Hiking Project Logo

Make your way through the Split Rock area, which is popular with climbers.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

2.0

Miles

3.2

KM

Loop

4,365' 1,330 m

High

4,228' 1,289 m

Low

228' 69 m

Up

233' 71 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

13%

Max Grade (7°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildflowers

Family Friendly Visit this trail in the spring and your kids will love viewing the abundance of wildflowers and rock climbers scaling the nearby cliffs.

Description

The Split Rock Loop Trail is located at the end of the Split Rock Picnic Area, roughly .5 miles off of Park Boulevard. It's a 2 mile loop trail, with a .1 mile side trip to see Face Rock if you so desire. The area is popular with climbers, especially on the weekends. It is also a good wildflower trail in the spring as there are wildflowers and cacti are found along the way.

Leaving the picnic area, the trail drops down and around a large split rock where a cave is located. Providing shade from the sun, it is a nice place to explore before continuing your journey. The trail is marked by rocks through an open section where no discernible trail can be seen. Working its way out into the boulders, views of the surrounding rocks come into view. You can understand why it's such a popular place with rock climbers. Follow the signs as they help guide you when the trail gets difficult to follow or what appear to be trails go off in different directions. Wildflowers and cacti bloom in the spring, adding a bit of color to the journey. Around .25 miles, the trail cuts back to the left and starts to climb up the hillside via a sand and gravel trail, with stairs found in the steeper sections. The trail begins to roll through the desert as the trail follows the contour of the landscape.

At roughly .8 miles, the trail enters a rock field, one of several that the trail will move around over the next mile or so. Rock climbers can be seen climbing above the trail throughout these sections. At roughly 1.25 miles, a side trail to Face Rock goes off to the right. This leads to a rock feature that looks like a human face, and then returns to Split Rock Trail. Continuing to snake through the landscape, various climbing access trails break off from the main trail as it descends gently for the last .4 miles back to the parking lot.

Flora & Fauna

Wildflowers and cacti can be found along the trail and bloom in the spring.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 21 votes

#7354

Overall
  3.9 from 21 votes
5 Star
19%
4 Star
48%
3 Star
33%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#585

in California

#7,354

Overall
18 Views Last Month
2,954 Since Apr 17, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate

16%
11%
74%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Climbers above the trail scale routes of varying difficulty.  The area is popular with climbers on the weekends, so the parking area may be full.
Apr 24, 2016 near Twentyn…, CA
View from the trail
Mar 14, 2022 near Twentyn…, CA
View from the trail
Mar 14, 2022 near Twentyn…, CA
Joshua Tree National Park's two stars - A Joshua Tree and a Boulder
Apr 29, 2016 near Twentyn…, CA
View from the trail
Mar 14, 2022 near Twentyn…, CA
The trail can be hard to follow in places.   Here, rocks mark the path as it moves across smooth rocks.
Apr 24, 2016 near Twentyn…, CA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 5 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.