Trail Review: Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree
Parking: Parking lot at Ryan Mountain Trailhead. Joshua Tree does have a $30 entrance fee. More about the park fees HERE.
Distance: 3 miles out & back.
While much of Joshua Tree National Park is relatively flat, Ryan Mountain provides a great opportunity to get up above it all and get a 360 degree view of the vast park. It is also a bit of a strenuous hike as it climbs over 1,000 feet in elevation in about 1.5 miles.
The parking lot by the trailhead is a decent size but be prepared to circle a few times if you're there at a busy time. The next closest parking area is about half a mile west at the Hall of Horrors so you'd be adding about a mile to your whole hike if you ended up parking farther away.
For about the first two thirds of the hike, you'll be climbing stone stairs that are built into the trail. It's definitely a workout for your legs! But you'll soon be high enough to get some really nice views even before you reach the peak.
The steep ascent coupled with the narrowness of the trail means it'll be slow going up, whether from taking some quick rests for your legs or from moving off to the side to let others pass. It wasn't super busy the day we hiked this trail but there were still plenty of people coming and going, some of them families and larger groups of people.
After about 1.2 miles, you'll hit a spot that gives you a great view of the eastern side of the park. It had such a great view, I thought it might be the end of the trail... but I was wrong. The trail continues on up for another 0.3 miles or so. Feel free to take in the scenery at this spot though before continuing on. It's a nice place for a rest if your legs are tired from all of the stone steps.
The remaining 0.3 miles to the peak is not nearly as steep as the rest of the trail so it's pretty smooth sailing from here. And once at the peak, you'll have a fantastic 360 degree view of the park! There is a rock pile that a large number of people wanted to take a picture on top of, but the peak is wide enough where you can avoid the crowds and take in the views elsewhere. Also, it can get pretty windy at the top so you may want to bring some extra layers in case you get cold.
Enjoy the awe-inspiring vastness of Joshua Tree National Park from the peak of Ryan Mountain. When you are ready, head back down the mountain the way you came. Be careful, though. The rocky steps can be kind of slippery on the way down because of the small loose rocks all over the place.
Also note: There was signage on the trail that indicated that the park has been doing construction on the path recently and that sections can be shut down from time to time. Nothing was closed when we were on the trail but it is something to be aware of in case you find your path blocked for 30 minutes or so...
Bottom Line: A steep but rewarding trail in Joshua Tree National Park that gives you 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape.
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