Queen Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Hike Queen Mountain Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Class 2 3.9 miles 1300 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Dec 9, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Queen Mountain GPX Track

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Queen Mountain is the second highest peak in Joshua Tree National Park. It has a pretty decent social trail leading to the summit, but lacks the crowds. I suppose since it's not an officially advertised trail, few know to look for it. The trail was good enough that this made for a nice easy hike through the desert without worrying about too much route-finding or typical Joshua Tree rock-hopping.

Austin and I started from the Queen Valley Trailhead, accessible by passenger vehicles if driving slowly and if its not raining (mud could be problematic). We followed an old road north on foot as it weaved up toward the foothills of Queen Mountain, where it turned into a nice trail and worked northeast into a gully. The ascent steepened a bit as we ascended this gully. At the top of the gully, the trail curved north and we could see Queen Mountain ahead. We skirted the side of the mountain and then began ascending another gully, this one a bit more human-eroded, and popped out at the eastern saddle of Queen Mountain. Some Class 2 boulder-hopping and a short and beautiful granite slab led to the summit block.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Queen Mountain
5680 ft
1240 rise

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Queen Mountain visible on the right somewhere. We're starting onto the old dirt road.
Queen Mountain visible on the right somewhere. We're starting onto the old dirt road.
Old dirt road heads through the desert and up to a small hill.
Old dirt road heads through the desert and up to a small hill.
Over the small hill and down into a desert basin, Queen Mountain ahead.
Over the small hill and down into a desert basin, Queen Mountain ahead.
The road turns into a trail at the base of Queen Mountain and then starts to ascend.
The road turns into a trail at the base of Queen Mountain and then starts to ascend.
Looking back as we start up the ascent.
Looking back as we start up the ascent.
Trail with some minor Class 2 as we work up a minor gully.
Trail with some minor Class 2 as we work up a minor gully.
Looking back down from the top of the gully.
Looking back down from the top of the gully.
Queen Mountain in the center. The trail skirts the ridge and heads up another gully, pictured center right in this photo.
Queen Mountain in the center. The trail skirts the ridge and heads up another gully, pictured center right in this photo.
Approaching the second gully used to access Queen Mountain.
Approaching the second gully used to access Queen Mountain.
Looking back as we skirt the ridge and head up the second gully.
Looking back as we skirt the ridge and head up the second gully.
At the top of the second gully, a bunch of small switchbacks later, and we were at the saddle just east of Queen Mountain.
At the top of the second gully, a bunch of small switchbacks later, and we were at the saddle just east of Queen Mountain.
Austin making a Class 2 move harder than it has to be. We accessed the peak from this gorgeous slickrock slab.
Austin making a Class 2 move harder than it has to be. We accessed the peak from this gorgeous slickrock slab.
Looking east toward the east summit of Queen Mountain, which isn't the high point.
Looking east toward the east summit of Queen Mountain, which isn't the high point.
Queen Mountain summit, view west.
Queen Mountain summit, view west.
Queen Mountain summit, view south. The car is down there somewhere in the middle.
Queen Mountain summit, view south. The car is down there somewhere in the middle.
Two queens of Queen Mountain ;)
Two queens of Queen Mountain ;)

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!