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Lost Mule Wall

California > Joshua Tree NP > Central Joshua… > Echo Rock Area
Warning Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down

Description

This crag is southwest facing, gets sun most of the day and is a good place to go if it is cold. The brown rock offers good, moderate climbing. This area is secluded and well worth the hike to get away from the crowds around Echo Cove.

Getting There

Continue past Echo Cove on the dirt road toward Keys' Ranch and the Rusty Wall. About halfway between Echo Cove and the gate for Keys' Ranch is a small pullout on the left (south) side of the road. Park here (as for Chump Clump). 

Cross the dirt road and walk north up an obvious wash for roughly a half mile. A couple hundred yards before you reach a rocky slope straight ahead, turn left (west) into a canyon. A short distance up the drainage and not far above the bottom of the drainage is the Lower Lost Mule Wall on the right. If you continue up the drainage, you'll encounter a pinnacle on the right (with Nebraskan Rump Rangers) and a bit further on (also on the right) the main Lost Mule Wall. 

Routes from Left to Right

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R
 1
● 40 Acres and a Mule
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13
 1
● Two Mules for Sister Sara
Trad, TR
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 1
● Kicking Like a Mule
Trad, TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R
 1
● Stubborn as a Mule
Trad, TR
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c PG13
 1
● Munter Mule
Trad, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 1
● Nebraskan Rump Rangers
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 2
● Live Free and High
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 2
● Silver Fox
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 3
● Lookout Crack
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 2
● Last Temptation
Trad
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c R
 1
● Hiding in Plain Sight
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 1
● Hiding in Todd's Uterus
Trad, TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 1
● Hiding in Honduras
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
 1
● Little Red Hiding Hood
Trad, TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R
 1
● Hidden Figures
Trad, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
 1
● Hiding in the Attic
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 1
● Look at What Two Bongs Can Do
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● 40 Acres and a Mule
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R Trad
● Two Mules for Sister Sara
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13 Trad, TR
● Kicking Like a Mule
 1
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, TR
● Stubborn as a Mule
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R Trad, TR
● Munter Mule
 1
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c PG13 Trad, TR
● Nebraskan Rump Rangers
 1
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
● Live Free and High
 2
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
● Silver Fox
 2
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
● Lookout Crack
 3
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Last Temptation
 2
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad
● Hiding in Plain Sight
 1
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c R Trad, TR
● Hiding in Todd's Uterus
 1
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad, TR
● Hiding in Honduras
 1
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
● Little Red Hiding Hood
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R Trad, TR
● Hidden Figures
 1
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R Trad, TR
● Hiding in the Attic
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R Trad, TR
● Look at What Two Bongs Can Do
 1
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Lost Mule Wall (left) and Little Lost Mule Wall (right) as seen from the mouth of the canyon.
[Hide Photo] Lost Mule Wall (left) and Little Lost Mule Wall (right) as seen from the mouth of the canyon.
Lost Mule Wall. Yellow line is 40 Acres and a Mule, teal line is Kicking Like a Mule.
[Hide Photo] Lost Mule Wall. Yellow line is 40 Acres and a Mule, teal line is Kicking Like a Mule.
A view of the area from the east. Idyllwild Dome is on the right edge of the picture.
[Hide Photo] A view of the area from the east. Idyllwild Dome is on the right edge of the picture.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Todd Gordon
Joshua Tree, CA
[Hide Comment] Info on this area is in the Bartlett Rock Climbs of Central Joshua Tree 2nd edition with the 2002 supplement.........not a guidebook everyone has....but there is information on this area there;...there are 9 climbs listed on Lost Mule Wall, and 3 on Gadget Rock across the way....the routes were put up by a small group of people;...Bartlett, Chris Miller, myself, Tucker, Cora, Dave And Sherly Haber, Tony Sartin, Mark Anderson, Grant, Mark Senyk........this group. Cool to see people out exploring, and you can cross check info to see which routes had been done and which routes were new ones........hats off to those who explore new turf and break away from the familiar....... Jan 5, 2011
Chris Owen
Big Bear Lake
[Hide Comment] Unusual (for this part of the world) in that the routes can be "enchained", and as one progresses higher the view opens out, and it's an excellent prospect, all the way across to Tumbling Rainbow, a veritable tour of JT classic areas.

Worth doing for this experience alone. Jan 30, 2011
Jeff Scofield
Yorba Linda, CA
[Hide Comment] Thanks for the info Todd headed there next Saturday so I saw your comment checked Amazon and scored a brand new second edition Bartlett 2002 guidebook Dec 6, 2018
Steve Swanson
West Lafayette, IN
[Hide Comment] There are half a dozen more climbs listed in in Todd Gordon's "Joshua Tree Sport Climbs & Top Rope Sites".

The closest parking is N of Echo Cove, on the L. Nov 20, 2022