A+ rock, lives up to the name. Very cool backstory. Some band was filming a music video and had lit up the rock which was pretty cool. The tire swing on the back felt precarious but fun. read more

Rough road to get there, even in hard, dry conditions. Rock was pretty cool, but not much to do once you've walked around it. Quick 15-minute visit and back to the Integratron. read more

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It's a giant rock--pretty cool tbh. Probably should only use all wheel drive to get to it though, otherwise you might get into some trouble since the roads pretty rough in some areas read more

Either wrong location or the rock was not there because I came and saw nothing! Led me to an empty road read more

Five stars for the largest freestanding boulder in the world (supposedly.) Seven stories high, it is located in a gorgeous setting and is a geologist's heaven. I was expecting to see just the rock itself and was shocked by how beautiful the setting is. There were wildflowers and wildlife. Truly stunning! Lots of history, too, including possible UFO-related incidents if you believe those sort of things. Learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Rock Please be prepared if you head out to Landers to visit the Rock. It's on BLM land and the road is *not* well-marked with signs. I made the mistake of trusting my GPS and ended up with my car stuck in a drift of sand. (See review for Yucca Valley Towing for the end of that story.) I highly suggest having a car with 4WD before you venture out, plus a well-charged cell phone and plenty of water. But was it worth it? Yep. 100%! read more

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I'm writing this review before coming here... This is a ufo hot spot If you're into hiking ok cool... But these are George Van Tassel's old trotting grounds... His cafe was boarded up and used to be located UNDER THIS BIG ROCK ... yea that's right... it was buried shut... Him and Howard Hughes used to fly planes close by and come there to check out ufos... Place is magical just like it's sister park Joshua Tree... Get on the extra terrestrial highway but read about George Van Tassel before you go... Maybe check out the Integratron on the same day while you're at it Just don't get too close ... You may never come back! Which might be a good thing the way things are these days... RIGHT!? read more

Sitting in the dry lake bed of a desert wasteland in the Mojave Desert near Landers, California, is a massive solid granite rock that looms over the dry sand around it like some monolith from a lost civilization. Rather aptly named "Giant Rock,". The boulder is seven stories high covering 5,800 square feet of land, making it one of (if not the) largest free standing rocks in the world. It is fitting as this place has long been held as sacred by the Native American tribes of the region. Often seen as the heart of the Mother Earth. The people of this land once convened here to celebrate the changing of the seasons, with shamans coming out across the forbidding desert to draw from its power. In modern times, however- history gets kwirky. The modern backstory of the boulder begins in the 1930's. During WW II, a German immigrant by the name of Frank Critzer became rather fascinated with Giant Rock, and went about tunneling around it looking to mine any riches he could find buried there. He would eventually carve out rooms underneath it to use as a full time subterranean residence. He became known as the eccentric who lived out under the rock, and he didn't have any friends until he met a former pilot, aircraft mechanic and flight inspector named George Van Tassel. They both had as it turns out one thing in common. As the two got along well, soon Critzer began to tell him of the strange things he had experienced while living out in the desert. According to the German, his mining had uncovered strange tunnels which seemed to have completely smooth sides as if fashioned from glass, which plummeted down into the sheer blackness of the earth below to the unknown. Critzer claimed that these mysterious tunnels often emanated a strange buzzing sound somewhat akin to static, which had become so insistent that he had built a special radio and added a large antenna to his rock home- in an effort to distinguish the frequency of the constant drone. Critzer was certain that these were no normal naturally formed tunnels, and expressed his desire to explore them further, but sadly he would never get a chance. Unfortunately, Critzer's German origin and large radio antenna led to suspicions of his being a spy during World War II, and a police raid was made on his cavern. While the exact cause of Critzer's death is still unknown, legend holds that when authorities attempted to extricate him by shooting tear gas canisters into his cave abode, One accidentally ignited a small store of explosives (for mining) and blew the peculiar loner to smithereens along with killing one deputy standing to close to the entrance. Critzer was never a spy after all, but just what he seemed: an eccentric who wanted to be left alone to live, quite literally, under a rock! Upon hearing of his friend's death, Van Tassel went to the boulder, took the site over - and with his family opened an old airfield in the 1950s, naming it Giant Rock Airport. He had a popular war friend, Howard Hughes, for whom Van Tassel was a test pilot, and it is said he once landed there just for a slice of pie baked by Van Tassel's wife. In addition to being an aviator, he was a firm believer in alien life. In 1952, Tassel began holding meditation sessions in Critzer's old home under Giant Rock. Here, Van Tassel believed he was receiving vital information from alien sources directing the construction of a fantastic machine. Van Tassel claimed to have even been transported to an alien spaceship, where he met a wise group of aliens known as the "Council of Seven Lights." He said this extraterrestrial meeting, along with ideas from scientists such as Nikola Tesla, inspired the construction of a building/device which was to be a "rejuvenation machine." It was dubbed "The Integratron." He held popular UFO conventions known as the "Giant Rock Spacecraft Conventions" on his property for over 20 years to help raise money for the Integratron's construction. The domed structure, located a mile away, was built without nails over a period of 34 years, and is said to be capable of collecting up to 50,000 volts of static electricity from the air in order to charge the human body. It is currently used as a new age sound emersion bath. Unfortunately, the man himself suffered a heart attack before its "final" completion, giving rise to yet another host of conspiracy theories. If your a believer this may be a place that's a must see. For me it was an interesting attraction and a part of a unique history. The location has also been a gathering place for groups thought to be white supremacist. For certain their is debris and graffiti. 3.5 rounding down. read more

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I WANNA ROCK! This roughly seven-story, 5,800 square foot, 30,000-ton rock is reported to be the largest free-standing boulder in the world, so, despite the graffiti and the "Let's go Brandon" off-roading crowd it attracts, it's a fun photo op for anyone willing to take the bumpiest dirt road in Landers. It's like a broken Indiana Jones ride over Edward James Olmos' face. HISTORY (if you care) One of the earliest palefaces to settle there in Homestead Valley (aka Landers) was Charlie Reche in 1887. He made friends with the local Native Americans of the Joshua Tree area, (allegedly Serrano and Chemehuevi) notably Dances With Cholla and Awakes With Cottonwood, who considered the rock to be sacred. Two notable uses of dynamite define German immigrant and miner Frank Critzer's history with the rock: first in the 1930s, when he first used it to dig a hole under the rock with ventilation tunnels and rainwater collection so he could live in the naturally-insulated pit, and second, in July 1942, when he blew himself up to avoid persecution from 3 Riverside deputies, either mistaking him for a German spy because of his radio hobby or accusing him of theft. He reportedly said, "I'm going all right, but you're going with me". Having graded the area for roads and a public airstrip, some people loved him, while others thought he was a weird and angry hermit. Either way, he sounds like a blast! Five years later, Critzer's friend and pilot George Van Tassel left the LA aerospace rat race to move to the rock, which he felt was a spiritual vortex. He leased land to build the Come On Inn cafe, store, gas station, and dude ranch, while operating the airport. By 1952, he began speaking telepathically to tanned, humanoid, 700-year-old aliens from underneath the rock, who warned him of solar system contamination from the result of nuclear testing (8 bombs were detonated in Nevada within the next 8 weeks) and also informed him that Jesus Christ, Mary, and the three Wise Men were aliens. He teleported into a UFO that landed there in 1958. He eventually attracted fellow UFO believers for whom he held annual Giant Rock Interplanetary Spacecraft conventions to fund his unfinished time machine Integatron, now a rejuvenation center worthy of a separate review. In 1992, the area was the epicenter of a 7.8 earthquake, lending validity to the theory that "ley lines" intersect at the site. Oddly, Shri Naath Devi led members of Eagle Wings of Enlightenment in a ritual involving dancing around a fire until exhaustion, as they recounted the Hopi prophecy that Mother Earth would split the boulder in answer to prayers. That night, (2 hours after a 4.4 quake in Loma Linda), the rock split and 1/8 of it fell off. Apparently, Robert Ripley, of Believe it or Not, called bs. read more

We thought these views were well worth the drive over a few miles of bumpy gravel roads. read more

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This is an incredible, historic, and ancient area. With lots of spiritual and supernatural history. This was a very sacred spot for the native Indians. Unfortunately. A lot of the idiots that go here have no clue, most of them seem to be off-roaders, and they vandalize the place with graffiti, make fires all around the rock, and leave trash all over the place! It looks horrible and ruins the whole vibe. If you come here, have some respect for nature. And leave it in it's natural state. Don't freakin paint your stupid graffiti, nobody wants to see it! And pack out your trash. I'd recommend at least driving an SUV here. A car can probably make it, but you will risk damaging it by bottoming out or maybe even getting stuck on the dirt road. read more

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Giant Rock is a large freestanding boulder in the Mojave Desert near Landers, California, that covers 5,800 square feet of ground and is seven stories high!!!!! Giant Rock is purported to be the largest free standing boulder in the world. Driving up to it, it doesn't look THAT big, but once you walk it and the surrounding area, it's AMAZINGLY HUGE!!!! This is definitely my top 10 places to go back and explore. read more

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In the category of large rocks, this one is interesting but not much more than that. I actually found the setting more interesting: remote, desolate with large rocky hills to climb and drive around. It is unfortunate that the rock split off a chunk, but even more unfortunate is all the graffiti. I actually appreciate some 'street' art, but not on natural formations and certainly not crude expressions. Beware the dirt road approaching from the south. Even if you're used to back roads, this one's wavy nature as you get about a mile from the rock may catch you and your suspension by surprise, depending on the angle of the sun. read more

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Great spot to day trip out to from the high desert area. Took the 247 all the way, the last 3-4 miles are 100% dirt, but any vehicle with decent tire tread won't have an issue getting out there. Lots of broken glass so watch your hands when exploring the area. read more

Giant Rock - Giant rock 10/25/20 - Local Flavor Near Me

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The largest boulder in the world. Beautiful outdoor adventure and the em weather is perfect in November! Got to hear a band play and view a sky full of bright stars including a falling stars. Dirt road out to the rock bumpy but worth it. Got to see band play under the Giant Boulder and dance around the fire. read more

Big Rock! What beautiful views and seeing this rock in person is quite the experience. It is HUGE! I'm so glad we went down the dirt road for a glimpse of something incredible. I recommend going at least once, especially that is so close here in Southern California. read more

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The Yelp pin is wrong. Map the "Integratron", pass it, turn right on Linn Road and make your first left on Belfield Blvd. Follow the dirt road a few miles to the Giant Rock. I strongly recommend a 4 wheel drive...there is a lot of soft sand and off roading possibilities. Once you get out there you can't help to wonder where this huge rock came from and wish that people would stop spray painting it and trashing the area. Once you go, I can't imagine needing to go back, but it's a fun diversion (approximately 1 hour off the main road and back) if you're in the area! read more

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Its one gigantic freaking ROCK! Sorry ladies it's not "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson that is!! Its about 3 miles from the Integratron through some bumpy sandy dunes. You pass a few campers out to the left as you drive up to it. You definitely cant miss it. Its no longer a intact rock as it split but its still impressive. Unfortunely through the years the Rocks been visited by dumb shits whom defamed it with grafitti and trashed it by burning things, leftover from fireworks and broken bottles. I swear some people are so disrespectful!!! I came, I saw and won't come visit it again sadness! read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

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The history behind this boulder is as big as the boulder itself. It has been a sacred Native American site, an underground (or should I say underboulder) home of a careless prospector, a gathering spot for UFO enthusiasts, and a palate for graffiti artist. A large part of boulder broke off in 2000; It was just trying give the other boulders around the world a chance to catch up. With all of that said, I'm not sure that it's worth a dedicated visit unless you are within an hour or two driving distance. I say this because there is not much else nearby. Be sure to check out Crystal Hill a little further around the corner. It's a hillside that is littered with chunks of quartz crystal. To get here type in "Integratron" into your smart phone. Pass this location and take a right onto the dirt road located off to the right. Take the first left and follow the dirt road for a couple miles. Be sure to leave the beamer at home. Bring a car that is able to handle 3-4 inch deep powdered dirt roads with frequent speed bumps. Eventually you'll encounter a mountain covered with various sizes boulders. Follow the dirt road another couple miles as it circles the mountain counterclockwise and eventually you will spot it. read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

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BE CAREFUL! My family and I went on the day after Thansgivining and I saw more confederate flags I have ever seen in my life. They were parked all around the rock, we did not feel safe getting off the car. These retrograde racist people are trying to claim this beautiful place. read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

Whenever I'm done at the Integratron, I take the drive out here to Giant Rock. It's kind of tradition... and I usually am with at least one or two people who haven't seen it yet. It's a bit tricky to get to if you don't know where you are going. Follow the sign that reads "GR" and keep to the right of the mountain. Make sure you stay on the worn and used roadway as the loose soil can get you stuck very easily in a normal car. Don't take a car out there that you don't mind getting filthy and possibly dented with pebbles. Make sure to have water with you in the car before you head out there, just in case you get stuck... or it's really hot... which is not uncommon in Landers. The rock itself is impressive. It is a Giant Rock! However, it's become a bit of a hangout at night with graffiti covering the rock and surroundings. Watch out for the weird nails that are everywhere around it. And don't forget to check out "Crystal Hill" which is walking distance just beyond and to the left. As others have said, don't come out to Landers JUST to see the rock, but add it to whatever else you are doing for sure. Don't be in a rush to get there, unless you are in a offroad vehicle, take your time. read more

Beautiful giant rock and art all around my girlfriend and I had a blast exploring around. Fwi make sure you got spare tires or got your tires changed recently cause it's 3 miles of dirt road to get to giant rock read more

Beautiful, just beautiful remote area with a huge rock. You can definetly feel the calming energy vibrate from this place. If you do some research there is some pretty cool history on this location. Also word of advice, especially depending on the weather make sure you have the proper vehicle to make the 3 mile drive out there. We made it on a scion cube, lol, but we got lucky. If you do use a low profile car, just make sure you drive fast and if you feel you are slowing down or feel you are getting stuck, don't step on your breaks, keep going! Only thing that pisses me off is all the idiots that tagged the rock and rocks around it, you guys are idiots. read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

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Giant rock is an integral part of Landers history. Trips here have ranged from great to terrible. It's great when visitors cleaned up and carried out their trash, terrible when they have not. Close range mountain lion sightings in the rocks on the west side so keep an eye on children and pets as it was def. Keeping an eye on my 1 yr old grandbaby. If you're going to visit the desert, this is a good place to add to your schedule. read more

Just reaching the rock is an adventure in and of itself. The roads that lead there are hardly roads at all. The ground is knit furrows that will make your car bounce like a bobblehead. Perhaps a better word is "trail" to describe the sabulous lines that cut through the wispy desert brush before feeding into a sandy expanse. Once you get there, roads cease all together but you will see the Giant Rock, like a beacon set against a hazy and enveloping azure. read more

It is pretty gigantic. It is also pretty damn impressive. But most of all? It is tricky to find. It takes off-roading, going up and down on hills that the dirt bike population created in the area. It was worth it though. You can walk around the rock, take pictures with the rock and wander around and on top of the other rocks that litter the hillside beside THE rock. Rocks, can't get enough of them. So glad I'm taking a Geology class this semester- not! Also, there is so much graffiti present now, it's crazy. Definitely been Bro'd out. There were so many swastikas and vulgar expressions (that are sorta funny) sprayed on rocks it's crazy. Check it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

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I love it. Yes some assholes have fucked it up with their lame graffiti but it still is an amazing site to see. Thankfully it's off the beaten path so it keeps many away. But when you near the rock you begin to feel a strange energy. So much history and yet it now looks so lonely on the desert landscape. I will go back again. read more

Giant Rock - Giant Rock - Landers, CA - Local Flavor Near Me

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Great place. it's a hidden gem. I would avoid the weekends cause it gets way to busy to enjoy.

I love driving to unusual places like this. It's off-roading for awhile which is fun to me so I don't mind. But then it's like "bam!" "Big ass rock in the middle of nowhere lol. I attempted to climbed the broken piece but it wasn't happening. It's cool to take a pic of your car by it to see how big it really is. Pictures don't do it justice. Now I'm not saying its something that everyone must see but if you like going on little adventures and seeing new things then this is a good one. And after your done here there's a little place called Landers Brew not far with great people and amazing beer I'd recommend going to. read more

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Visited Goant Rock and Crystal Hill for the second time and also went to the Integratron and experienced the sound bath. What a wonderful experience. These are truly sacred spots with very high energy. It is really sacrilegious that the four wheelrs and partiers desacrate this holy place. read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

Don't be fooled by the pretty pictures. After driving for what felt like FOREVER and EVER and EVER through weird back roads and past a dozen or so meth labs we finally made it to Giant Rock, which I found incredibly disappointing and not worth the drive, at all. GT had been to Giant Rock years and years ago, and when he saw the rock this year (and I saw it for the first time), we were shocked. People are pigs, is the problem, and regardless of the history and size of the rock, I just could not get past the disgusting graffiti splayed everywhere, the racist epithets, and the heaps of trash and broken bottles that defile the area. Also, the day that we visited (a weekday) some dudes were camping beside the rock and having a grand old time shooting their guns at anything and everything. It is disconcerting to get out of your car in an incredibly remote area, after passing broken down meth labs and formerly nice homes with all the windows shot out (and two nice cars parked outside with bulletholes through all of the windows) and encounter a bunch of bros holding guns and standing beside a rock covered in violent, hate-filled graffiti. In a region where mind-blowing natural beauty is the norm, where odd roadside attractions that are well-tended and preserved are plentiful, and tourists/visitors tend to be respectful of space and place, visiting this rock is like visiting a fucking garbage dump. No, wait. Actually, the dump is closer. And cleaner. read more

Pleasant surprise! My Mom came to 29 Palms in the late 1930's and I have lived around here for 10 years. I never ventured to Giant Rock - the reviews made it sound like a mess and I no longer own a 4WD vehicle. But on the 3rd visit friends from Thailand insisted I take them to the "rock." I used my VW Tuigan which was up to the task. To my surprise, the place was not full of bike-racing gear-heads and rubbish. Some wonderful volunteers had cleaned the place up and it was lovely! I know the history of the place well, and I am very glad I was able to connect the visual to what I knew. I do recommend that those visitors without 4WD bring along a shovel just in case. The loose sand around here can be tricky. Also the "y" in the road has no signage but there are 3 white painted rocks. You must bear right at the "y" and go another mile or so. read more

Giant Rock - Giant Rock June 2017 - Local Flavor Near Me

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This is a mystical rock that attracts aliens and dirt bikers. There was graffiti on it that said Metallica, Slayer, and there was swastika which I think was done by the dirt bikers. But locals recently tried to clean it up by painting a rock color over the graffiti. other facts: 1.Aliens gave a man living under this rock plans for the integratron. 2. a piece has fallen off so it is no longer the world largest free standing boulder. 3.frank critzer build a house under this rock in 1930. i will have to look for the photo to post. 4.frank critzer was thought to be a spy, and when police arrived at the rock, frank blow himself up with dynomite. 5. there was a airport here from 47-75. 6.in 59 there was a ufo convention here which attracted 11,000 ppl. 7.one time I was riding a dirt bike here and I feel off and got temporary amnesiea. 8. something named little chan modeled a residency program in LA after this rock. read more

Giant Rock - Local Flavor Near Me

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I WAS ANGRY! Mind you, I read the reviews and knew ahead of time about graffiti and trash, but I didn't realize how much trash there was. If you want to go see a free standing boulder that seems to be one of the largest in the world, you should go. It's size alone is amazing. This land was a sacred space for Native Americans and it has a cool history about the hermit that lived there in the 30's? Unfortunately, mankind has gotten stupider over the years. Hicks that live in this area have no respect for this land's sacredness, let alone the Giant Rock itself. The ground is littered with broken glass and the Giant Rock along with the surrounding rocks around are trashed with graffiti. DO NOT BRING YOUR DOGS UNLESS YOU WANT THEIR PAWS CUT UP. There are shards of glass everywhere. Definitely wear closed toe shoes. Why these people feel the need to express their creativity in such an awe inspiring space is beyond me. It's totally trashy and just plain disrespectful to the ancestors of the people that considered this place sacred. I am actually going to go back there and do a clean up if anybody is interested. Please message me if you are interested in preserving this place. read more

In the desert. Down some dirt roads. You find a bigass rock. HOLY BALLS. It is big. The rock, somehow thrown off the nearby mountain (I suspect the aliens that landed near that Integration place had something to do with it), has become a billboard for swastikas and racial slurs. Not only does the rock attract fascists, it also draws families who litter and drive their quads all around the desert. I'm jealous of those quads. You have no idea. Some of those in my party decided to pick up the trash near the rock. While I'm not a fascist, I'm certainly no hippie and decided to climb the nearby mountain instead of a cleaning adventure. Climbing the nearby mountain really puts that bigass rock into perspective. Just watch out for rattlesnakes. And maybe racists. Seriously. read more

We decided to take a drive through the desert after going to the Integratron and hearing about the Giant Rock. It's only 3 miles through the drive from the Integratron and was an enjoyable drive. The rock is huge but is sadly covered in trash and grafitti. I wish people would clean up after themselves. We were lucky enough to have a few minutes out there to ourselves before a van of kids drove up. Worth seeing if you like to be adventurous and get off the beaten path. read more

Getting there is half the fun. People have all these bizarre directions but if you go down Linn Rd. And continue straight that dirt road will take you all the way to GIANT ROCK. Pretty cool and cleaner than I expected based on other reviews. Still, people have ruined the area pretty good with graffitti but it was still cool to check out I always wondered where this place was. Bring a truck there is soft sand. read more

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3 stars for the history. If you are in the area stop and see along with the integratron, otherwise eh. read more

Giant Rock - Thats it. - Local Flavor Near Me

This is an easy trip to include a drive out to Giant Rock, which is an incredible geological sight as well as part of the Van Tassel/Integraton story which is documented in notebooks available for viewing at the Integretron. Take the dirt road to the immediate left of the Integratron and following a couple signs about ten minutes and three miles to what I was told is the largest boulder in the world. Or at least it was till 2003 or so when a car engine was burned for several days under one side of the rock and a large piece cracked off. Still; it is worth the drive, a quick walk around, peek under the rock and see the remains of the house Van Tassel built under the rock before the county had it filled in to prevent injury and vandelism from all the partiers over the year. On the front side you can see the foundation of his garage and on the back side of the rock there are some remains of the roofline that once was attached to it. We drove in our Prius on a dry road without problems- just stayed on the flatter sections, drove about 15 mph and had a lot of fun off roading! Maybe they have cleaned things up, but I didn't see any meth labs. We came on a Wednesday around 4pm and were the only ones there. Definantly wear shoes as there are many broken glass; some have worn off there sharp edges and weathered interestingly and have become part of my glass collection! I think kids would love this despite the graffitte and glass. read more

where did it come from and how did it get so far away from the mountain???? giant rock is the best place in california, and since i have never really been anywhere else i feel i have pretty extensive knowledge of things in california. its easy to find because you can feel its energy drawing you in. no longer the largest freestanding boulder in north america anymore cause a chunk of it chipped off. but still. plus ive never seen metallica and slayer and megadeth tagged so many times. it also determined the location of the integratron because george van tassel wanted to mooch off of its positive vibrations and connection to the extraterrestrial. the site of much spooky activity. i think andrea zittel holds weekly seances there. expect to see a bunch of 15 year olds riding dirt bikes and atvs in circles around it. they will also blow a bunch of dust at your car as you drive in and out. read more

You all know the truth: It's a gigantic, beautiful BOULDER. The drive is nice -- I take it back, if you like being worried your tiny hatchback is going to get stuck, it can be FUN. There are rattlesnakes and tarantulas. broken bottles racists retirees gun wielding rednecks alcoholic marines slutty drunk girls trash nails scattered ... I'll have to check my tires tomorrow Ugh. I'd suggest going on a weekday or maybe a night after a big holiday so all the jerks are back working on the assembly line. read more