Finding the Hidden Hall of Horrors in Joshua Tree NP

Hall of Horrors is one of our favorite stops in Joshua Tree National Park. Neither of us is super into rock climbing these days, which Hall of Horrors is popular for. However, this place is really fun if you love scrambling up all these very cool rock formations. The last time we stopped here, Dustin and I were actually scouting for the location of the Chasm of Doom (it’s not here by the way). Because of this, we were extra attentive to what other people were doing. This was how we discovered the secret hall, which resembles a short slot canyon in the Hall of Horrors. And if you’re up for it, you can also scramble up a steep rock ledge over to a mini version of the Chasm of Doom. It is definitely a short, fun stop to fill your time.

STATS:

Where:

Hall of Horrors Parking
Coords: 33°59’55.3″N 116°08’41.6″W

Entrance to the actual hallway:
Coords: 34°00’02.3″N 116°08’49.7″W

Parking:

There is a small paved parking lot here.

Fee:

There is a fee to enter Joshua Tree National Park. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for 7-day. You can also either purchase a park-specific annual pass for $55 or get an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass for $80. For up to date fee info, click here.

Restroom:

There are vault toilets at the trailhead.

Distance:

About 0.28 miles from the parking lot to the scrambling area. The hall itself is not that long.

Level:

Difficult

Estimated Completion Time:

20 minutes to 2 hours depends on how long you want to explore the area

Ideal Weather:

Springs and Falls are the best, weather-wise. Summers can get super warm here.

Ideal Time:

There is no bad time to explore this place. Make sure to have some sunlight for your adventure though. Rock scrambling is not fun in the dark.

Accessibily:

No wheel-chairs or strollers, unless you just want to do the simple, short loop walk.

Dog-friendly:

Pets are not allowed here.

Weather:

Video:

THE ADVENTURE:

Getting There

From 29 Palms, follow the Utah trail to Park Blvd. Stay on Park Blvd to go past Skull Rock and Jumbo Rocks. Keep going past Ryan Mountain Trail. The Hall of Horrors parking lot is quickly after Ryan Mountain Trail, on the right. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the sign.

The Adventure

Find the Hall of Horrors

If you look on google map using the satellite option, you can see the Hall of Horrors consisting of 3 big rock clusters. The biggest rock cluster is in the middle. This rock cluster is what you will see in front of you if you walk on the trail near the restrooms. The second-biggest cluster is behind the big one. This is where you can find the Hall as well as the mini Chasm of Doom.

Satellite photo of the location of the hallway

The get here, you can take whatever trail that will help you loop around the big cluster to this second cluster. We went to the right to go around. Once you get to the second cluster, use the coordinates above to help you find the entrance. It’s located about 2/3 of the way down if you follow our path and go right in the beginning. If you’re in shape to scramble up these big boulders at this point, feel free to do so. Otherwise, go toward the end of this cluster. There is a small trail between the bushes and will be a bit easier. You still have to scramble up the rocks, but they won’t be as tall.

The Hall of Horrors is hidden behind a boulder. You’ll need to climb up to see it. When we were here, there was a family with two young daughters that did this. In fact, they were the ones who showed us this place. That being said, these two little warriors and their dad are experienced adventurers. I would not recommend bringing your kids here unless they are pretty tough. You will need to downclimb a small boulder to go into the hall. It wasn’t that bad of a down climb.

Mini Chasm of Doom

If you want some more scrambling fun, you can also explore the mini Chasm of Doom. Please note, you’ll need some climbing and route finding skills before attempting this one!

The mini Chasm of Doom right next to the Hall. There are a few palm trees right in front of the entrance. There is a small rock ledge that you can carefully climb up to a small hanging rock on the top. From here, it is quite tricky to climb higher. It is doable, but you need some climbing skills. Once you climb up to the top, go left and follow the rock path down. Don’t forget to enjoy the view from up here before proceeding further. It is a short walk with some scrambling through a small rock canopy to a couple of small arches. It’s kind of hard to describe how to get out from here. You’ll want to go right and find the best, safest way down to the bottom.

Once you’re done at the Hall, don’t forget to spend some time exploring all the other cool rocks, boulders, and formations around here. This place is a haven for all the picturesque formations.

If you love fun stuff like this, check out the Chasm of Doom. You’ll need to be able to climb small boulders and not let claustrophobia get the best of you though. For beautiful, short hikes, check out Hidden Valley or Barker Dam. Don’t forget to check out Arch Rock trail, a short trail that will take you to a super cool natural rock arch and other neat rock formations. Cholla Cactus Garden is another stop we recommended. You don’t need to spend a lot of time, but it is pretty cool to see these unique Cholla Cactus. This place is especially beautiful early morning or at sunset. If you love off the beaten path, check out the unofficial Samuelson’s Rocks.

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RECOMMEND GEAR:

These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

The majority of these links are through our affiliate links so if you buy something, it is at no extra cost for you but it helps us support the site. That being said, don’t buy something just to support us, buy something if you think it will enhance your travels and adventures.

• Good shoes with a lot of traction
You’ll need them for rock climbing and scrambling. Vy’s shoes are Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot. Dustin’s shoes are TARGHEE III WATERPROOF.

• Snacks
Always bring snacks with you, just in case.

• Sunscreen
Bring sunscreen! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter – Zinc Oxide – Coral Reef Safe, and All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion – Coral Reef Safe (3 oz)(2-Pack) or Stream2Sea SPF 30 Reef Safe Sport Tinted Sunscreen.

• Water
Bring some water with you, just in case.