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Elevation: 3,187 ft
GPS: 34.09379, -116.15658
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Shared By: Brian Reynolds on Jun 20, 2002 · Updates
Admins: Greg Opland, Mike Morley, C Miller, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes, Gunkswest
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Description Suggest change

Indian Cove is a stand-alone section of the park, located to the north of the main park and around 1000 feet lower in elevation. This, plus the fact that it is relatively sheltered, make it a good destination on cold winter days. Additionally, unlike the main park, the campsites in Indian Cove can be reserved and cost (as of Jan 2022 $25/night) -- on the other hand, there's no park entrance fee.

The rock tends to be slightly grainier than some of the other popular areas (Lost Horse, Real Hidden Valley), and many of the routes are a bit shorter. Nonetheless, there's some great climbing here, probably close to a thousand routes from 5.0 all the way up, and as a bonus most of it is within a hundred yards or so of the road, so the approaches are practically non-existent. A few less populated crags lie up on the slope of the Wonderland of Rocks (the south side of IC) or up Rattlesnake Canyon in the Wonderland.

Certain formations at Indian Cove can be overrun with gang-ropers (Feudal Wall, Short Wall, Billboard Buttress, Pixie Rock), so plan accordingly. Other great areas to check out include Moosedog Tower, Dos Equis Wall, Corral Wall, Wonder Bluffs, and more that I don't have time to list here. One general word of warning: the further north you get, the grainier and more crumbly the rocks tend to get. Grain Central Station has that name for a reason, and although Morbid Mound is relatively popular, I can't figure out why.

Campground Map as provided by the park (some editing for clarity)

Getting There Suggest change

Follow the 29 Palms Highway past the entrance to the main park in the town of Joshua Tree. The entrance to Indian Cove is between the towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Keep a look out for Indian Cove Road, on the right side of the highway. If you're approaching from the west, look for a Tortoise Rock Casino billboard to mark the spot.

The landmark billboard marking the turn, Joshua Tree NP

Turn south on Indian Cove Road and head straight into the park. After a couple of miles, you'll pass a small ranger station, and after another mile or so, you're there.

778 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Indian Cove

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 111
Palmreader
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 81
Taken for Granite
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 81
200 Motels
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 102
Campfire Girl (Half Route)
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 183
Direct South Face
Trad 3 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 114
Silent Scream (aka Shock the Mon…
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 128
Apparition
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 128
Right V Crack
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 83
Party in the Desert
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 40
Firewater Chimney
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 14
Panama Red
TR
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 15
The Highwayman
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13
 29
Presupposition
Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 9
The Last Stand
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 9
Eureka!
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Palmreader Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Palmreader Wall
 111
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Taken for Granite Rattlesnake Canyon > Rattlesnake Buttress
 81
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
200 Motels Rattlesnake Canyon > Rattlesnake Buttress
 81
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Campfire Girl (Half Route) Indian Cove Cam… > … > Campfire Crag Area > Campfire Crag - N Face
 102
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Direct South Face Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Moosedog Tower
 183
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
Silent Scream (aka Shock th… Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Pixie Rock
 114
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Apparition Indian Cove Cam… > … > Apparition Rock > Apparition Rock (Front)
 128
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Right V Crack Indian Cove Cam… > … > Short Wall > Short Wall - Left Side
 128
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Party in the Desert Rattlesnake Canyon > Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Left Side
 83
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Firewater Chimney Rattlesnake Canyon > Valley of Kings > Arrowhead
 40
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Panama Red Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > King Otto's Castle
 14
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a TR
The Highwayman Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Corona/Dos Equis Wall
 15
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
Presupposition Indian Cove Cam… > … > Campfire Crag Area > Campfire Crag - N Face
 29
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13 Trad
The Last Stand Rattlesnake Canyon > Valley of Kings > Arrowhead
 9
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Eureka! Rattlesnake Canyon > Rattlesnake Buttress
 9
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
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