Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ryan Mountain

    4.7 (34 reviews)

    Ryan Mountain Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Ryan Mountain

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pano of the peak at sundown
    Stephanie W.

    Ryan mountain is dope! It's probably the most traditional "hike" I did in Joshua tree. There's a parking area right at the trailhead, and it took me about 45 minutes to hike to the peak? So not too bad, but I was trying to go fast on purpose (sun was setting) so in theory it could take longer. It starts out with several shallow steps, then turns into more rocky trail terrain. There are some twists and turns but no crazy switchbacks really. I did this hike late in the day (like 6 pm) on purpose to catch the sunset, and I got to the peak around sundown but the sunset along the way was absolutely GORGEOUS. Coming down was a little faster, it's doable in the dark but probably safer to try to stick to doing it in daylight. Of note I came in early April, the high was like 75 and that day was super windy so it actually felt colder. I felt pretty euthermic walking up with my jacket open and just a flannel underneath. There's a sign at the entrance warning about summer heat - if you tried doing this hike in 90-100F weather, you'd had a hard time. Stay hydrated and be careful it attempting that~

    Sunrise
    Travis P.

    Definitely a HARD hike for those on the less fit side. It's basically stair master for 1.5 miles+. The hike is worth it though once you actually get to the top. The views are stunning and you feel like you're on top of the world. I came for the sunrise and it was amazing. We arrived at this location by 4:30 and took an hour to hike up as we waited for the sunrise at around 6:30. If you plan to come in the morning make sure to bring a strong flashlight and good shoes because it is DARK. Worth the trek up if you want a good view or want a good difficult hike.

    Ed T.

    First hike in Joshua Tree. Awesome views of the distant desert! Total round trip was about 3 miles that takes ~2 hours to complete. Trail was mostly stair-based for the first 1 mile or so. It was a steady incline to the top. No shade. Short video of the hike for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv7hUPZoja4

    Alexander Y.

    First ever hike in Joshua Tree National Park was a pretty popular one in Ryan Mountain Trail. Since we only had time for one hike, we wanted to get a moderately challenging hike in that made us feel like the trip was worth it since we came all the way from L.A. The hike itself is 1.5 miles each way, so 3.0 miles total as it is an out and back trail. Elevation gain is 1,069 feet, which is a decent amount of elevation gain for 1.5 miles. As they said, it was a moderately difficult trail with a steady incline. What surprised me was that the trail was designed with a lot of stair steps rather than a slow incline. Don't expect many flat parts of the trail to catch your breath at all. There are a few spots that you can stop at to catch your breath, but we found that we used those mostly to let people coming from the opposite direction pass us. The summit is nice, the one consistently flat area of the entire trail. Because the overall elevation is 5,456 feet at the summit, you'll get a great view of the park and the surrounding areas. The reward is worth the effort! Parking situation here can be bad. We got here a little before 11 am on a Saturday and the parking lot was already full. We were lucky to snag a parking spot from someone that was leaving as there weren't too many cars waiting for spots. Get here in the afternoon though, good luck getting a spot. Counted at least six cars waiting for spots when we got back to our car at 1 pm. Cell phone reception is nonexistent in the park, but I actually picked up some faint signal while on the hike and was able to connect to Internet. Don't depend on this happening though. You won't need reception to complete this trail as it is heavily trafficked and impossible to get lost. But definitely make sure you know where you are going so you can get in and out of the park. Overall, a good first hike to break in my new National Park Pass. Will want to get here earlier so that we can do two or three hikes next time.

    David G.

    First day hike and it's a good one. Straight up and straight down. Didn't get to see Ryan the Rattlesnake but the views are Absolutely stunning. Def need water on this hike. Highly Highly recommend this one.

    Isabella B.

    "The...hike up Ryan Mountain is a reaffirmation of life. The pulse accelerates, the senses become more acute, and one may renew the acquaintance of lungs and muscles previously taken for granted." - Joshua Tree National Park: A Visitor's Guide, 1995. Ryan Mountain is one of the most famous trails inside Joshua Tree National Park. It is the second highest point inside the park (after Quail Mountain) at 5,461 feet. ~LOGISTICS~ LOCATION: The mountain itself is located along Park Blvd between Ryan Campground and Sheep Pass Campground. It is also conveniently at the halfway point between the north (Twentynine Palms) and west (Joshua Tree) entrances and the location is signposted, although can be easily missed if you're not paying attention. There is a parking lot at the base of the mountain, which can cause issues during peak season. I went in early January 2021, which technically could be considered peak season but due to COVID and it being a Friday afternoon I didn't have much issue finding parking. For the best chances finding a parking spot it's best to attempt this hike either first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, which also coincides with the best weather. FACILITIES: There are 1-2 bathroom stalls located at the parking lot - seems like the bathrooms are cleaned semi-regularly as the rangers finished cleaning the bathrooms when I arrived. Keep in mind there's no potable water. DISTANCE: 3 miles out-and-back. Allow 2-3 hours for this hike. DIFFICULTY: NPS rates this as challenging, but many travel and hiking blogs classify the hike as moderate. I am of average fitness and didn't have any issues doing this hike. With that being said though the hike to the summit is only 1.5 miles, there is a 1,050 feet elevation gain. The first half of the elevation gain is marked by various stone steps (think Stairmaster!) but the second half is just paved dirt. Being one of the most popular trails at least all parts of the trail are well maintained. PSA: All parts of the trail are exposed (no shade), so wear plenty of sun protection and *please* don't attempt this during the summer. --- Ever since COVID partly out of necessity I've incorporated hiking into my trips. At least one (ideally a few) hike will be of a moderate/strenuous difficulty as I like to incorporate "a good workout" in my travels (as an excuse to eat well afterwards!). For my JTNP trip Ryan Mountain was my workout hike. Climbing the steps was the hardest part of the trail - at least you can hike this in good sneakers (no traction issues). The summit of the mountain provides a sweeping panoramic view of the park. You can see Mount San Jacinto and Mount San Gorgonio along with Pinto Basin, Lost Horse Valley, Queen Valley, and Pleasant Valley. A pile of rocks marks the summit. It's also a convenient spot should you need to recoup. I definitely consumed at least a few peanut butter pretzels and part of an apple fritter from Jelly Donut along with 2 bottles of water for the hike up. The scenery at the top is gorgeous if you like deserts... but personally I liked the view at Keys View better for a better panoramic view of JTNP. Trail scenery is also okay for flora and fauna - there are better and easier trails for scenic views (Cholla Cactus Garden and Hidden Valley come to mind). As a solo female traveler I felt safe doing this trail as 1) I always passed by large groups of people each way and 2) there's surprisingly good cell reception and GPS at various points of the trail. Because of this experience I have started to become more confident hiking solo for day hikes. Despite its difficulty, I'd definitely consider this hike one of the "must-hikes" of the park if you're up for the challenge.

    Paulina N.

    I rank Ryan Mountain as top 3 of my favorites trails I've ever hiked. I've been to Joshua Tree before, but never went on any hikes there! Went this past weekend and came across the Ryan Mountain trail. This trail was basically stairs all the way up which was fine with me since it reminded me of being on a stair master at the gym lol. Good workout for the bootay heh. The trail curves upward around the mountain, and once you get to the top, you have a breathtaking view of Joshua Tree. If you come visit this park, please make sure to check out this trail if you want to have a blast and get a good workout! Also, don't make the same mistake as I did and not bring enough water because it can get really hot.

    Jason Z.

    Fun and tough hike with some pretty good elevation. Views are solid and there's lots of plants, Cactus, on the way there. We caught the sunset and it was glorious.

    Sally A.

    This moderate hike is 2.8 round trip, and you climb 1,000 feet. I started it just before 10am, and finished before noon. The time estimate is between 2-3 hours, but with occasional breaks, we made it up in about 50 minutes and the way down was about 35 minutes. Make sure you stretch before, because it's quite a workout. I use the stairmaster at the gym, yet I started feeling the strain this hike had on my knees on my treck back down. I was pretty sore the next day. It was worth it though! It felt very nice to complete the hike, and the weather and views were both great! Make sure to wear sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat since there is no shade. Also, drink plenty of water!

    Paul I.

    This was such a tough hike for me as an amateur "wanna be" hiker. Woe to me for not eating prior to the hike so about 1/3 of the way I felt fatigued and dizzy so I had to rest and drink up and eat a protein bar. All was good after that. I made it to the top and it was a nice relaxing payoff to see incredible views of Joshua Tree National Park. Will do it again but will be more prepared physically. You will feel the burn in your legs as you take each step upward. You are going up 1000 feet in 1.5 miles. I will go again but next time I will be prepared and not do it during mid summer and mid day.

    Photo op at the top of the pile of rocks
    Terri H.

    Ryan Mountain offers one of the more strenuous hikes in Joshua Tree park. It's about 1,000 feet of elevation gain in 1.5 miles, which worked out to be about 45 minutes of the stair master for us. Nature's stair master is what this hike is. After taking a break at the top, it was another 35 minutes back down. Great work out, gets your blood pumping, but I feel like the best views were seen on the drive here. The whimsical Joshua trees and Flinstone's-esque rock formations look pretty much like dirt from the this high up. But from here you can see a vast portion of the valley and rolling hills. Also, the breeze feels amazing after that hike. Take it all in. You deserve it!

    Aileen R.

    A 3.0 mile hike up to the beautiful 360 views on Ryan Mountain. Elevation came in at 5,457 feet. The hike is a steady incline along a narrow trail. It was super windy and cold on 03/05/17 so we made sure to bundle up. Also worthy of noting there is no shade so do yourself a favor and wear a hat and sunscreen. The hike is very self rewarding and you will feel enlighten when you have completed it. I love the information booth we saw at the beginning of the hike. I mostly enjoyed and appreciated that the trail is well maintained. I would categorize this as a moderate hike.

    Janet D.

    Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Twentynine Palms Length: 3.2 total miles Elevation Gain: 1,066 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: Moderately strenuous Duration: 1.5 hours Season: Best mid-September through mid-May Trailhead Elevation: 4,391 feet Top Elevation: 5,457 feet Local Contacts: Joshua Tree National Park This excellent trail leads to a high, isolated mountain in the west-central area of the park. Expansive vistas open up across much of Joshua Tree and the surrounding desert. Ryan Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Joshua Tree National Park, is an isolated massif rising between the broad, Joshua tree-covered flats of Lost Horse Valley to the west and Queen Valley to the east. Its open summit and isolated location affords panoramic views of much of the park, including the Queen and Little San Bernardino Mountains and the rockbound landscape of the Wonderland of Rocks. The hike follows one of the best constructed trails in Joshua Tree, though it does rise at a steady, moderate grade. It's an enjoyable hike from autumn through spring, but the mountain is often swept by strong winds. Winter is an ideal time to hike here, when the desert air is clear and vistas stretch to far horizons.

    See all

    6 months ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 11
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ed T.
    101
    356
    2829

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 57
    Thanks 0
    Love this 59
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David G.
    226
    1045
    6701

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Noelle M.
    293
    54
    69

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wayne S.
    292
    745
    11808

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeremy S.
    4999
    1416
    2511

    9 years ago

    Helpful 27
    Thanks 1
    Love this 28
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Justine J.
    273
    58
    20

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jessica M.
    141
    31
    25

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris B.
    0
    159
    14

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ashley J.
    29
    13
    271

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ana F.
    68
    12
    0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen C.
    85
    95
    32

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Ryan Mountain

    Review Highlights - Ryan Mountain

    There are a few small sections that are flat, but for the most part it's a steady incline.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 200 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua tree

    Joshua Tree National Park

    4.7(1.2k reviews)
    10.3 mi

    We've been to this National Park before, but it was our first chance to try some of the hikes, and…read morethey were really beautiful. If you just do the drive, you might not really see everything this park has to offer, so it's worth doing the hikes, even if only the easier ones. We did the Hidden Valley hike, which is only around a 1 mile loop. It can get pretty crowded though and the parking gets filled fast, so it's better to go early. We also went on the Barker Dam hike, which is also just a bit over a mile. This one was my favorite of the two and you get to climb some nice rocks on this hike. We did the other typical stuff like see skull rock, but didn't do this hike, and saw keys view, which is also really nice, but if you do go, it's definitely worth to do some hiking since it makes the experience of this park so much better.

    Honestly, the park itself is a 5 star experience. The views are unreal -- the kind of place that…read moremakes you stop and just take it in. I went on a Monday thinking it would be calm, but it was still pretty busy. Parking was tough in a lot of spots, which definitely slowed things down. I did the Arch Rock Trail and checked out Heart Rock on the same route -- both were gorgeous and totally worth it. Then I tried heading to Skull Rock, but parking was basically impossible unless I parked far and walked close to 50 minutes. On top of that, there was a line of like 30 people just to take a picture. I skipped it, but even driving by, it was still impactful. Hidden Valley Trail ended up being another highlight -- super scenic and probably my favorite overall. Weather was "okay" -- around 90°, but going early in the morning made it manageable. Both trails are kid-friendly, probably 4 and up, but there are some slippery areas so you still have to be careful. I went with my wife and 4 yr old kid and did very well. I held his hand for some parts. We did everything in about 3.5 hours -- driving, hiking, finding parking, bathroom stops, and walking farther than expected because spots were full. The park itself is a 5 but the surrounding areas like Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree just don't offer much in terms of food options or social life. After an amazing nature experience, it kind of falls flat when you're looking for something to do or somewhere great to eat. If I could, I would give the surrounding area a 2 out of 5. So yeah -- the park is 5 stars, but the overall experience I would give it a 3.

    Photos
    Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua tree shadows

    Joshua tree shadows

    Joshua Tree National Park - Snow, March 13, 2025

    Snow, March 13, 2025

    Joshua Tree National Park - Keys View vista

    See all

    Keys View vista

    Arch Rock - Arch Rock

    Arch Rock

    4.9(28 reviews)
    7.9 mi

    Seemingly short but a pretty far walk from the parking lot. Once you get to the Arch rock trail…read moreit's 1.4 miles and winds through some great rock formations, all of which you can scramble on. Our favorite parts were all the "off-trail" moments where you could get up and close with the desert. In summer it's recommended to do this trail before 10 am, it gets hot even in Spring! It was by far the hottest we were because of the long walk from parking with no shade at all. I believe the elevation is lower here so it felt warmer than the other Joshua Tree hikes. The iconic stops are whale rock, heart rock, and the large arch near the beginning of the trail. I'm not sure what it was but there is also a cliff you can walk to the edge of and there is some great rock formations in a canyon. It is popular also if you come too late there will be no parking, when we left we saw people walking from pretty far to get here since the parking lot was full.

    Well Coming to Joshua Tree National Park and trying to hit up all the beautiful spots in This park…read moreso Arch Rock is one of them and we had to see what this rock was all about !! It's a good hike to the rock and not hard at all !! It's all flat land with a lot of sand and Gravel but you will enjoy it !! We parked and walk about a mile and a half and you will reach this beautiful Rock . We got to the top of the rock and it makes beautiful pictures and under the Arch of the rock it looks cool and we of course took a lot of pictures here !! Just remember to bring a lot of water and some snacks you might need it . Because we did and you can sit on the rock and enjoy the amazing Views here . I highly recommend you check it out it is amazing and we had a lot of fun here .

    Photos
    Arch Rock - Arch rock

    Arch rock

    Arch Rock - Heart rock

    Heart rock

    Arch Rock - Arch rock

    See all

    Arch rock

    Oasis of Mara

    Oasis of Mara

    3.5(14 reviews)
    10.4 mi

    At the north edge of Joshua Tree National Park, the Oasis of Mara doesn't try to impress you. It…read morejust is. And somehow, that lands deeper. What makes it special isn't just the pocket of life in the middle of all that desert, it's how thoughtfully it's been preserved and shared. The paved loop trail is an open invitation, designed so almost anyone can experience it, which matters. Beauty shouldn't be gatekept by steep inclines and perfect knees. When we visited, most of the loop was closed for repairs. The kind of moment where you think, "well, that's that." But then, plot twist, kindness showed up. A staff member took the time to talk with my husband and, seeing his mobility challenges, gave him permission to walk the full trail. That small act? It meant everything. We didn't just see the oasis, we experienced it. And what an experience it was. A slow, easy walk, the kind your body thanks you for. Quiet learning along the way. A desert iguana making a cameo like it had somewhere important to be. The soft, unmistakable call of a quail echoing through the stillness. No big show, just little moments stacking up into something meaningful. It's peaceful, beautiful, and layered with history you can feel even if you don't read a single sign. The kind of place that doesn't demand your attention but earns it anyway. Go. Walk it slowly. Let it sink in. It's one of those places that leaves a quiet mark and somehow stays with you longer than the louder stops.

    Nothing very pretty. Plants looked burnt and neglected! One area was closed off for repair…read more Random info with history signs but not with cohesive storytelling. So sad that the Maaryam and other tribes were driven off this land. And worse that the water was depleted by 1940 so it had to be pumped in mechanically. Yuck- all around. The brush in the park looked much healthier than this. The only thing nice was that I could walk my dog in.

    Photos
    Oasis of Mara
    Oasis of Mara - Quartz

    Quartz

    Oasis of Mara

    See all

    Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua tree

    Joshua Tree National Park

    4.8(115 reviews)
    13.7 mi

    As an avid National Park experiencer - there is a lot to experience here…read more I always love a good tree and the Joshua tree looks so cool. Especially with the sun behind it. The rock formations feel like great secrets. The staff here are extra helpful. Tell em what you want and they can point you in the right direction. Get your national Park passport and get to more parks and take me with you. Try to eat more pizza if you want to be like me.

    We arrived at Joshua Tree National Park on a Friday around 12 PM. There was a line of about 20 cars…read moreat the entrance, but it moved quickly. We waited less than five minutes. They offer discounts for military members, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. You can also purchase an annual pass. If you're driving in, it's $30 per vehicle and the pass is valid for seven days. First stop, Hidden Valley Nature Trail: about a 10-minute drive from the entrance, and one of the most popular spots in the park. The loop is about one mile and takes you through incredible rock formations. There's a bit of climbing involved so definitely wear proper shoes. It took us around 30 minutes, but some people took closer to an hour, likely stopping for photos and to soak it all in. You'll also see rock climbers, which is fun to watch. * Cap Rock: an easy stop right off the road. You can drive by or pull over briefly to see this unique rock formation that looks like a hat perched on top of a boulder. * Skull Rock: another must-see right along the main road with no hiking required. It's exactly what it sounds like and a popular photo spot. * Keys View: a stunning panoramic viewpoint. From here you can see the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault, the Salton Sea, and on a clear day, even parts of Mexico. It's especially beautiful around sunset. You can either exit the park the way you came or continue through to one of the other exits depending on your next stop.

    Photos
    Joshua Tree National Park - The views

    The views

    Joshua Tree National Park - A Phainopepla in Cottonwood Springs! (October 2024)

    A Phainopepla in Cottonwood Springs! (October 2024)

    Joshua Tree National Park - A Black-throated Sparrow at the base of Ryan Mountain

    See all

    A Black-throated Sparrow at the base of Ryan Mountain

    Ryan Mountain - hiking - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...