California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

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.

  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, 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.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Dilbert DomePhoto: Ed Dunens, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Dilbert Dome

~0 min drive

5 climbing routes at Dilbert Dome, California, spanning 4 difficulty grades.

The Dakota DomesPhoto: 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 StyPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Pig Sty

~1 min drive

Pig Sty, The is a bouldering area in California with 6 routes.

Little Bighorn AreaPhoto: 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 MountainPhoto: David Balmer, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Little Rock Candy Mountain

~1 min drive

Little Rock Candy Mountain in California has 19 climbing routes across 9 grades.

Sleepy HollowPhoto: 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.

SnickersPhoto: cappellacci, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Snickers

~1 min drive

Snickers in California has 3 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Manx Boulders - Southeast FacePhoto: 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 BoulderPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lynn Hill Memorial Boulder

~1 min drive

Lynn Hill Memorial Boulder is a bouldering crag in California with 5 routes.

Snickers - North FacePhoto: 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.