Headstone Rock  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  33.9836, -116.154 Map Page Views:  62,442. Good page?    Administrators:  C Miller, Adam Stackhouse, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Brian Reynolds on Jun 26, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 96° | 68° 91° | 61° 86° | 63° 90° | 55° 90° | 55°

Headstone & Joshua Trees on a beautiful day. Feb ...

Description 

Headstone is one of the true classic locations at JTree, and home to two of the parks most popular moderate routes: SW Corner (5.6 ***) and Cryptic (5.8 ***). Although the SW Corner offers spectacular exposure (due to the positioning of the rock), both routes are well bolted by JTree standards. In addition to these two routes, the South Face Center goes at 5.9, and there are some bolted 5.reallyhard sport climbs on the blank, overhanging north face of the rock as well.

Quickdraws are all you'll need for protection, although a couple of double-length slings will help for setting a belay on the top of the SW Corner.

Rappel descent from bolts and chains on top of the rock.

Like I said, these routes are POPULAR, so get there early in the morning or climb them late in the evening. But they're well worth it!

Getting There 

Park on the east side of the Ryan Campground Loop, next to the bathroom. From there it's an easy 100 yard plus 2 minutes of 3rd class approach (past some kind bouldering, by the way).

The Classics

Featured Route For Headstone Rock

SW Corner 5.6  CA : Joshua Tree National Park : ... : Headstone Rock

Awesome setting, great summit, big air underneath you. This is a great climb. It's popular, and there's often a line, but it's still well worth doing. Ss soon as you hit the corner past the second bolt, it's like there's no one else around but you and a hundred feet of air. The crux is negotiating your way over a small bulge above the second bolt -- the holds are there and bomber, though, so fire away!! This is one climb that I intend to come back and do again, many times.For excellent phot...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Headstone Rock Slideshow

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Climbers on the Southwest Corner and Cryptic.	Classic Headstone shot	BETA PHOTO: Climbers on Headstone Rock (((2-29-2004)))
February 18th	Classic Headstone with me on top	Headstone with Cryptic on the left side
Climbers on the SW Corner.	Headstone Nov. 2004 We were climbing in shorts two...	south side of Headstone rock
BETA PHOTO: Joe De Luca attempting the 2nd ascent of The Cutti...	Celebrating atop Headstone Rock, Joshua Tree.	Descending Headstone Rock. Photo by Blitzo.
Bouldering below Headstone Rock, Joshua Tree NP	Headstone Rock. Photo by Blitzo.	From the top.
BETA PHOTO: Headstone Rappel Anchors (taken May 2011)	BETA PHOTO: Anchors for Top Roping Cryptic.	sunrise ascent
Rappelling Headstone Rock.	Headstone Rock with Saddle Rocks in the Background...	Oh, F**k, I forgot the rack. Can you just toss it...
Topping out on the 5.9 high ball on the north side...