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Rattlesnake Canyon Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Rattlesnake Canyon

Bulkhead, The 2

Cactus City 4

Central Library, The 2

Chocolate Corridor 3

Commissioner's Buttress 1

Corral Wall 37

Dark Continent, The 1

Detached Wall 2

Double Cracks 2

Ghost Town 3

Iceberg Boulder Area 35

Indian Country 8

KD Boulder, The 1

Love Boulder, The 2

Lower Dodge City 2

Medicine Bow 2

Mini-Mall 2

Morrissey Crag, The 2

Polka Dot Wall, The 14

Ponderosa Wall / Black Tower 8

Pyramid, The 11

Rattlesnake Buttress 11

Rattlesnake Forks Notch 1

Rattlesnake Wash Hillside 36

Somewhere n00b 6

Spanish Key 1

Top of the Falls 1

Udi Buttress Area 3

Upper Dodge City 4

Valley of Kings, The 27

Vernal Walls 4

Vernulator, The 2

Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	3,107 ft	947 m
GPS:	34.08435, -116.14082 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	347,663 total · 1,709/month
Shared By:	C Miller on Aug 22, 2008 · Updates
Admins:	Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes, Greg Opland, C Miller, Gunkswest Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

The Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent's Compendium states that:
1. Vegetation is not allowed to be used as an anchor.
2. Only neutral or rock colored bolt hangers are allowed.

For a complete list of climbing rules and closures visit:
nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/…

Access Issue: Temporary Closure in effect from April 3 to June 15, 2024 Details

Temporary Closure for Nesting Raptors
Date Posted: 4/4/2024
Due to the presence of nesting raptors, the following rock climbing areas are temporarily closed: Slatanic Area, Rattlesnake Buttress, Margaret Thatcher Spire, The Stepping Stones, The Bulkhead, The Dunce Cap, and Commissioner’s Buttress.

Description

Covers the large canyon at the southeast corner of Indian Cove as well as the hillside above the picnic area.

Approach times range from minutes to well over an hour depending upon the crag.

Getting There

From the vicinity of the Short Wall drive east and then south to a large parking area at the end of the road.

A well-worn trail heads east (towards the hillside) through some rocks to gain a wash which is followed south with some occasional boulder hopping.

When an open area is reached you can make a right to the Corral Wall or continue straight ahead (south) to reach the start of Rattlesnake Canyon.

Pass the waterfall on the right, continue on (passing the Mini-Mall) and the wash will start to head west as you enter Rattlesnake Canyon proper.

239 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Rattlesnake Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 86 ● Taken for Granite Trad Rattlesnake Buttress
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 89 ● 200 Motels Trad Rattlesnake Buttress
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 6 ● Canadian Driftwood (aka The Man… Trad 2 pitches Upper Dodge City
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 80 ● Exfoliation Confrontation Trad Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Right Side
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 82 ● Six-Gun by My Side Trad Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Left Side
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 33 ● Bort Sport Somewhere n00b
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 86 ● Party in the Desert Trad Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Left Side
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 42 ● Firewater Chimney Trad Valley of Kings > Arrowhead
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 39 ● Party till Ya' Puke Trad Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Left Side
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 42 ● Boortemus Trad Iceberg Boulder… > Boortemus Boulder
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 7 ● Frontier Justice Trad Lower Dodge City
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 4 ● Powered by Old English Trad Valley of Kings > Lynch Crag
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 9 ● The Last Stand Sport Valley of Kings > Arrowhead
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a 10 ● Eureka! Sport Rattlesnake Buttress
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 5 ● South of Heaven Sport Valley of Kings > Slatanic Area