Cap Rock

Cap Rock at sunset.

NPS / Brad Sutton

Quick Facts

Location:

Joshua Tree National Park

Amenities

10 listed

Grill, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Table, Recycling, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles

Cap Rock is a popular rock formation in the central part of Joshua Tree National Park. Located near the north end of Keys View Road near Park Boulevard, Cap Rock is an easy to reach location. In addition to the unique rock formation, Cap Rock offers a picnic area with grills as well as the Cap Rock Nature Trail for a short walk through nearby rock formations with interpretive signs along the way to learn about the area. The area around Cap Rock and the nature trail are flat dirt and gravel surfaces.

Stats

• Length: 0.4 miles
• Width: 36 inches on average
• Surface material: hard-packed sand
• Elevation gain: 20 feet
• This is a loop trail

Barriers

The hard-packed sand may be loose and deeper in some sections depending on the weather. There are a few places where large boulders overhang the trail and may be a barrier. 

Parking

There are:

• 2 standard accessible spaces
• 25 other spaces

Restrooms

There is a vault toilet near the parking lot. This toilet has:

• No running water
• Grab bars
• There is a 2-inch change in level between the concrete pad the vault toilet is on, and the surrounding ground. 

Duration:

1 minute

A preview of the Cap Rock Trail experience. This trail is a 0.4-mile (0.6-km) loop with minimal elevation change. It winds through Joshua tree woodland and between spectacular monzogranite rock formations. The trail is dirt, not paved, and the terrain of this trail may be suitable to some, but not most motorized wheelchairs.