All Locations > California > Joshua Tree NP > Central Joshua… > Sheep Pass Area

Saddle Rocks Area Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Saddle Rocks Area

Cowboy Crags 4

Dire Straits Rock 6

Kid Rock 3

Saddle Rocks 55

Saddlehorn, The 4

Theoretical Boulder 3

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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:	4,500 ft	1,372 m
GPS:	33.9929, -116.1392 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	169,704 total · 836/month
Shared By:	C Miller on Aug 26, 2008
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/…

Description

The Saddle Rocks Area covers the large slab of Saddle Rocks as well as peripheral areas like the Theoretical Boulder and the seldom visited Cowboy Crags. Stacks of quality crack and face routes up to 3 pitches in length are found here including the popular Right On (5.5) and Walk on the Wild Side (5.8).

Getting There

Park at the large, paved lot that's used for Hall of Horrors, cross the road and follow a signed trail to the base of the rock. Approach time to the base is about 15 minutes of mostly flat walking with some boulder scrambling at the very end.

75 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Saddle Rocks Area

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

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13 497 ● Right On Trad 4 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 12 ● Wisest Crack Trad Cowboy Crags
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 602 ● Walk on the Wild Side Trad 3 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 56 ● Orange Flake Trad 2 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 41 ● Santa Cruz Trad Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 4 ● Poodlephile Sport Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13 13 ● The Unicorner Trad Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 7 ● Kid Calingula Trad 3 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 53 ● Space Mountain Trad Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 23 ● Episcopalian Toothpick Trad Theoretical Boulder
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 15 ● Harley Queen Trad 2 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 58 ● Where Have all the Cowboys Gone Trad 3 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R 8 ● Harlequin Trad 3 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R 5 ● A Cheap Way to Die Trad 2 pitches Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 4 ● Iconoclast Sport Saddle Rocks > (a) Saddle Rock… > Saddle Rocks - Skirt…