What to expect on your customized Joshua Tree rock climbing experience (4-hour, 6-hour and full-day trips)
Trips into Joshua Tree National Park for rock climbing can take one of many forms. There are over 9,000 routes to choose from: something for everyone! This combined with our long climbing season and very few weather cancellations make Joshua Tree an international rock climbing destination. During the colder months, we choose routes that are in the sun. Climbs that are relatively lower in elevation and south facing walls that stay warm in the sun. On cold windy days, we set up on climbing walls that are opposite the wind, letting the crag create a peaceful wind-free bubble for our climbers. On hot days, we chase the shade. In summer you can count on a 25-30 degree swing in temperature every day. Early mornings and evenings are a great time for shady climbing in summer. Believe it or not, for many of our June trips we start the morning wearing light jackets. Read on for what you can generally expect during one of our 4, 6 or 8 hour trips and what our hours look like year round. The information below is to help paint a picture of what to expect. However, every trip is customized for our guests. Please consider the descriptions a guideline of what is possible and keep in mind that any personal requests are welcome.
What to Expect on a 4-Hour Trip
Typically, on a 4 hour trip we keep the hike short and choose a crag with a wide variety of rock climbing routes to choose from. This way we can avoid burning time on traveling in and out from the rock formations. The first climb of the day will be a moderate warm up route that will hopefully set everyone up for success and get our guests comfortable with trusting the gear and communicating with the guide. From there, your guide will choose routes that best suit the skill sets and ambitions of the climbers in your group. By setting up at a crag with many routes to choose from, it is usually possible to get a lot of routes completed in only the 4 hour trip. This also helps us accommodate groups with mixed abilities. With enough routes, we can be sure each climber is engaged and challenged. To start planning your trip, fill out the online reservation request or call (760) 364-0547.
What to Expect on a 6-Hour Trip
With 6 hours, we have more time to venture a bit deeper into the park and visit 2 or 3 rock formations. The majority of the visitors in JTNP do not venture very far from the main road. It is amazing how quiet and private the park will feel after only a 10-15 minute approach! The six hour trips follow the same pattern of warming up on a nice moderate route to get our guests and guides comfortable working together and communicating well. From there, the guide will continue to choose routes that best serve the ambitions of the climbers. This slightly longer day opens up the opportunity to explore more crags deeper in the park and get a little more climbing in too! If you are on the fence about a 4 or 6 hour day, you can reserve for 4 with the option of upgrading to a 6 hour day and make your final choice during hour 4 of your trip! To start planning your trip, fill out the online reservation request or call (760) 364-0547.
What to Expect on a Full-Day Trip
The full day (8 hours) is a great way to explore Joshua Tree rock climbing in a fully customized way. Exploring places like the Wonderland of rocks, multi-pitches or our multi-summit options through the Lost Horse area are all some bigger adventures that can be accomplished in a full day. The people who make the most of these full days are either climbers who are in some way conditioned to climbing (have callouses on their hands), or people who live an active-outdoorsy lifestyle and look forward to longer, scenic approaches to secluded climbing areas as much as the quality rock climbs themselves. The 8 hour day is a great way to see areas of the Park you would not visit without a guide. If you are on the fence about the 6 or 8 hour day, you can reserve for 6 with the option of upgrading to a full day. Full days are available from Fall through Spring, not available during summer months (mid-May through September). To start planning your trip, fill out the online reservation request or call (760) 364-0547.
Trip Hours for 2020-2021 Season
Summer Hours (May through September)
Morning 4-Hour Trips: 7:00-11:00 am
Evening 4-Hour Trips: 3:30-7:30 pm
6-Hour Trips: 2:00-8:00 pm
Full Day Trips Unavailable
October
Morning 4-Hour Trips: 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Evening 4-Hour Trips: 2:00-6:00 pm
6-Hour Trips: Start times from 8:00 am (recommended) to as late as 12:00 pm
Full Day Trips: 8:00 am-4:00 pm
November-January
Morning 4-Hour Trips: 8:00-12:00 am
Evening 4-Hour Trips: 12:00-4:00 pm
6-Hour Trips: Start times from 8:00 am (recommended) to as late as 10:00 am
Full Day Trips: 8:00-4:00 pm
Febuary-March 13th
Morning 4-Hour Trips: 8:00-12:00 am
Evening 4-Hour Trips: 2:00-6:00 pm
6-Hour Trips: Start times from 8:00 am (recommended) to as late as 12:00 pm
Full Day Trips: 8:00 am-4:00 pm
March 14th-April
Morning 4-Hour Trips: 7:30-11:30 am
Evening 4-Hour Trips: 3:00-7:00 pm
6-Hour Trips: Start times from 8:00 am (recommended) to as late as 1:00 pm
Full Day Trips: 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Trip scheduling depends on the season and sunrise/sunset times. In summer, the objective is to avoid the mid-day sun and keep our climbers cool and comfortable, climbing in the shade. For peak season months, we recommend the early starts to avoid waiting in line at the entrance gates and to get a good selection of crags to climb on (there is limited parking in the National Park). Finally, the cold winter months, we also recommend mornings. Many of our red-weather warnings for the cold months are from a strong NW wind. We can avoid this completely and stay warm in the sun on SE facing walls. In other words, less chance of a weather cancellation if you can arrange a morning trip in winter!! If you have any other questions about what to expect of your trip, check out our FAQs page or reach out to us by email or phone at 760-364-0547, info@stone-adventures.com