These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
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If we have to pick our favorite trail in Joshua Tree National Park, the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House is the one. Not only does this trail have impressive rock formations, but it also has tons of history, from the mines to the elusive boulder house. There is so much to see here. The section from Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House also required scrambling and route-finding skills, which makes this hike extra exciting. And if you like peace and quiet, away from the crowd, this is the trail for you. We had so much fun exploring the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House Trail.
Note: The Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail can get very confusing at times. There are barely any signages and the sceneries look very similar. So, it is easy to get lost if you’re not paying attention. We recommend downloading an offline map on Alltrails since there is no reception here. That’s what we did and it helps a bunch. Also, bringing a GPS tracker such as the Garmin InReach is a good idea. If you don’t have experience finding routes, maybe try easier hikes such as the Willow Hole Trail or Ryan Mountain Trail.
Desert Queen Mine Trailhead
Desert Queen Mine Rd, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
34.023624, -116.077674
Small dirt parking lot at the trailhead.
There is a fee to enter Joshua Tree National Park. For more information, check out the park’s website. You can also use your America the Beautiful pass!
Vault toilet at the trailhead.
Leave your pet at home. They are not allowed on the trail!
4 miles R.T.
656 ft
Moderate to Difficult. The difficult rating is due to the fact that you need to know to find your route.
3-4 hours. We took 3 hours
We recommend hiking the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail on a cooler day. Like any desert hikes, there aren’t much shade here.
The trailhead for the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail is located at the end of the Desert Queen Mine Road. It is a dirt road off the main Park Blvd inside Joshua Tree National Park and can be accessed with a regular, low-clearance car. There is a small dirt parking lot at the beginning of the trailhead. This parking lot is quite small.
After hiking the Ryan Mountain trail, we made our way to the parking lot for Desert Queen Mine. At the parking lot, there are multiple trailheads for different trails. We followed the sign for Desert Queen Mine. By the way, the mines in Joshua Tree National Park are closed so you can’t go in. Also, there are a lot of historical artifacts on this trail so please leave everything as you see them.
The trail started on an old road to the mine so it is easy to follow. A short distance after leaving the trailhead, we came across the first junction. Here, you can turn this hike into a small loop. If you go right, you’ll continue on the easy Desert Queen Mine. If you go straight, the trail will take you to a small ruin and then join back up with the main trail. We wanted to check out the ruin so we went straight.
If you go straight like we did, you’ll come up to another junction, shortly after the first one. You’ll know if it’s the right one because you can see the small rock ruins down the hill. We turned right to follow the trail toward the ruins. After checking out these small little ruins, we continued on our way. The way down is quite steep. It’s also rocky and slippery. So make sure to watch your step.
At the bottom of the hill is a wash. We turned left onto the wash and continued along. As we mentioned above, the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail barely has any signages. So, make sure to pay attention to your waypoints for the way back. If you downloaded an offline map on Alltrails, use it. After a short distance along the wash, we came to an actual trail. This is where the detour meets up with the main Desert Queen Mine Trail. Once again, we turned left to continue on the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail.
From this wide dirt path, we could see down the mine area as well as the trail running along the side of the hill. From here, the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail leads down the hill and crosses over the Gold Dust Gulch Wash. It then goes up the hill then turns left. As the trail gained elevation, we saw more mine openings. However, they are all sealed up due to their dangerous conditions, and to protect the bats. These mine shafts are part of the Desert Queen Mine. We also came across some old mining gear built in Chicago years ago.
The Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail continues to go up the hill to a big stone pile. There are more mine shafts here. If you want, you can go up more, through a small slot area made up of stones to explore more mine area. If you’re ready to continue to the Eagle Cliff Boulder House, go back to the top of the hill, where you see the first mine opening. There is a small path heading east/southeast. Follow that.
After following that small path, we continued along a worn trail. We also consulted with our offline map to make sure we went the right way. Along the way, we came across a vertical mine shaft. Good thing the entrance is blocked. We can’t imagine not paying attention and falling straight down. After this vertical shaft, we continued to follow along the worn trail. Along the way, there are interesting rock formations that keep us distracted.
Soon, the trail veers left. Rocks are placed on the right-hand side of the trail, indicating the correct path to follow. In this section, the trail is quite prominent and easy to follow. The scenery is also beautiful with many impressive rock formations. We even came across a cactus with a leaf shaped like a heart. Throughout the way, the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail comes in and out. We lost the trail a couple of times. However, with the help of our offline map and a bit of route-finding skill, we could find our path without too much problem.
Eventually, we came upon a short rocky section. Right after this, the trail leads up the hill. At the top of this hill is a small cave and a junction. When you reach this cave, if you go right, it will connect to Split Rock Trail. To get to Eagle Cliff Boulder House, you need to go left. The left trail looked like a dead end but once we squeezed through the boulders, it continued along.
After turning left at the cave, we followed the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House trail to go up the hill. It weaved through small boulders and vegetation before dropping down into a wash. Soon, we saw a little stick holding up a big boulder. It was kinda funny. If you see the stick, you’re there!
The Eagle Cliff Boulder House is hidden behind all the tall trees. We didn’t even see it when we first got there. But the little stick got our attention. The house is actually to the left of it, tucked away in between the dense trees and the big boulders. This little house is super cool! Its walls and ceiling utilize the big boulders that are already there. The previous tenant added a cute wooden gate, more walls built from chunks of stones, and a tin roof held up by tree branches. There are wooden shelves with old cans and bottles on top. We also found a small stone stove and a fireplace. There is even a small window for added natural light. It was such a cute little place.
After exploring the inside, we went outside and walked around. From outside, all we could see was that small window and the tin roof. The view from the back is also super cool. By the way, when you’re here, please DO NOT touch, move, take, or deface anything! Please follow the LEAVE NO TRACE principle. This place is a historical place. There is a ton of history here. We and the park would hope to leave them intact. That way, the next generation can enjoy it.
When you’re done, return the same way. The way back can get a bit confusing if you didn’t pay attention to landmarks. Some of the sections that got us turn around were the section near the vertical mineshaft and at the wash where the detour met up with the main trail. If you pay attention to where you’re going and have an offline map, it shouldn’t be an issue.
If you love more historical stuff, check out Samuelson’s Rock Trail or Wall Street Mills. For more things to do in Joshua Tree, check out our 9 amazing stops in Joshua Tree, or the 7 awesome easy hikes here.
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
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.
These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
If you tend to have foot blisters on hikes, get this! We use this all the time.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
It's always good to bring a GPS tracker with you. We use the Garmin inReach.
This is Vy's favorite hiking bag! It has tons of room for snacks and water!
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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