Skull Rock

Discovery Trail, created by students from Morongo Unified School District in cooperation with park rangers, highlights 10 natural features that kids of all ages are sure to enjoy, as well as a slot canyon and intriguing Face Rock.

But the real celebrity here is Skull Rock, proof that the desert has a sense of humor. Millions of years of weathering patiently chiseled a rock until it looked like a giant skull grinning out at the passing traffic on Park Boulevard. It’s the kind of thing that makes drivers pull over, point, and say, “Yep, that’s a skull.” No imagination required.

Skull Rock isn’t alone in its theatrics. The area is filled with granite shapes that resemble people, animals, and monsters. Some look like castles, some like cathedrals, and some like something straight out of a comic book. Kids tend to see faces everywhere, but so do plenty of adults – one more reminder that the desert rewards whimsy as much as science.

Because the trails here are short, easy, and loop neatly back to your car, Skull Rock makes a fine introduction to Joshua Tree. The combo of geology lesson, imagination workout, and pure desert scenery means everybody – from first-time visitors to seasoned desert rats – finds something to enjoy.