World’s Most Popular Rock Climbing Destination?
So what is it? Yosemite? The Dolomites? Zion? Nope. It’s Joshua Tree National Park—odd, that a destination named after a tree which can’t be climbed is best known for its rocks which beg to be climbed. Located just 140 miles east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree draws thousands of rock climbers of all skill levels from around the world who come to practice their passion on over 5,000 established climbing routes. Summers in the California desert are hot, but from September through May, JT is the perfect three-season climbing destination.

Joshua Tree’s appeal lies not only in the quantity and variety of routes, but also in the quality of the rock. It’s a largely exposed, beige-to-orange quartz monzonite, a type of coarse granite, which provides a higher coefficient of friction than Yosemite granite or desert sandstone popular among climbers in the western United States. That means you’re climbing on a more secure surface, generally free of rockfall and loose, crumbly rock. For guided climbs and instruction call my friend Mark Bowling, Director of the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School, tel 760-366-4745; www.joshuatreerockclimbing.com.