South Cave Rock
South Cave Rock is a California climbing crag with 7 routes ranging from 5.10a to 5.12a.
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 7 routes
- 5.6 – 5.10b
- Trad · Sport
Is South Cave 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 South Cave 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.
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, 16.9 mi away at 3,249 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.
South Cave Rock is a climbing area in Joshua Tree National Park, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's land, and a fee applies 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 with lows near 46°F, and October highs around 80°F with lows near 50°F. That station sits well below the park, so temperatures up high run cooler. North Cave Rock (South Face) and North Cave Rock (North Face) are both about 0.1 mile away, along with Ryan Mountain Trailhead and Sheep Pass Connector Trail. Sheep Pass Group campground is about 1.1 miles off.
Routes (7)
Facts about this crag
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)North Cave Rock (South Face)
~0 min drive
North Cave Rock (South Face) in California has 6 climbing routes with sport and trad options.
Photo: Lukáš Lalinský, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)North Cave Rock (North Face)
~0 min drive
North Cave Rock (North Face) in California has 6 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Junk Clump - South Face
~0 min drive
Junk Clump - South Face in California has 6 climbing routes on 4 difficulty grades.
Photo: stevehfung, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Junk Clump
~0 min drive
Junk Clump is a 2-route climbing area in California with trad climbing.
Photo: stevehfung, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Cave Corridor Area
~0 min drive
Cave Corridor Area in California has 3 climbing routes with sport and trad options.
Saddle Rocks - Skirt (West Face)
~1 min drive
Saddle Rocks - Skirt (West Face) in California has 22 routes across 13 grades, offering sport and trad climbing on a west-facing face.
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Saddle Rocks - Skirt
~1 min drive
7 routes at Saddle Rocks - Skirt in California range from moderate to difficult, offering sport and trad climbing.
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Saddle Rocks - Pommel
~1 min drive
Saddle Rocks - Pommel in California has 15 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Photo: The Wandering God, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)East Wall, North End (Diamond Dogs Area)
~1 min drive
East Wall, North End (Diamond Dogs Area) in California has 13 climbing routes across 8 grades.
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Saddle Rocks Area
~1 min drive
Saddle Rocks Area in California has 17 climbing routes with 10 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad options.