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.

Five stars all the way!…read more First, I had fun and didn't die so, in my opinion, my adventure with Cliffhanger was a big success. Second, the whole experience was seamless. Booking was quick and easy. Their questionnaire about my experience, preferences, etc was thorough. Pricing was fair. They are conveniently located. And the owners do a lot of good work in the community. Third, my guide- Mike C- was just the absolute best. Relentlessly upbeat, patient with my questions, the essence of calm. This young man cheerfully and gently verbally assisted me beyond several points where I would have just... stopped. He was an excellent safety and technique coach but without his encouragement and, again, unflappable calm, I would not have felt as confident or relaxed. He's very gifted and I'm lucky to have been assigned to him as he crafted an amazing experience. Fourth, food was a real surprise! I expected the barest minimum but it was nicer than anything I would have eaten at home! Overall, if you're wanting to rock climb and need a guide, Cliffhanger is the way to go. I have nothing but praise for them.

My daughter and her boyfriend were visiting California from NYC. He's the type who loves rock…read moreclimbing (in gyms) and nature. She's more of a bedrotting indoors kind of girl. So, naturally, I booked a rock climbing day with Cliffhanger Guides in Joshua Tree as my attempt to get her to "touch grass." She was pretty anxious beforehand, being a city kid and all. When the trip started, I even hung out for a bit to see how things looked, and she still seemed nervous when I left. But their guide, Hailey, must be a wizard because when I came back to pick them up, both kids were all smiles. My daughter even said the trip was "fun," which is basically a five-star review coming from someone who would happily bedrot all weekend. Logistics were also smooth: booking was easy, communication was clear, and both of them filled out a questionnaire ahead of time so the trip could be tailored to their experience level. Overall, an awesome experience, and I'd absolutely book with Cliffhanger Guides again.

Our group of 10 boy scouts had an awesome experience rocking climbing with Stone Adventures. Our…read moreguides, Mason, Ryan and Nick were encouraging, patient and fun! The weather was perfect and the area the boys were climbing at was quiet and felt really secluded. Mason is also very helpful and flexible in helping our group of boy scouts complete their climbing merit badges. Thank you for such a wonderful experience. I will not hesitate to recommend them to anyone!

Amazing climb with Seth who was patient, encouraging and flexible. We had a great time-felt this…read morewas due to our guide. Thank you!

My partner and I had the most unforgettable experience. We are moderate climbers but had only a…read morelittle experience outdoors. Tiowa was incredible; so patient and knowledgeable. He may have been the best guide we've ever had. Lead us on some fun easy routes and pushed us just enough to get into an intermediate. Highly recommend. Great for all skill levels and a unique way to experience Joshua Tree.

I had the most amazing experience through the Joshua Tree Climbing School. If it weren't for my…read morefriend Lea, who introduced me to indoor climbing, I probably would have never tried to enhance my skills through an Intermediate class up in J.T. This would be my second time climbing outdoors, my first time in Joshua Tree, and one of the best things that I've ever done. Steve was our instructor and he was a no B.S. kind of dude. He was extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy, and pushed our group to go above and beyond their capabilities--not to instill fear but more to show us that we're so much more capable of what we think we can do. Day 1 started with Steve teaching us several knots that we would need to know to create slings, extend ropes, and tie in and set anchors. Then he showed us all of the anchor devices and techniques. Once we were schooled on the tools we needed to set anchors, he set us free to set up some anchors around the boulders around us. He always checked our work and critiqued what we did right, wrong and how we could have improved it. After about a half day of anchor lectures and practice settings, he set up some top ropes for us to climb for the rest of the afternoon. I'm a 5.9 climber in the gym, and he set up some 5.7 cracks that I found really difficult and challenging, but a lot of fun. On Day 2 we drove to another part of the park. This was the real test. Not only did we have to scramble up the side of a mountain with gear, but we also had to partner up and set up anchors, and then repel off of them. Again, he always checked our work and safety was always a priority. I never felt jeopardized, but always challenged. Once we repelled off of our first anchor sets, he let us top rope off of them. The second part of Day 2 got even more interesting when he led us back to the top of our first anchors, showed us how to tear them down, and then led us to even higher ground "free soloing" it up the mountain (i.e., scrambling without rope) to set up another set of anchors. I have to admit that I was scurrred, but I put all of my faith and trust in Steve and my group. Steve would remind us that if there was something we felt uncomfortable with to let him know so he could rope us in or spot us from behind. Our group was cohesive--we looked out for each other, checked each other for safety and never left anyone behind. It was pretty gnarly (the best descriptive word for this) to sitting at the top of a mountain, setting up anchors, looking over the edge for accuracy and then having complete faith in your work by repelling off of it and then top roping it over and over. I really had no idea what I was in for when Lea invited me to go with her on this weekend excursion, but it was worth every penny. Not only did I improve my climbing skills, but I also walked away with some pretty cool mountaineering survivor skills, a new set of friends, and last but not least, bruised and scraped knees and knuckles. In short, Steve RAWKS!!!!

LIVE OAK PICNIC AREA is located in one of the more popular areas of Joshua Tree National Park,…read morenamely, a one mile long region along Park Boulevard that includes these features: (1) LIVE OAK picnic area; (2) SPLIT ROCK trail; (3) SKULL ROCK; (4) DISCOVERY trail and FACE ROCK. Face Rock is located at the intersection between Discovery Trail and Split Rock Trail; (5) PINE CONE rock (this is one of the most beautiful inselbergs in JTNP, but it has not been given a name. And so, I named it Pine Cone Rock); and (6) JUMBO ROCKS campground. Live Oak Picnic area has an indoor toilet, and three areas for parking. The parking spots are, just to the south of Twin Pyramid, just to the east of Twin Pyramid, and at the end of the 300 foot dirt road (mentioned below). PHOTOGENIC GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF LIVE OAK. The most photogenic features at Live Oak include: (1) Twin Pyramids; (2) Criss-crossing quartz dikes that reside in the north face of Twin Pyramids; (3) Granite formation resembling an ear. This is located on north face of Twin Pyramids; (4) Angled quartz intrusion with almond-shaped crevice. This is located on southern face of Twin Pyramids; (5) Valentine Heart. This is located about fifty feet to the east of the edge of the parking lot (by this, I mean the parking area that is just to the east of Twin Pyramids; (6) Beautiful quartz dike that resembles a stone shelf consisting of white bricks. This is located at the very end of the 300 foot dirt road that extends from Twin Pyramids to the live oak (to the actual live oak tree); and (7) Dramatic chockstone that is wedged in the middle of a small inselberg. This is located about 200 feet out in the desert, to the east of Twin Pyramid. There are not many inselbergs out there, which makes it easier to find this huge chockstone. All of the above are shown in the attached photographs. ESTABLISHED CLIMBING AREAS in LIVE OAK PICNIC AREA. These include, The Pope's Hat, Big Bob's Big Wedge, and Whispering Wall. The locations of these climbing areas (these are names of the boulders) are on pages 392-393 of Joshua Tree Rock Climbs by Robert Miramontes.

. The trail is almost completely well marked. You can see in my Strava route I got lost before…read moreretracing my steps. + Good family hike for novices and intermediate. + You'll likely see a lot of topropers who can't get enough adrenaline. xD + Plenty of parking along the trail entrance. - Wish there were signs or a mark on the map pointing to Cow Rock.

About a 10-minute drive from the entrance, and one of the most popular spots in the park. The loop…read moreis 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.

I've been climbing with Vertical Adventures since 2019, and they are the BEST when it comes to rock…read moreclimbing in Joshua Tree! Jarad the owner is the most chill, adventurous climber and outdoorsman. I've taken classes from him ranging from all sorts of rock climbing adventures: anchor practice, climbing technique, multipitch, etc. Not only will you have a fun and safe outing with Jarad, you'll also walk away with confidence and knowledge, as Jarad is an excellent teacher. My technique, skills, and confidence has grown substantially under Jarad's guidance. Also Jarad knows Joshua Tree SO well! The amount of knowledge he has of the area climbs, hikes, and beyond is incredible. His recommendation's of climbs to pursue outside of the guided coaching is always spot on. If you want to climb in a world class place like Josh, you must call Vertical Adventures!

My tween, who can be blasé, said the day was "awesome!" This…read morewas our first time climbing outdoors and the experience was extraordinary! The communication was excellent and we felt very supported and challenged throughout our time together. Can't wait for our next Vertical Adventure!!!

Excellent experience with guides Murphy and Emery. They were thoughtful, fun, safe, professional…read more Couldn't ask for more.

An amazing afternoon with a stellar guide (James Murphy) back in mid-April during Spring Break. Our…read morekids (10 & 12 yo) and my wife and I met up for an afternoon and he set up a couple top ropes and coached us all through the tough spots incredibly well. Had a BLAST!

Wow - just WOW! Last Sunday (November 22, 2020) I finally got to check Rock Climbing off my bucket…read morelist, thanks to "Rock Climb Every Day" (yes, they are taking reservations during COVID and implementing all the necessary COVID protocols). Last year I successfully climbed to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome - without a doubt, it was one of the most memorable + accomplishment-filled outdoorsy adventures I've ever experienced. My first rock climbing adventure is definitely up there. In fact, my Half Dome adventure is what sparked my interest in Rock Climbing. By the way, if you're looking for an amazing Half Dome experience, I highly recommend REI Adventures and book with Scott - be sure to check out my 5-star "Half Dome Day Hike" Yelp review. Scott is an avid Rock Climber and he knows all the cool and underground rock climbing spots :) I've found that it's challenging to find people who love outdoorsy adventures like me. So, I usually end up doing these type of activities solo. I book directly through adventure companies to help ensure I have a safe, education and of course a FUN experience. Booking through "Rock Climb Every Day" couldn't have been more perfect from start to finish. In fact, I'm looking forward to booking another adventure with them. They cater to all levels of rock climbing from beginners to experienced. Most of all, they know how to make outdoor rock climbing easy and fun. They offer beginner rock climbing classes, rock climbing adventures, rappelling adventures, private instruction, family climbing packages, multi-day packages, parties + groups, climbing anchor class, sport climbing, trad climbing and much more! I consider myself a complete novice rock climber. Absolutely no experience - not even indoor climbing. Crazy, right? But I do consider myself athletic as I competed as a pro-Am Muay Thai fighter for almost a decade. Even with that kind of experience, I found the climb to challenging, scary, but most of all, FUN. Our instructor Jim was knowledgeable, timely, communicative and fun! Without his guidance, I don't think I could have made it to the top of the 5.7 climb. He was there every step (literally every inch) of the way. It was truly a "team" effort. We completed 6 climbs ranging from 5.4 to 5.7 (level of difficulty). There were a total of 4 people in our group. 2 had some indoor experience and the other 2 (including myself) had zero experience. And let me tell you - I'm scared to death of heights. Scared AF!!! But isn't it amazing how the BEST things that ever happen in LIFE are the ones we were resistant to get involved with because of fear?? Trust me, it's not easy but stop running away from fear, run towards it! If you don't take action now, you likely never will. Your fears will win + will continue to win until you break the pattern. Start saying YES to fear. The scarier something is, the more you need to do it. I couldn't have overcome my fear of rock climbing without the help + guidance of "Rock Climb Every Day." What are you scared of right now? Rock climbing? What are you telling yourself you can't have, not yet? Rock Climbing? What are you trying to "figure out first"? Rock Climbing? My advice. STOP thinking. STOP trying to figure it out. Say yes to fear; yes to uncertainty. Say YES to Rock Climbing. Overall, an amazing 5-star experience with Rock Climb Every Day. Book your adventure at https://rockclimbeveryday.com - maybe I'll see you on my next adventure? :)

Is this a bogus service? No one ever answers emails, messages, nor voice messages. Submitted…read morepayment for a class, but no confirmation receipt.

I've came to this park nearly every time I've traveled here to visit my mother. Prior to having my…read moreown family, we would come for the early morning walk and a mini workout using the equipment staged around the block. It's always so peaceful in the mornings, with plenty of other walkers; most of which are friendly and wave back. Throughout the day, depending on the heat of course, you'll find families and their small kiddos enjoying the playground and / or having a picnic. If school is out, you'll often find the older kids climbing all over the place too - most of them try to look out for the smaller ones. They do have a bathroom that's kept unlocked during park hours. It can be a little dark in there and they do get messy at times but they have people who clean them daily. This is definitely a cleaner and nicer park than most, especially for being in the desert. The grass is kept lush and ironically is the first place our son ever even felt grass. He's 4 now and thoroughly enjoys how interactive the playground is. A must for any family that wants to get out and enjoy the outdoors and to be around greenery. They also have outdoor basketball courts in a caged area that I've seen a few pick up games pop up from time to time. There are plenty of picnic tables and several open bbq charcoal grills available. There's a community swimming pool open during the summer and though I've never personally used it, have heard good things. The sidewalks are kept in good shape and wheelchair accessible. Anyone wanting to throw or kick a ball around, there is more than enough room for multiple families to do so.

Great huge park! Large playground with a few different areas and shade. Sports fields, corn hole…read morearea, bathrooms, a pool. Lots of fun for all ages. Very well kept.