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+ 83

Ryan Mountain

Hiking Trail

Hard
2.83 mi
1,048 ft
Ultra-popular hike to a summit near the center of Joshua Tree National Park.

Ryan Mountain is a prominent highpoint near the center of Joshua Tree National Park, and the trail to the summit is one of the park’s most popular hikes. The views are spectacular, and it makes a great workout, with a lot of vertical gain in a rather short distance. The trail is well constructed of stone steps and packed dirt. There’s no difficulty in staying on the path or in any scrambling, only the exertion of constant uphill for 1.5 miles, followed by the same distance in jarring downhill. From the parking lot, the trail goes uphill right away, among scattered bushes and boulders, and leading between two giant rock mounds. Continuing uphill, the trail then veers to cut a steep diagonal across the mountainside. It later levels out just a bit and turns a corner, where you’ll spot more impressive rock formations ahead. The trail works its way farther up and around the mountain, then comes to a saddle, which looks at first like it mind be the end, but isn’t. The summit is still farther away and above. Press on as the trail keeps curving uphill. You can simply stop to take in the views if you need to catch your breath, and eventually, you’ll reach the summit. The top of Ryan Mountain is broad and rather flat, giving plenty of room to spread out and appreciate the vistas in all directions. With no shelter from the sun and wind, the top of Ryan Mountain can be very hot or surprisingly cold, depending on the season. In general, the entire hike is sunny and exposed, so it’s brutal during the summer. Start early in the day to avoid the heat and the crowds. The parking lot can fill up quickly on busy days. Sources: Written by Jesse Weber
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Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Ryan Mountain Climb1.44 mi1,063 ft13.8%
Loop Rd Climb0.28 mi266 ft17.5%
Loop Rd Climb1.13 mi991 ft16.6%
Descent from False Summit1.31 mi-1,053 ft-15.2%