How to Hike the Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree National Park
If you’re looking for one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, then look no further than the Ryan Mountain Trail. A short and relatively easy hike leads to 360 degree panoramic views over the Mojave Desert. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to hike Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree, including where it is, how long it will take, what to expect, and more.
Ryan Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. Why? Well, there’s lots of reasons!
It’s actually one of the few mountains you can summit in the park, and will give you amazing 360 degree panoramic view that stretch as far as the eye can see in all directions. Plus, it’s a pretty straightforward and quick hike that you can squeeze in on even the shortest of visits to Joshua Tree. And there’s a great chance that you will see some cool wildlife, life bighorn sheep, along the way!
Sounds pretty good, right? Keep on reading to find out why you should definitely put the Ryan Mountain hike on your Joshua Tree to-do list!
In this Ryan Mountain Hiking Guide:
How to Get to the Ryan Mountain Trailhead
The Ryan Mountain trailhead
The Ryan Mountain Trailhead is ideally located on Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree’s main scenic drive. You’ll find it about 15 miles from the West Entrance. There will be an obvious parking area on the right side of the road if coming from that direction and the trailhead sign is equally as obvious with a sign and well-marked path.
How Long Does it Take to Hike to Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree?
The Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree is pretty short, at just 3 miles round trip. Depending on how long you linger at the summit, plan to take about 1.5 to 2 hours hiking Ryan Mountain.
Is Ryan Mountain hard?
We would say that the Ryan Mountain trail in Joshua Tree is in the easy to moderate range. There’s nothing tricky about the trail, but it is a steady climb straight from the beginning. The trail climbs 1,050 in about a mile and a half, and this steepness may make it challenging for some. The trail is short, though, and the views are constant, so it’s not that bad!
This is a view back down the Ryan Mountain trail from about a third of the way up to give you some perspective of the gradual climbing involved
Hiking the Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree: Our Experience
Here’s our experience hiking to Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree so you know what to expect!
Almost immediately after the trailhead sign, the Ryan Mountain trail starts its ascent and maintains a fairly constant climb all the way up to the summit, with little break.
The beginning portion of stone-carved stairs, and you gain elevation here pretty quickly.
The beginning of the Ryan Mountain hike in Joshua Tree is mostly stairs!
As you begin to wind around the west side of Ryan Mountain, you’ll get a preview of the vista that awaits you at the summit, with views out to the distant San Bernadino Mountains, and the typical Joshua Tree landscape of jumbled rock piles and scattered Joshua Trees.
Starting to get those epic views along the Ryan Mountain trail in Joshua Tree!
Soon, the trail cuts into a valley between a false summit and the true summit, and you continue to gain elevation as you work your way deeper into the mountainside. Remember: keep your eyes peeled for wildlife here! This is a prime spot for bighorn sheep sightings. We saw a whole family of them just shy of the summit. They were quite a ways in the distance, though, and I only saw them because someone else was thankfully standing and staring out at them!
These guys are often found along the Ryan Mountain hike in Joshua Tree!
A final steady climb leads up to the summit, which is marked by a large rock cairn and a summit sign post. Congratulations, you made it! See, it wasn’t’ that bad, was it?
Up here, you get a bird’s eye view from 5,400 feet of what seems like the entirety of Joshua Tree National Park. The road below looks tiny from this vantage point as it weaves between boulder piles and washes.
The views from the Ryan Mountain summit in Joshua Tree
While this sprawling view is what makes the Ryan Mountain hike so popular, we didn’t feel like the summit or trail was crowded at all. It’s a big summit to spread out on, so even though we hiked Ryan Mountain midday on a Sunday, we were happy with the solitude we got!
After you manage to peel yourself away from the view (it will be hard!), head back down the way you came. It’s all downhill from here, and it will go by pretty fast!
When is the Best Time to Hike Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree?
The best time to visit Joshua Tree in general is between October and May. The day time temperatures are more tolerable, especially if you want to do something like hike Ryan Mountain.
If you do come in the summer, try to hike Ryan Mountain either early or late in the day, before the midday heat really takes hold.
Where to Stay Near Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park
When hiking in Joshua Tree, it’s always a good idea to save your outdoor activity for earlier in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the midday heat. To save some driving time at the beginning or end of your day, it’s always a good idea to stay somewhere close by.
The best way to do this is by camping in Joshua Tree. The park has 8 campgrounds, but the closest one to Ryan Mountain is Ryan Campground, which has 31 reservable sites. Staying anywhere along Park Boulevard or Pinto Basin Road, though, would be a good option.
Keep in mind that some of the campgrounds are reservable and some are first come first served. If you want a reservation, try to make one as early as possible (up to 6 months in advance on recreation.gov). If you’re going for a first come first served site…then good luck! These are coveted campgrounds and fill up most weekends and holidays in the peak season (October to May), and even on most week days in the spring. So, come early, keep your fingers crossed, and also have a back up plan just in case.
If you can’t snag a site (like us!), there is an alternative (and free!) option outside of Joshua Tree. On both the North and South sides of the park, there is free BLM-managed dispersed camping sights. They are great options for those who don’t mind roughing it a bit, as the sites are completely primitive…no water, no bathrooms, no garbage. So, if this is something you plan on doing, please pack everything out with you. Staying just outside the park at the Northern BLM camping area will put you about 45 minutes away from the Ryan Mountain Trailhead in Joshua Tree.
If you’d rather stay in lodging, just know that Joshua Tree has no lodging of its own inside the park. Nearby towns of Yucca Valley and Palm Springs are popular places to stay, and these will put 40 minutes, or 1 hour and 15 minutes away from the Ryan Mountain hike in Joshua Tree, respectively.
Tips for Hiking Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree
Sun protection. No matter what time of year you hike Ryan Mountain, be sure to carry sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. You’re in the desert after all! And there’s no shade along this trail.
Water. Make sure to have enough- at least 2L per person.
Cell service. There’s a good chance you won’t have any in this park, so make sure you have any maps and directions with you before driving in.
Park Pass. There’s no permit for the Ryan Mountain hike, but you’ll have to pay the National Park fee of $30 per vehicle which is good for 7 consecutive days. This can be paid in advance online (be sure to download to your phone before arriving!) or paid at the entrance station in person.
Sunrise or sunset. Try to hike Ryan Mountain during golden hour for amazing lighting over the desert! It’s a good way to avoid the midday heat, too.
What's There to Do Near Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree?
Have more time to spare in the park after your Ryan Mountain hike? Or looking for more awesome places to stop in a southern California road trip? Check out these articles to help you plan!
Things to Do With One Day in Joshua Tree National Park: Itinerary and Map
We hope this guide has helped you plan your hike to Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park! Let us know how it went, or if you have any question in the comments!