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Mammut Lithium 32 Backpack - 1952cu in

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La Sportiva Trango S Evo GTX Mountaineering Boot - Men's

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Metolius Gizmo Belay Ledge

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Black Diamond Ozone Climbing Harness

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Elefantito Full-Body Children's Harness

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MSR Snow Fluke

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Giro Ambient 2 Cycling Glove

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Mountain Hardwear Drifter 3 DP Tent

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Apple Valley Crags 
Chimney Rock 
Coyote Hole 
Giant Rock 
Hercules Finger 
High Desert Bouldering 
Johnson Valley Areas 
Juniper Flats 
Lucerne Limestone 
Mojave National Preserve 
New Jack City 
Old Woman Statue 
Rim Rock 
Tehachapi 
Wonder Valley 


Browse this area on a map
Rest Day:
Nearby Mountain Bike Rides

Hanna Flats Singletrack
If you ride only one trail in the area, you gotta do this one. Near Big Bear Lake, CA
Show More Trails
Gray's Peak
The icing on the cake - an out and back climb with great views at the top and a fun descent. Near Big Bear Lake, CA
Hanna Flats Loop
A local favorite and a must-do loop if you're visiting the area. Near Big Bear Lake, CA
Cougar Crest Trail
Rocky, technical and a blast to ride. Near Big Bear Lake, CA
Skyline Singletrack
The newest cool trail in Big Bear. Near Big Bear Lake, CA
Santa Ana River Trail (SART) from South Fork to Glass Road
One of the best places to ride in the San Bernardino mountains - a true destination ride. Near Big Bear Lake, CA
From MP's sister site: MTB Project

High Desert 


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Elevation: 4,000'
Lat, Long: 34.6663, -116.9784 Map
Page Views: 440,064. Good page? (1 like)   
Administrators: M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Francis Baker (fran) on Sep 26, 2006

Make this area a Favorite
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Guidebooks (1)
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Granite Mountains.
Photo by Blitzo.

Description 

This is the large region of southeastern California. There are several places with climbable rock. The area is vast and places can be remote. The desert is a harsh place; bring lots of water and an adventurous spirit. Areas of interest are: Apple Valley Crags, Granite Pass, Sawtooth Canyon (aka New Jack City) and Teutonia Peak.


Getting There 

Most areas are accessed from Interstate 15.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for High Desert:
Cool Enough   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Box Canyon East : Boy Scout Wall
Reaching Rayane   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Box Canyon East : Boy Scout Wall
Route 66   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 65 feet   Raven Rocks : Raven Rocks South
Three Giant Steps   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 85 feet   Box Canyon East : Boy Scout Wall
Holey Moley   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Raven Rocks : Raven Rocks North Face "Pow...
Welcome to NJC   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Raven Rocks : Raven Rocks West (Warm-up W...
Necessary Evil   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   The Cemetery : Evil Pillar
Espresso   5.10c     Sport, 1 pitch, 35 feet   Raven Rocks : Raven Rocks North Face "Pow...
The Scene Is Not For Sale   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Box Canyon East : Crossfire Crag
Fantasia   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 95 feet   Box Canyon East : Fantasy Island
The Minute Men Arete   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Box Canyon East : Fantasy Island
King of all Media   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 35 feet   Box Canyon East : Hidden Wall (aka The Meat L...
Freakshow   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Box Canyon East : Fairway
Crossfire   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Box Canyon East : Crossfire Crag
Double Kneebar Ranch   5.12b/c     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Box Canyon East : Crossfire Crag
You Don't Know Jack   5.12c     Sport, 1 pitch   Raven Rocks : Raven Rocks North Face "Pow...
Lethal Weapon   5.12c/d     Sport   Box Canyon East : Lethal Rock
Ride The Wild   5.12d     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Box Canyon West : Arch Rocks
The Action   5.13a     Sport   Box Canyon East : The Watchtower
The Travesty   5.13a     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Box Canyon West : Arch Rocks
Browse More Classics in High Desert

Featured Route For High Desert
Jay on "Face To Face" (5.11d). photo by Mike Ayon

Face To Face 5.11d  CA : High Desert : ... : Fairway
Start up "Hole In One" for the first 3 bolts. (longer draw on the 3 bolt helps with rope drag) Then head up and right thru steep huecos, turn the lip on thin holds and face climb to the anchors. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA


Photos of High Desert Slideshow Add Photo
Early evening at Margheritaville, High Desert

Early evening at Margheritaville, High Desert

Mojave Desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Mojave Desert.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Gold Poppy. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Gold Poppy.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Chicory. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Chicory.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Mallow. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Mallow.
Photo by Blitzo.

Bee on Bladderpod. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Bee on Bladderpod.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Lily. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Lily.
Photo by Blitzo.

Tarantula Wasp. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Tarantula Wasp.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Lightning. <br />Photo by Blitzo. <br />

Desert Lightning.
Photo by Blitzo.


Death Valley Phacelia. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Death Valley Phacelia.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Wash. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Wash.
Photo by Blitzo.

Rainbow near Amboy. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Rainbow near Amboy.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert sunset. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert sunset.
Photo by Blitzo.

Granite Mountains-storm. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Granite Mountains-storm.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Five Spot. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert Five Spot.
Photo by Blitzo.

Boulder-Granite Mountains. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Boulder-Granite Mountains.
Photo by Blitzo.

Sunset at Margheritaville, High Desert

Sunset at Margheritaville, High Desert

Desert storm. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert storm.
Photo by Blitzo.

Desert moon. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Desert moon.
Photo by Blitzo.

Alone in the desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Alone in the desert.
Photo by Blitzo.

Climbing somewhere out there in the desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Climbing somewhere out there in the desert.
Photo ...

Another desert sunrise. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Another desert sunrise.
Photo by Blitzo.

Another climb, somewhere in the desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Another climb, somewhere in the desert.
Photo by B...

High Desert scenery

High Desert scenery

Mining relics in the New York Mountains, Mojave National Preserve

Mining relics in the New York Mountains, Mojave Na...

Somewhere in the High Desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Somewhere in the High Desert.
Photo by Blitzo.

Common Jack rabbit. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Common Jack rabbit.
Photo by Blitzo.

High Desert boulders. <br />Pro to 3/4". <br />

High Desert boulders.
Pro to 3/4".


Apollo Valley - 3x 34m Beam Wave Guide antennas.

Apollo Valley - 3x 34m Beam Wave Guide antennas.

Goldstone Mars Station 70m dish.

Goldstone Mars Station 70m dish.

Kelso Dunes, Mojave National Preserve. March 2008

Kelso Dunes, Mojave National Preserve. March 2008

Cactus flowers near Walking Box

Cactus flowers near Walking Box

The road to riches.

The road to riches.

Soda Lake, Devil's Playground and Granite Mountains

Soda Lake, Devil's Playground and Granite Mountain...

Saddle Rocks at Margheritaville.

Saddle Rocks at Margheritaville.

Rock at Camp Rock. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Rock at Camp Rock.
Photo by Blitzo.

High Desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

High Desert.
Photo by Blitzo.

Climbing at Camp Rock area. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Climbing at Camp Rock area.
Photo by Blitzo.

Face in The High Desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Face in The High Desert.
Photo by Blitzo.

High Desert Sunset. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

High Desert Sunset.
Photo by Blitzo.

Margaritaville. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Margaritaville.
Photo by Blitzo.

Margaritaville. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Margaritaville.
Photo by Blitzo.

Climbing at Ghost Rd. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Climbing at Ghost Rd.
Photo by Blitzo.

Bouldering at Wagonwheel.

Bouldering at Wagonwheel.

Off. <br />Wagonwheel.

Off.
Wagonwheel.

Sunset at Wagonwheel.

Sunset at Wagonwheel.

Horned Lizard. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Horned Lizard.
Photo by Blitzo.

Clark Mountain, Mojave National Preserve

Clark Mountain, Mojave National Preserve

Somewhere in the High Desert. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Somewhere in the High Desert.
Photo by Blitzo.

High Desert Crags, Apple Valley Area

High Desert Crags, Apple Valley Area


Comments on High Desert Add Comment
Show which comments —
By Chris Owen
Administrator
From: La Crescenta and Big Bear Lake
Feb 14, 2008

TEASER:

Lots of virgin granite at the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (20 miles west of Fort Irwin, north of Barstow). But you'll need a NASA pass to get there!

By Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi?
From: Vegas
Oct 31, 2010

We just spent some time out at Goldstone last week- My BF's father used to work there as an engineer back in the day, and arranged a nice tour for us. Cool place, incredible antennas, cool rock, and crags for the chosen ones for sure- Go NASA! Yay UFOs, woohoo aliens... climb on!

By Chris Owen
Administrator
From: La Crescenta and Big Bear Lake
Nov 8, 2010

What's your boyfriend's father's name?

By Eddie Miro
Aug 4, 2011

Does anyone have directions to the new area called Fairview? I heard there's a 5.6 sport climb that's like 100 foot long. Any info appreciated.

By andiran
Oct 21, 2012

Is there a High Desert sport climbs guidebook? Is anyone by any chance working on one?