Last updated: June 30, 2021
Thing to Do
Hike Skull Rock
NPS / Hannah Schwalbe
Hike through the large, granite boulder fields around the Jumbo Rocks area, including the namesake rock near Park Boulevard that closely resembles a skull. The trail meanders through boulders, washes, and the Jumbo Rocks Campground. This is an excellent trail for anyone who wants to get up close to the rough granitic rock formations that Jumbo Rocks Campground was named after.
Hikers can pick up the trail in a few areas, but the most common trailhead is the one at the Skull Rock Parking Area. The loop can be hiked in either direction, but we'll describe the trail in the clockwise direction starting from the Skull Rock Parking Area. The first highlight, only about 70 feet from the road, is the namesake Skull Rock. This large boulder has a few cavities that resemble the eye and nose sockets of a skull and is hard to miss. Next, the trail moves past the southwest (right) side of Skull Rock and turns towards the right, eventually meeting up with a road in Jumbo Rocks Campground. Hikers should turn right onto this campground road and head toward the campground entrance, where the trail intersects with Park Boulevard. The trail crosses Park Boulevard, meandering back into the desert landscape, and eventually turns back towards the east (left), heading back to the parking area. The trail is mostly sandy and occasionally crosses a hard rock surface.
The Discovery Trail connects The Skull Rock Trail with the Split Rock Loop for approximately 5-6 miles of hiking for those who enjoy longer hikes.
Hikers can pick up the trail in a few areas, but the most common trailhead is the one at the Skull Rock Parking Area. The loop can be hiked in either direction, but we'll describe the trail in the clockwise direction starting from the Skull Rock Parking Area. The first highlight, only about 70 feet from the road, is the namesake Skull Rock. This large boulder has a few cavities that resemble the eye and nose sockets of a skull and is hard to miss. Next, the trail moves past the southwest (right) side of Skull Rock and turns towards the right, eventually meeting up with a road in Jumbo Rocks Campground. Hikers should turn right onto this campground road and head toward the campground entrance, where the trail intersects with Park Boulevard. The trail crosses Park Boulevard, meandering back into the desert landscape, and eventually turns back towards the east (left), heading back to the parking area. The trail is mostly sandy and occasionally crosses a hard rock surface.
The Discovery Trail connects The Skull Rock Trail with the Split Rock Loop for approximately 5-6 miles of hiking for those who enjoy longer hikes.
Details
Duration
1-2 Hours
Activity
Hiking
Pets Allowed
No
Pets and emotional support animals are allowed in Jumbo Rocks Campground and must be on-lesh. Pets are not allowed on trails or in the backcountry. Please help us protect our wildlife by walking pets in campgrounds or on dirt roads.
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
Skull Rock Trailhead
The trail can be accessed at the Skull Rock Parking Area along Park Boulevard or in Jumbo Rocks Camground. Campers should pick up the trail from the campground, but hikers should park at the Skull Rock Parking as there is almost no day-use parking in the campground. Hikers that park in designated campsites without a reservation are subject to a fine.
The Skull Rock Parking Area is located 11 miles from the Oasis Visitor Center and 23 miles from the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. This is a popular parking area which can fill up during the busy season including, around holidays, in the spring and on the weekends.
The Skull Rock Parking Area is located 11 miles from the Oasis Visitor Center and 23 miles from the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. This is a popular parking area which can fill up during the busy season including, around holidays, in the spring and on the weekends.
Reservations
No
Season
Winter, Spring, Fall
The park is dangerously hot in the summer. If hiking in the summer, get to the trailhead before 10 am and always let a safety buddy know where you are going and when you plan on leaving the park. There is no cell service and no running water on the Skull Rock Trail. Always check the weather before heading into the park, and consider delaying your hike if the weather conditions are too extreme.
Time of Day
Day, Dawn, Dusk
Accessibility Information
The Skull Rock Trail contains various terrain types, including deep sand, hard pack dirt, and uneven rocky surfaces. The trail is relatively flat and has a 150 feet total elevation change. The trail widens to a 6+ feet across in some areas but is as narrow as 2 feet in certain areas. A section of the trail near the Jumbo Rocks Campground has rocky steps that ascend about 20-40 feet of elevation.
The trail is not accessible for people using wheelchairs. Some wheelchair users are comfortable on the section of the trail that merges with the Jumbo Rock campground road. However, this road is uneven and often covered in rocks and sand and is not accessible for every type of wheelchair.
Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed on trails, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times.
The trail is not accessible for people using wheelchairs. Some wheelchair users are comfortable on the section of the trail that merges with the Jumbo Rock campground road. However, this road is uneven and often covered in rocks and sand and is not accessible for every type of wheelchair.
Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed on trails, but service animals are welcome. Service animals must remain on a 6-foot (1.8 meter) leash at all times.