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


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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 20 votes

#7196

Overall
  3.9 from 20 votes
5 Star
20%
4 Star
45%
3 Star
35%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#583

in California

#7,196

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

18%
6%
76%
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

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Check-Ins

Dec 29, 2022
Rosie Betenbaugh
2mi — 8h 50m
Mar 14, 2022
Stewart Carnes
Feb 19, 2022
Michael Sander
Jan 18, 2022
Brett Wolfley
Nov 13, 2021
Belinda Le
2mi
Nov 5, 2021
Michael Sherman
Very cool boulders and lots of different cacti. Made a special hoodoo for Miles about half mile before end of trail
May 30, 2021
Rachel Pierstorff
2mi
Jan 12, 2021
Lou Hibbard
With Janelle 2mi