Joshua Tree National Park · California

Ryan Mountain

1.4 mi of trail, end to end · 1,000 ft of descent · 4,403 ft–5,464 ft · earth surface · trail class Highly Developed · hiking

Hike Ryan Mountain the Park Service's write-up

2-3 Hours · no dogs · Winter, Spring, Fall · season <p>This hike has very little shade and is not recommended to try during the summer or anytime it is very hot.</p>

Ryan Mountain is a difficult three mile out and back hike with 1,050 feet of elevation in the central part of Joshua Tree National Park. The first section of the trail is relatively flat, but quickly gains in elevation up the mountain. This is one of the most popular hikes as it provides sweeping panoramic views of the park.

The trailhead for Ryan Mountain is located along Park Boulevard between Ryan Campground and Sheep Pass Campground. There is a secondary trailhead for campers at Sheep Pass Campground, but there is no parking available at Sheep Pass for non-campers.

Accessibility This hike is on a rough dirt and rock trail with many steps and steep sections. Pets are not allowed on this trail, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.