Canyoneer Joshua Tree's Rattlesnake Slot Canyon

Twentynine Palms, California

Description

Distance: 3 miles round trip. Elevation gain: 380 feet. Duration: 3 hours. Fun rappelling and canyoneering.

The trailhead is located at the end of Indian Cove road. From Indian Cove Campground, take the road to the east about a mile to a picnic area where there is parking at the mouth of the canyon.

From the picnic area hike up the Canyon in a south to south-east direction. After a few hundred yards a deceiving canyon heads almost due west, stay to the south east or the left and continue up the canyon. About a 1/4 to 1/2 mile up you run into what some books describe as a slot canyon. This is a pretty waterfall in the winter or spring after rains. From the top of this waterfall area, drop into the canyon and you might want to build a natural anchor to get down the first significant drop. If there are any anchors at all they will be "nuts" left by rock climbers, not likely to be there after a flood. Polished granite the whole way, so be prepared to build choke knot anchors. About 4 rappels total, but the last one can be avoided by hiking around.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Rock Climbing

Hiking

Scenic

Wildlife

Swimming Hole

Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Boy Scout's Trail in Joshua Tree

The Boy Scout trail connects the main part of the National Park to the outer rim campground, Indian Cove Campground. All backcountry overnight trips must be registered at a registration board (free, self-registration). Start this trip at the registration board located in either Indian Cove Campground (free to enter) or within the park ($20 fee for 7 days) at the Boy Scout Trail parking lot. Sta...

Tour Keys Desert Queen Ranch in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park flawlessly combines otherworldly landscapes, incredible recreational opportunities, and a colorful, wild-west history. Before it was a national park, Joshua Tree was home to cattle rustlers, gunslingers, miners, and rugged homesteaders. One of the most quirky characters to call Joshua Tree home was Bill Keys, who homesteaded with his family at Desert Queen Ranch for...

Hike the Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Just off highway 62 lies an easy 1/2 day hike with incredible views of the Morongo Valley. Though technically part of the park, the out-of-the-way-ness of the hike means you don't need to pay the $20 National Park fee. Parking is ample, and there's a pit toilet at the trailhead (beware of bees and yellow jackets!) The hike begins by climbing up to the ridge bordering Joshua National Park. It's...

Willow Hole Trail in Joshua Tree National Park

The Willow Hole hike begins at Boy Scout trailhead and winds past and through the Wonderland of Rocks to a marshy stand of willows. The trail is flat, but with little shade so be sure to bring lots of water! As you leave the parking lot you'll enter an expansive stand of Joshua Trees that grows denser as you go. Each one is shaped a bit different, the whimsical bends and tufts at the top are ...

Watch the Sunset from Echo Rock

Park your car at the Echo Rock Parking Area. The trail starts next to the outhouse and heads north. As you walk through the sand, there is a large rock pile to your right, the top of that is your destination. Continue walking until you've reached the far north end of the rock formation and then turn right and walk along the northern end of the pile until you find a good spot to start your sc...

Hike the Barker Dam

The Barker Damn trail is a 1.5 mile loop trail across flat terrain which makes it great for the whole family. The hike starts out from the Barker Dam parking lot which is shared with the Wall Street Mill trailhead. You can find the Barker Dam trailhead just to the left of the bathrooms. After 0.2 miles straight on the trail, you'll hit the loop and can continue in either direction. You can ...