Elevation: 3,187 ft
GPS: 34.09379, -116.15658
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 1,285,555 total · 5,093/month
Shared By: Brian Reynolds on Jun 20, 2002 · Updates
Admins: Greg Opland, C Miller, Gunkswest, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes
Access Issue: Seasonal Golden Eagle Closures Details

Description

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

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 Del Taco billboard to mark the spot.

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.

739 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.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R
 122
Who's First
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 134
Tranquility
Trad 2 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 97
Serpent Scales
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 89
I Love my Marine
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 100
Palmreader
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 73
Taken for Granite
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 75
200 Motels
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 119
El Chivo
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 88
Campfire Girl (Half Route)
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 173
Direct South Face
Trad 3 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 108
Silent Scream (aka Shock the Mon…
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 111
Apparition
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 122
Right V Crack
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 75
Party in the Desert
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 72
Pet or Meat
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Who's First Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Pixie Rock
 122
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R Trad
Tranquility Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Moosedog Tower
 134
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 2 pitches
Serpent Scales Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Indian Palisades Corr…
 97
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
I Love my Marine Indian Cove Cam… > … > Campfire Crag Area > Campfire Crag - S Face
 89
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Palmreader Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Palmreader Wall
 100
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Taken for Granite Rattlesnake Canyon > Rattlesnake Buttress
 73
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
200 Motels Rattlesnake Canyon > Rattlesnake Buttress
 75
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
El Chivo Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Bilbo Buttresses
 119
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Campfire Girl (Half Route) Indian Cove Cam… > … > Campfire Crag Area > Campfire Crag - N Face
 88
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Direct South Face Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Moosedog Tower
 173
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
Silent Scream (aka Shock th… Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Pixie Rock
 108
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Apparition Indian Cove Cam… > … > Apparition Rock > Apparition Rock (Front)
 111
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Right V Crack Indian Cove Cam… > … > Short Wall > Short Wall - Left Side
 122
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Party in the Desert Rattlesnake Canyon > Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Left Side
 75
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Pet or Meat Indian Cove Cam… > … > Feudal Wall > Feudal Wall (Right Side)
 72
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
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