Ryan Mountain Hike in Joshua Tree National Park: The Complete Guide
The Ryan Mountain hike is one of the most popular trails in Joshua Tree National Park, and one of the most rewarding. This 3-mile round trip trail climbs approximately 1,000 feet to the summit of Ryan Mountain at 5,457 feet, delivering some of the most sweeping panoramic views in the entire park.
On a clear day, you can see across the Wonderland of Rocks, the Pinto Basin, the Hexie Mountains, and seemingly every Joshua Tree in Southern California laid out below you. It earns every step of the climb.
We hiked Ryan Mountain on Day 2 of our Joshua Tree National Park itinerary and did it first thing in the morning, which is exactly what we recommend. The trailhead parking area is small and fills up fast, especially in spring. Get there early, get it done, and you’ll have the summit largely to yourself with the morning light hitting the desert in a way that afternoon hikers don’t get to experience.
Here’s everything you need to know before you lace up your boots for the Ryan Mountain hike, including what to expect mile by mile, how hard it actually is, and a few tips that will make your morning a little bit better.
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Joshua Tree National Park – Need To Know Before You Go
Entrance & Fees
Joshua Tree National Park charges an entrance fee. If you’re visiting multiple national parks in the same year, the America the Beautiful Pass covers all of them. Pick one up on our gear page at REI before you leave home and save yourself some time at the entrance.
Joshua Tree National Park has three main entrances, each offering a different starting point. The West Entrance, near Joshua Tree, CA, is the most popular and provides quick access to iconic areas like Hidden Valley and Keys View.
The North Entrance, near Twentynine Palms, is a convenient gateway to the park’s northern attractions and is often less busy.
The South Entrance, along Interstate 10 near Cottonwood, is the best choice for travelers approaching from Palm Springs, and offers access to the park’s desert landscapes and the Cottonwood Visitor Center.
Food & Gas
There is NO food or gas available in Joshua Tree National Park. Plan ahead! When using the west entrance of the park, there are plenty of options available right near the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center.
🚗 Check prices and options for rental cars at Expedia or Booking.com. Book now!
Cell Service
Coverage is very spotty to non-existent, so plan ahead here as well. You might get some signal on Ryan Mountain, but mostly everywhere else is a dead zone, so plan on downloading offline maps or using a map that you receive at the entrance station.
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Ryan Mountain Hike
The Ryan Mountain hike is one of the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. As we noted above, the 3-mile round trip trail climbs approximately 1,000 feet to the summit. This means that you’ll gain about 1,000 feet in 1.5 miles, so it is steep!
What makes it fairly more difficult is the number of steps you’ll climb and the lack of shade on the trail. It’s best to get here as early as you can when the crowds are lower, and the temperatures are cooler. You’ll thank yourself if you do that. Trust us on that one.
Ryan Mountain Parking
The Ryan Mountain Trailhead is located just off Park Boulevard. Use the West Entrance to get to the trailhead. When you enter the park, follow the signs to the trailhead. Since Joshua Tree is open 24/7, it’s best to already have your park pass ready to go.
The parking area has pit toilets, but remember, no running water here. The lot has enough room for about 40-45 cars as well as some larger spots for RVs and larger vehicles.
🌵 Looking for more things to do in Joshua Tree? Check out our full itinerary here.
Starting the Ryan Mountain Hike
The first section will give you a chance to settle into a hiking rhythm. As you start the hike, the mountain towers ahead, which is both encouraging and slightly intimidating. After this first section, it doesn’t take long before the trail begins climbing more noticeably, and from there, the hike becomes a consistent uphill effort.
Gaining quite a bit of elevation in a short distance makes the hike a bit more strenuous than others. Find a comfortable pace because that will make it much easier to appreciate the enormous boulders, desert vegetation, and surrounding mountains as you climb.
The Ryan Mountain Climb Gets More Serious
As you continue upward, the trail becomes rockier and steeper. There are plenty of uneven sections and steps, so be sure to pay attention to where you are hiking. The climb isn’t technical, but it is sustained enough that you’ll feel it. Get those muscles burning!
One of the interesting things about Ryan Mountain is that the scenery keeps improving even when the trail itself feels harder. Every time we thought we should stop for a break, we would look behind and realize we had already climbed high enough to get a completely different perspective of Joshua Tree National Park.
As you continue on the trail, the desert floor will spread farther and farther below you. The Joshua Trees and rock formations that had looked large from the parking area started to look pretty small. That change in perspective was one of our favorite parts of the hike!
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Reaching the Ryan Mountain Summit
Finally, hiking the last quarter mile of the trail is a bit less steep than the rest, and you’ll soon reach the summit! At the top, there are expansive views in every direction.
Take some time to rest and enjoy the scenery. On a clear day, you should be able to see far across Southern California, with distant peaks such as San Jacinto and San Gorgonio visible from the summit.
Ryan Mountain is also home to desert wildlife, including bighorn sheep. We didn’t expect to see any wildlife, and we actually didn’t see anything. That being said, it’s worth keeping your eyes open because you never know!
After you’ve enjoyed your time on the summit, retrace your steps back to the parking area. If you got to the trailhead early, there might be a constant flow of hikers coming up the trail at you, so be prepared and let them pass, following proper hiking etiquette.
Where To Stay While Visiting Joshua Tree National Park
When visiting Joshua Tree National Park, we recommend staying near the west entrance. This is located right near one of the visitor centers, and there are plenty of options and amenities. It’s a quick drive into the park.
- VRBO – our top pick for a stay near Joshua Tree National Park. Find a place to stay now.
- The Bungalows by Homestead Modern at The Joshua Tree Retreat Center – complete with a restaurant on site, a pool, and games. Book your stay on Expedia.
- Sacred Sands – a quiet desert hideaway known for its intimate setting and thoughtfully designed spaces. Slow down and enjoy the rugged beauty of Joshua Tree. Reserve a room now.
- Field Station Joshua Tree – experience the desert while staying close to Joshua Tree National Park with comfortable, modern accommodations. Check out the options on Expedia.
Is The Ryan Mountain Hike Worth It?
It is one of the most popular hikes in the park for good reason! Ryan Mountain isn’t the longest hike in Joshua Tree, but it might give you one of the biggest rewards for the amount of effort involved.
The climb is straightforward enough that you can concentrate on the scenery, yet challenging enough to feel like you’ve accomplished something when you reach the top.
If you’re visiting Joshua Tree and want a hike that combines a fairly strenuous uphill workout with a dramatic panoramic payoff, Ryan Mountain is one you should put near the top of your list.
Just make sure the weather conditions are okay, start prepared, and give yourself enough time to enjoy the climb rather than treating the summit as the only destination. It’s a quick one, but worth the slower pace to enjoy some of the best scenery that Joshua Tree has to offer.
After enjoying your time on this hike, we recommend visiting the Hall of Horrors, which is right nearby. There, you can explore the desert, do a bit of rock scrambling, and find the slot canyons.
🛌🏽 Don’t forget to check out Expedia and book your hotels, and if you like this itinerary, check out some of our other ones here!
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