California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

Rockworks Rock

Rockworks Rock in California offers 9 climbing routes ranging from 5.10 to 5.12a, with sport and trad options.

Rockworks RockPhoto: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
9 routes
5.4 – 5.11d
Trad · Sport

Is Rockworks Rock 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 Rockworks Rock

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, 15.2 mi away at 3,249 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.

Rockworks Rock 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, with Escape Rock and the Barker Dam Area about 0.2 miles away and Oasis Rock about 0.2 miles away. A fee is charged for park use. 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 nine routes, mostly trad with one sport route. Grades run from 5.4 to 5.11d. Easy Looker is the easiest at 5.4, and Rockwork Orange is the hardest at 5.11d. Barker Dam Trail is about 0.2 miles away for a hike, and Sheep Pass Group campground is about 2.9 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Escape Rock (Southwest Face)Photo: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Escape Rock (Southwest Face)

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Escape RockPhoto: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Escape Rock

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Barker Dam AreaPhoto: cappellacci, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Barker Dam Area

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Oasis RockPhoto: cappellacci, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Oasis Rock

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Lakeside Rock North (aka Oregon Trail)Photo: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Little Hunk - NE Face (Shady Grove Wall)Photo: David Balmer, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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No Falls WallPhoto: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Gunsmoke WallPhoto: cappellacci, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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