Sphinx Rock
Sphinx Rock in California has 6 trad climbing routes on 6 distinct difficulty grades.
- 6 routes
- 5.4 – 5.11b
- Trad
Is Sphinx 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 Sphinx 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 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.
Sphinx Rock is a climbing area within Joshua Tree National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. The park charges a fee for visits, so plan for that when you go. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Yucca Valley weather station run to highs around 73°F in April and 80°F in October, while July and August average highs near 96°F. The Mary Worth Buttress and the Comic Book Area are both climbing areas about 0.1 mile away. Barker Dam Trail and Echo T Trailhead are hikes within a mile.
Routes (6)
Facts about this crag
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Dilbert Dome
~0 min drive
5 climbing routes at Dilbert Dome, California, spanning 4 difficulty grades.
Photo: Matt_B13, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)The Dakota Domes
~1 min drive
Dakota Domes, The in California has 3 climbing routes.
The Pig Sty
~1 min drive
Pig Sty, The is a bouldering area in California with 6 routes.
Photo: blachswan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Little Bighorn Area
~1 min drive
Little Bighorn Area is a bouldering crag in California with 3 routes.
Little Rock Candy Mountain
~1 min drive
Little Rock Candy Mountain in California has 19 climbing routes across 9 grades.
Photo: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Sleepy Hollow
~1 min drive
Sleepy Hollow in California features 6 sport climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.
Photo: cappellacci, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Snickers
~1 min drive
Snickers in California has 3 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Manx Boulders - Southeast Face
~1 min drive
Manx Boulders - Southeast Face is a California climbing area with 8 bouldering routes.
Lynn Hill Memorial Boulder
~1 min drive
Lynn Hill Memorial Boulder is a bouldering crag in California with 5 routes.
Photo: Matt_B13, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Snickers - North Face
~1 min drive
Snickers - North Face in California has 22 climbing routes across 15 grades.
Also worth it near here
