Mountain Project: Climbing Joshua Tree National Park

The Wonderland of Rocks is located just north and east of the Barker Dam area.

Andrew Gram adds: Head right at Echo Rock as if going to Barker Dam. Instead of pulling in to the Barker Dam trailhead, turn right onto a dirt road going to the Desert Queen Mine. Turn left onto another dirt road and there is a small parking area with an outhouse. It is also a short hike from Barker Dam through a wash to get to the same point.

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Wonderland of Rocks:

39 Steps 5.4 Trad, 1 pitch, 40 feet Sargeant Rock

Willard 5.7 Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet Nomad Dome

Mental Physics 5.7+ Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet Lenticular Dome

Hex Marks The Poot 5.8 Trad, 2 pitches, 120 feet Astro Dome - South

Breakfast of Champions 5.8+ Trad, 2 pitches, 170 feet Astro Dome - South

High Strung 5.9 Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Foolproof Tower

Enchanted Stairway 5.9 R Trad, 1 pitch, 150 feet Disneyland Dome

Dazed And Confused 5.9 Trad, 2 pitches, 160 feet Lenticular Dome

Early Bird 5.9+ Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet Fat Freddie’s Cat

Solid Gold 5.10a Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet Astro Dome - South

Dangling Woo Li Master 5.10a Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet Diarrhea Dome : Bighorn Mating Grotto

School Daze 5.10a Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet Sargeant Rock

I Can't Believe It's A Girdle 5.10b R Trad, 4 pitches, 300 feet Freak Brothers Dome

Figures on A Landscape (aka Monkey on My Back) 5.10b R Trad, 3 pitches, 250 feet Astro Dome - North

Caught Inside on a Big Set 5.10b Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Diarrhea Dome : Bighorn Mating Grotto

Book of Changes 5.10b Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet Diarrhea Dome : Bighorn Mating Grotto

Piggle Pugg 5.10c Trad, 1 pitch, 60 feet Astro Dome - South

Marital Sin 5.10c Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet Dissolution Rock

Black President 5.11a Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet Elephant Arches

Such A Savage 5.11a R Trad, 2 pitches, 170 feet Astro Dome - South

Photos of Wonderland of Rocks

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On the way to The Near East an old guy needed help...	You'll find this headstone for Worth Bagley on the...	Uncle Willie's
Many Strange creatures inhabit the Wonderland of R...	Wall Street Stamp Mill, Joshua Tree	The Wonderland Trail with the Freak Brothers Dome ...
Lost in the Wanderland, Joshua Tree.	Another relic near the Stamp Mill, Joshua Tree.	Joshua Tree detail
Stamp Mill display	Another derelict vehicle near the Stamp Mill, Josh...	A rare look at the backside of the Podium.
Stamp Mill....	Looking out over the South Wonderland.	Scenic valley underneath Disneyland Dome
An attractive small dome half way between Hook an ...	Another gorgeous view from the Wonderland	On the hike out of the Wonderland of Rocks in earl...
Out past the Hook and Ladder Area	A proud example...	Uncle Willie's
Inauguron Dome in the foreground and Elephant Arch...	Nice one!	Face on the left has a couple of bolted routes on ...
Astro Domes. Photo by Blitzo.	Punk Rock. Photo by Blitzo.	Odd formations. Photo by Blitzo.

Comments on Wonderland of Rocks

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By Bo Johnston
Feb 5, 2005

Can anyone tell me the best way (or a way) to get to the Lost in the Wonderland Slab? I made it to Bighorn Dome and took a left along Boulder Canyon thinking that I could hit the slab from the west. Not such a good idea for those of you considering it.

By C Miller
Administrator
Feb 6, 2005

There are two main ways to get to the Lost In The Wonderland Slab, but going through the aptly named Boulder Canyon is not one of them...unless you happen to be a Bighorn Sheep.

The first approach is to cut right past the Freak Brothers Dome (heading east), past the north side of the Pea Brain and Red Obelisk until you enter a large open valley. Continue heading east/northeast (you'll be facing the distant flanks of Queen Mtn.) along the Wonderland Wash, passing the entrance to Boulder Canyon, past a huge boulder with a Leavitt project on your left until you have to make your way through some rocks and join another wash coming in from the south. The wash turns left and heads northeast here (along the base of Queen Mtn.), and soon you'll see the Don Genaro Cliffs and Don Genaro Boulder on your right. Make a left (heading west) when you reach the Cornerstone and follow a major wash past The Poodle Smasher until the Lost In The Wonderland Slab comes into view on your left. Plan on at least a solid hour of hiking for the approach.

Another approach is to head north in the Wonderland Valley past the Freak Brothers Dome. Continue along the wash in a northerly direction past the Duckwaddle Domes, Gumby Dome, and Diarrhea Dome (with the prominent Owl Pinnacle atop it). Once past the turnoff for Diarrhea Dome/Bighorn Mating Grotto continue on past the Mystic Cove, scramble over a rough section and hit a wash heading east. Follow this until the Lost In The Wonderland Slab comes into view on your right. Again, plan on at least an hour of solid hiking to reach this point.

It's possible combine the two and make a giant loop hike, which will give you a grand tour of the southern Wonderland and blow your mind with the scenic beauty, solitude and amazing amount of rock in the area. Perfect for those cold, windy days when it's too cold to climb.

By Bo Johnston
Oct 18, 2006

I finally made it out to the Wonderland Slab and was dissapointed to see that Desert Delierium is dangerously runout with only one bolt (that I could see) between the ground and the left traversing roof. That bolt had webbing slings on it which lead me to believe that things get desparate up there. I'm sure a harder climber wouldn't hesitate.

Wonderland of Rocks

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Getting There

The Classics

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