Ryan Mountain

I hiked Ryan Mountain with my husband while we were camping in Joshua Tree this past February. I tried hiking Ryan 5 years ago and couldn’t complete it because of the heat! I would suggest camping/​hiking in Joshua Tree during the winter. Although it’s cold at night it’s much easier to hike during the day with cooler temperatures. With that said Ryan Mountain is a bit of a trek! Bring lots of water and good hiking shoes. It’s almost 3 miles with about a 1,000 ft gain. The trail is well maintained albeit a bit rocky. When you finally reach the top there is a rewarding 360 view of the entire national park. There’s also a giant pile of rocks that makes for some iconic photos!

My hubby and I went with some friends this morning to hike Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park and I am so happy the Ranger at the visitor center told us all about this hike because it was absolutely stunning and beautiful! The way up has lots of steps had to take a couple breaks but the scenery is incredible the whole way up! We got a ton of wonderful photos so extremely happy we hiked Ryan Mountain!

I came over to hike this trail over this past weekend and I must say it was a lot of fun. The trail begins fairly slow and not challenging but works itself to being fair and inclined. In its entirety it is not a long hike at all but in the heat and terrain it still does give you a medium type workout for sure.
The trail is no longer than 3.5 miles which is a good average for a hike like this. Depending on how often you stop it can take anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours total to complete. Elevation here is about 5,500 feet so this adds a little to the trail which is a good thing.
There is parking right at the bottom where you can leave your car and begin the hike. I would definitely visit/​hike this trail again.

The duration of the hike is fairly short, the trail is paved, and the elevation is not that high. What made this hike moderately strenuous, was simply the heat. When I had hiked Ryan Mountain, there was a fire nearby and sadly, I couldn’t see much.
There is no shade, so I highly recommend wearing a large brimmed hat and sunscreen. Bring lots of water and hike smart! I forgot my sunscreen and was burnt toast when I got back to the car!

Moderately strenuous? If you’ve done any hiking pretty much anywhere, this hike isn’t close to strenuous. And frankly, the views are pretty boring as well.
If you want cool views, go wander in the Wonderland of Rocks instead. If you want a tough hike, get out of Joshua Tree National Park.
Sorry to hate, but… yeah, gotta hate.

Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Twentynine Palms
Length: 3.2 total miles
Elevation Gain: 1,066 feet
Trail Type: Out-​and-​back
Skill Level: Moderately strenuous
Duration: 1.5 hours
Season: Best mid-​September through mid-​May
Trailhead Elevation: 4,391 feet
Top Elevation: 5,457 feet
Local Contacts: Joshua Tree National Park
This excellent trail leads to a high, isolated mountain in the west-​central area of the park. Expansive vistas open up across much of Joshua Tree and the surrounding desert. Ryan Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Joshua Tree National Park, is an isolated massif rising between the broad, Joshua tree-​covered flats of Lost Horse Valley to the west and Queen Valley to the east. Its open summit and isolated location affords panoramic views of much of the park, including the Queen and Little San Bernardino Mountains and the rockbound landscape of the Wonderland of Rocks. The hike follows one of the best constructed trails in Joshua Tree, though it does rise at a steady, moderate grade. It’s an enjoyable hike from autumn through spring, but the mountain is often swept by strong winds. Winter is an ideal time to hike here, when the desert air is clear and vistas stretch to far horizons.

Such a great hike!!! A nice workout due to the incline! It’s 3 miles round trip. At the top of Ryan Mountain you get some really great views of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley, Colorado Desert & Mojave Desert. This hike is fairly popular and situated about halfway through the park. As this is the desert, make sure to take lots of water.

Great hike. It’s very steep and almost like climbing stairs to the top of the mountain. It’s 1.5 miles up and 1.5 down. Great for kids who can endure it. Beautiful view from the top. It’s UPHILL the whole 1.5 miles so it’s quite a workout.

When you stop at the visitor center and ask for advice on what to see, Ryan Mountain is one of the spots.
Since we were in the park one afternoon and one morning we left Ryan Mountain for the morning we left. The guide they give you at the visitor center recommends hiking in the morning to avoid the heat and that it may be cold at the top.
First, if you hike in mid April or later through the fall, yes start in the morning or go up in the evening, leaving enough time to get down while it’s light (or with head lamps). No, you will not need a jacket and no it is not cold at the top if you go when it is warm out. Maybe you have to worry if you get started really early, we started at 10:00 am and were sweating the whole way. The hike is rather steep in sections and if you are not used to going uphill for a mile and a half straight it will be tiring.
Funnily enough, the views on the way up were more interesting than the view at the top. On the way up you get to see the side of the next mountain (hill?), the path, boulders, and vegetation. When you reach the top you get to see a pile of rocks and see around. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice view, but not the most interesting since you see a lot of brown.
If you come to Joshua tree and are in at least moderate shape you can do this hike and should do it. Even if you are not in great shape as long as you go slow and have enough water it will be fine.

Abso-​freaking-​lutely gorgeous. Perhaps the most strenuous aspect of this 3 mile total, up-​and-​back hike is the fact that your gaining 1000ft of elevation while climbing the mountain. The hike itself will take about 2 — 3 hours, but getting to the top is exhilarating.
What can you see at the top? EVERYTHING. It’s windy and beautiful and you will not be disappointed you did it. You can see San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, and the Wonderland of Rocks.
You are very exposed to the elements on this hike. There’s practically no shade and, like I said, it’s ridiculously windy at the top. I recommend early morning or as late as you can with respect to the setting sun. That is unless falling down a mountain in the dark is something you’re into.