California · Rock climbing · Desert Hot Springs

X Factor Dome

X Factor Dome in California has 7 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Photo: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

7 routes

5.8 – 5.11c

Trad · Sport

Is X Factor Dome 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 Oct 24, 6:30 pm PDT · Source: NPS · Joshua Tree National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit X Factor Dome

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, 14.5 mi away at 3,249 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.

X Factor Dome is a climbing area in Joshua Tree National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots in the park's eastern corner, with Watts Towers just 0.1 mile away and Labor Dome and Cereal Rock each about 0.2 mile off. The area is close to Hidden Valley Trailhead, about 0.7 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Yucca Valley run from highs around 73°F in April to about 80°F in October, while summer highs climb into the mid-90s. That station sits roughly 955 feet lower than the dome, so temperatures on the dome itself run cooler. The area has seven climbing routes, six of which are trad and one sport. Grades range from 5.8 to 5.11c, with Indecision 2000 at 5.8 and Give a Hoot at 5.11c. Max Factor, the sport route, is 5.11c. Fees are charged for park visits.