Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park.jpg
Michael Kwok · CC BY 2.0

Chongo Boulder–Peyote Cracks - East, 5 cliffs is a 3.2-mile out-and-back near Smoke Tree, CA. The route passes Chongo Boulder and Peyote Cracks - West before reaching Peyote Cracks - East at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi4,206 – 4,282 ft3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 34.02509, -116.14165
Nearest town Smoke Tree, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Chongo Boulder–Peyote Cracks - East, 5 cliffs

3.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Elevation 4,206–4,281 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 34.02509, -116.14165

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 98°F / low 78° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 5:58 AM · sunset 7:45 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Wall Street Mill Trail, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Barker Dam Nature, heading NW.
  4. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Barker Dam Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.6 miBear right, heading SW.
  6. 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
  7. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Keys Ranch Road, heading W.
  9. 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
  10. 50 ftPass Chongo Boulder.
  11. 500 ftBear right, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miPass Peyote Cracks - West.
  13. 50 ftPass Peyote Cracks - East.
  14. 50 ftReach Chongo Boulder, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  19. 350 ftBear left onto Barker Dam Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Barker Dam Nature, heading NE.
  21. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Wall Street Mill Trail, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

43% dirt57% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 98°F78°
Feels like80°Precip0%Wind3 mphUV9Humidity14%
Hourly temperature
100°75°
Sunrise 5:58 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:45 PM
Tue 97°74°
Wed 94°67°
Thu 98°78°
Fri 99°80°
Sat 99°81°
Sun 94°78°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:21 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM — 8 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead