How to Visit Skull Rock in Joshua Tree, California
Last Updated on 21st February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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One of the more unusual rocks in Joshua Tree, southeastern California is Skull Rock, a boulder which, as you might have guessed, resembles the top of a skull! Popular to visit thanks to its proximity to the main road, here’s how to visit Skull Rock in Joshua Tree, as well as what to know before you go.
For even more Joshua Tree information, be sure to check out our suggested Joshua Tree itinerary.
What is Skull Rock?
Skull Rock is a uniquely shaped granite boulder in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park. The ‘skull’ shape is the result of two depressions in the stone caused by erosion but which somewhat resemble the eye sockets of a skull.
How to visit Skull Rock in Joshua Tree
The boulder is one of the easiest to visit in the National Park thanks to the fact that it lies on the side of Park Boulevard, i.e. one of the main road which traverses through the park, and thus is visible directly from your car!
Just be sure to download a copy of maps onto your phone or bring a good old fashioned copy on paper along with you during your trip as there isn’t very much signal in Joshua Tree. On maps, the boulder is literally marked as ‘Skull Rock,’ so it shouldn’t be hard to find.
In order to visit, you can park in the car park directly opposite the boulder and park up in the gravel car park for free. With this being said, every passenger in your vehicle over the age of 16 will have to pay for a fee for entering Joshua Park, meaning you’ve somewhat covered the cost of parking with the price of your entrance ticket!
If there’s no car parking available by the rocks (the car park isn’t very big) and this popular attraction can get pretty busy, especially during high season (i.e. during school holidays), you can park at Jump Rocks Campground and walk back to the rock.
The best time to visit Skull Rock is probably around sunset as you can get some pretty gorgeous shots with the pastel hued skies reflecting beautifully on the light colored granite.
Skull Rock Nature Trail
Though the majority of people head to the rock simply for some photos before leaving again, it’s worth noting that there’s also a circular trail loop you can hike. Depending on your pace, it will take 1 – 2 hours to complete the trail. Dogs are not allowed on the trail.
The hike is 1.7 miles long and is fairly easy, making it a good hike for those who don’t want to do anything too strenuous during their Joshua Tree visit (with an elevation of around 150 feet across the entire hike).
Those who prefer to hike for longer can connect the trail to hikes to more boulders and hikes such as Face Rock, Split Rock, or the Discovery Trail.
Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes for hiking the Mojave desert and bring lots of sun cream and a hat. Be sure to bring plenty of water as the Mojave desert can get dangerously hot, even if you’re just there for a short hike.
You can start at the car park directly opposite skull rock, or at the Jump Rocks Campground, before heading out on the well sign-posted trail. The best time to hike is in the early morning or late afternoon as the trail can get very busy (especially around Skull Rock), not to mention that there is little shelter around.
En route, you’ll find a number of interpretive signs, see flowering cacti, and be able to snap photos of unusual rock formations. Some of the coolest plants to look out for on the trail include cat’s claw acacia and desert almond.
