Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain is located within the Joshua Tree National Park near Joshua Tree, California and is 140 miles east of Los Angeles. The north entrances to the park are at Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms and the south entrance at Cottonwood Springs. This summit rises about 5,500 feet above the ground and offers spectacular views all around.

The Ryan Mountain summit can be easily reached via a one and a half mile path, which is generally straight forward to negotiate although some sections of the path are quite steep and rocky. At the top hikers will see a little greenery with small bushes, yucca and cacti plants, but it is the view that visitors walk to the summit for. On a clear day it is possible to see the two highest peaks in Southern California, San Jacinto and San Gorgonio.

It is possible to camp at the park with Ryan Mountain campground located one mile to the west of the summit. There are 30 sites here with no water available but it is free to use and there is a designated area for horses. Another area of the park of interest is a short nature trail called the Cholla Cactus Garden.