diner Boulder and Lizard's Hangout, all about 0.1 mile away. A fee is charged for climbing here. 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 23 routes, mostly trad with a few sport options. Grades run from 5.8 to 5.11a, with Background Noise at 5.8 and Earworm at 5.11a. The Quail Springs Historic Trail is about 0.2 mile away, and Sheep Pass Group campground is about 4.2 miles off.

Routes (23)

OverheardFA: FA (TR): Todd & Donette Swain, Teresa Malone 1993 FA (lead): Todd & Donette Swain 04-20125.10aThe Power of NowFA: 2016 Shawn Scott/ Dino Banco5.10aHurly BurlyFA: Dino Banco/Shawn Scott5.10a/bLeft Mel CrackFA: Darryl Nakahira, Alan Roberts, Kevin Powell & Mike Waugh, April 19835.10bMel's MantlesFA: Craig Kain, 19905.10bModern JazzFA: Alan Nelson and Karl Mueller, Dec. 19815.10bMumblesFA: FA (TR): Todd Swain 04-20125.10bPell MelFA: Dino Banco/ Shawn Scott5.10bWhispersFA: FA (TR): Todd Swain 04-2012 FA (lead): Todd Swain, Brock Wagstaff, Harrison Hood 04-20125.10bRight Mel CrackFA: Kevin Powell, Mike Waugh & Darryl Nakahira, April 19835.10cThe Fifth DimensionFA: Dino Banco/ Shawn Scott5.10cPiranhaFA: FA Dino Banco/Shawn Scott. FFA Matt Hagny5.10dEarwormFA: Todd Swain 04-20125.11aBackground NoiseFA: Todd & Donette Swain 03-20125.8MutterersFA: Todd & Donette Swain, Chris Jones, Brock Wagstaff, Harrison Hood, et al 04-20125.8Roman PretzelFA: Todd Swain and Alan Roberts, Dec. 19885.8Murmur Has ItFA: Todd & Donette Swain, Simeon Heimowitz, Adele 03-20125.8+Other VoicesFA: Kevin Powell and Darryl Hensel, April 19835.8+I Love Brian PiccoloFA: Todd Gordon, Quinn McCleod & Brian Sillasen, 9/865.9Kickin' BachFA: (TR) Karl Mueller & Alan Nelson, 12/81, FL: unknown5.9Rock & Roll GirlFA: Alan Nelson, Dec. 19815.9Bleu Plate EspecialFA: Todd & Donette Swain, Terry English, Nancy Geismar, George Hurley5.9+Fusion Punk5.9+

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Bush DomePhoto: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bush Dome

~0 min drive

Bush Dome in California has 7 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

Mel's Diner BoulderPhoto: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mel's Diner Boulder

~0 min drive

Mel's Diner Boulder in California has 8 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.

Left Hand of Darkness - West FacePhoto: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Left Hand of Darkness - West Face

~0 min drive

Left Hand of Darkness - West Face in California has 11 trad routes across 10 difficulty grades.

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

Blas Beemer Area

~0 min drive

Blas Beemer Area in California has 5 bouldering routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.

Left Hand of Darkness - E. FacePhoto: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Left Hand of Darkness - E. Face

~0 min drive

Left Hand of Darkness - E. Face in California has 21 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Ken Black Memorial DomePhoto: _foam, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ken Black Memorial Dome

~1 min drive

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

Outback BoulderingPhoto: If you didn't film it, it didn't happen!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Outback Bouldering

~1 min drive

Outback Bouldering in California has 42 bouldering routes.

Filipino WallPhoto: If you didn't film it, it didn't happen!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Filipino Wall

~1 min drive

Filipino Wall is a California climbing crag with 9 traditional routes across 5 grades.

Jellystone Southwest FacePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jellystone Southwest Face

~1 min drive

Jellystone Southwest Face in California has 30 climbing routes with 16 difficulty grades.

Jellystone Northeast FacePhoto: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Jellystone Northeast Face

~1 min drive

Jellystone Northeast Face in California offers 5 trad climbing routes with 3 difficulty grades.