Cap Rock

Perched atop a monolithic dome is a visor-shaped boulder resembling the bill on a baseball cap. In fact, it looks as though a giant set it there just to shade the desert below. Signs along the wheelchair-accessible nature trail interpret Mojave Desert geology and plant life, but most visitors can’t resist gazing up at the improbable “cap” and wondering how long it’s going to stay put. (Spoiler: probably longer than any of us.)

Cap Rock also has a place in music lore. This was a favorite haunt of country-rock legend Gram Parsons, whose short, brilliant career and unusual death helped cement his cult status. Fans still maintain a modest memorial at the base of the rock – a mix of flowers, guitar picks, and the occasional bottle of tequila left in tribute.

Geology and rock ‘n’ roll make a curious but fitting pair here. Climbers scale Cap Rock for the challenge; musicians come for the vibe; families wander the loop for an easy taste of Joshua Tree’s scenery. And everyone gets a laugh at the fact that, in a land of surreal rock piles, this one ended up named for a baseball cap.