Joshua Tree National Park, CA
A short, unmarked rock loop for hikers comfortable scrambling.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Joshua Tree Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Joshua Tree National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Joshua Tree audio tourRecorded for this area
The Vulture Following Its Nose“A turkey vulture can find a meal with its nose. It detects odors from dead animals, then follows the scent toward the ground. If you see a big dark bird circling while you're stopped, look at how it holds its wings.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Joshua Tree Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Corral Wall Loop is a short, unmarked circuit over rocky desert ground near the Corral Wall climbing area, not a built or signed path. The closed line saved here measures about 0.9 mile; another published description gives 1.1 miles, so treat the distance as approximate. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes for route-finding and scrambling. It suits hikers comfortable choosing a line over uneven rock, and it is a poor fit if you want a clear tread or easy wayfinding.
The mapped route leaves an unmarked access beside a short service-road spur, circles the rough ground to the east and south, and returns to the same point. It stays about 500 feet from the mapped Corral Wall feature and does not trace the separate climbing approach over a rocky notch. If your goal is the wall face itself, check the route carefully before setting out rather than assuming this loop takes you there.
No official trailhead, marked parking lot, or reliable parking instructions were found. Confirm where you can legally leave a vehicle with the park before driving in. Joshua Tree National Park does not allow pets on hiking trails, so leave ordinary pets behind.
Wildlife
129 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
15 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
413 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
275 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
47 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
32 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Joshua Tree. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyIndian Cove Nature Trail0.6 mi · 36 min · 1.7 mi awayA gentle loop for desert plants, granite, and spring wildflowers.
ChallengingFortynine Palms Oasis Trail3 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.8 mi awayA desert ridge hike ending at a hidden fan palm oasis.
ModerateWillow Hole Trail7 mi · 4 hr · 4 mi awayFollow sandy washes to a seasonal willow grove.
ModerateBig Pine Trail11.2 mi · 6 hr · 4 mi awayA rocky wash walk, reached only after a long backcountry approach.
ModerateBoy Scout Trail8 mi · 4.5 hr · 4 mi awayAn eight-mile desert crossing from Joshua trees to Indian Cove.
ModerateWall Street Mill Trail2.2 mi · 1 hr · 4.2 mi awayShort, sandy path to a historic gold mill and rusted cars.
EasyBarker Dam Nature Trail1.3 mi · 1 hr · 4.2 mi awayA short boulder loop to a ranching-era dam
ModerateQuail Springs Historic Trail4.8 mi · 2.5 hr · 4.5 mi awayFollow a sandy historic corridor west from Quail Springs.
Picnic area · 0.9 mi awayRattlesnake Picnic AreaA quiet lunch stop beneath Indian Cove’s boulder walls.
Campground · 1.2 mi awayIndian Cove CampgroundCamp among boulders with climbing and a half-mile nature loop nearby.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayWillow HoleA seasonal green pocket tucked into a granite maze
Sight · 2.5 mi awayFortynine Palms OasisA shaded palm grove at the end of a desert ridge hike.
Ranger station · 2.5 mi awayIndian Cove Ranger StationA useful water and information stop for Indian Cove.
Sight · 3.2 mi awayKeys RanchA ranger-led walk among a family’s desert buildings and mining gear.
Sight · 3.4 mi awayWall Street MillA sandy walk to an old gold mill and its rusted machinery.Sight · 3.8 mi awayBarker DamA short loop to a historic dam, boulder country and rock art.Parkwolf’s Joshua Tree ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
