Split Rock

Split Rock is a large granite boulder divided into two upright slabs beside the picnic area and trailhead for Split Rock Loop. The namesake formation is easy to see right from the trailhead, so you can stop for the rock without committing to the walk. Picnic tables, a restroom and parking make this an easy pause; the loop adds about 2.5 miles and 150 feet of elevation gain if you want more.

The route winds through rounded rock formations, with views of Jumbo Rocks and open desert; a short spur leads to Face Rock. It is low on elevation gain, but some crossings where the path meets washes and informal tracks can be hard to follow. Watch the trail markers and use an offline map. There is little to no shade, so summer heat is a poor time for the hike.

Split Rock sits among the park’s large masses of rounded granite. Water worked into cracks in the rock, changed feldspar near the edges into softer clay, and let erosion round and peel back those weaker layers. That process, called spheroidal weathering, helps explain the smooth, piled-up forms around the stop.

For a photo, keep both slabs and the dark cleft in the frame, with a little surrounding rock to show scale. The split is what makes this stop distinctive; a tight shot of granite alone can hide it.