Trip Date: 4/15/2018

Location: Joshua Tree National Park

Permit/Pass: 7 Day Permit ($15), JT Annual Pass ($30) or National Parks Pass

Trails: NPS

Directions: From Hwy 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway) in Yucca Valley follow the signs to JTNP (south on Park Blvd - Quail Springs Rd - National Park Dr) to the kiosk at the Northwest entrance. Drive 18.5 miles on Park Boulevard (be sure to stay left at the junction with Keys View Rd.) from the entrance to the the left turn onto the short dirt road to Split Rock day use area.

Synopsis: The middle of this hike strikes out from the Split Rock trail on a little used south approach to the Eagle Cliffs mine. It's a way to extend what is a fairly short trek - even with the detour to Face Rock - and, if you're really spoiling for a workout, offers some quite strenuous scrambling opportunities in order to reach the mine itself.

Trail sequence: Split Rock trail / Eagle Cliffs trail / Split Rock

Type: Loop

Distance: 2.8 miles

Elevation: Min. - 4219’, Max. - 4361'

Profile:

Rating: Easy-Moderate (factors: heat, scrambling, old trail)

Notes: It's easy to miss the turnoff for the Eagle Cliffs trail as it appears to be no longer marked. Keep an eye pealed when you reach the north apex of the trail, and just when it turns back to the south, look for the faint use spur heading up the hill to the north.

Track: Split Rock ext. (Eagle Cliffs trail) - Joshua Tree: AllTrails, GaiaGPS

Turn by turn:

  -- The trail begins at the north end of the parking lot. It departs around the west side of vertically split rock that I assume could be namesake of this hike.

  -- As you gradually descend the trail continues north and over low rocky outcrops at some points. Stay alert for slippery gravel and cairns that mark the way.

  -- At just under a half mile into the hike you come to a junction with Eagle Cliff trail. It's faint, and appears to have been left to return to nature by the park staff. There's no sign marking the junction. In any case, take this little use trail that heads up the hill to the northwest.

  -- Follow the trail as it travels over a few ridges before coming to a canyon that ascends to the west. This is where we lost the trail. We may have seen a hint of a trail on the south side of the canyon while returning, but it looks as if the main route is some challenging scrambling right up the canyon wall. After a bit of fun bouldering we opted for the better part of valor and returned down the middle of the ravine and turned right onto our previous outbound trail.

  -- After walking back over the low rocky ridges and returning to the Split Rock trail, turn right to continue the loop back to the trailhead.

  -- Eventually you drop into a wash where you find the right (south) turnoff to Face Rock. Continue straight to follow this track (but if you want to extend the hike a bit you can head out the short spur to see Face Rock).

  -- The trail circles to the northeast, and then to the north, as it winds it's way back to the western side of the parking area (note, this is not the trailhead from which you began the hike).

Photos: Flickr