Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a moderate to challenging hike with an elevation gain of 1,060 feet. The first half of the trail can be pretty steep, but the whole trail has incredible views of Joshua Tree. The trail itself is a total of 2.9 miles and is clearly marked. It is best done during the fall, winter, and spring seasons and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours total.
Use the west entrance and drive 12.7 miles into the park and you’ll see a sign and parking lot for Ryan Mountain Trailhead. Once you’ve parked, follow the clearly marked sign to the start of the trail. You’ll immediately start up Ryan Mountain and see incredible rock formations and flora. We recommend to stop on the trail often to catch your breath and admire the wide open views. Once you reach the top (at an elevation of 5,457 feet), take some time to relax and have a snack. We love to do this hike first thing in the morning with our thermos and enjoy coffee at the peak!
Trail Info for Ryan Mountain
Length
2.9 miles there and back. Takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to hike, depending on how long you want to stay and enjoy the expansive views.
How to Access
Use the west entrance and drive about 12.7 miles into the park. Turn right into the Ryan Mountain parking area. The trail is immediately off of the parking area.
What to Bring
The first half of the hike is mostly up the mountain, so make sure that you wear comfortable hiking boots or sneakers. Since it’s one of the higher elevations in the park, it can also be quite windy. Wear a wide hat to protect yourself from the sun, sun tan lotion, and as always bring a lot of water (turn around when you’re halfway through your water supply, no matter what!).
Check out some of our other trail guides for Arch Rock Trail, North View Trail, Fortynine Palms Oasis, and Willow Hole.
