AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Joshua Tree Park "Hidden Valley" 4 - panoramio.jpg
David Balmer · CC BY 3.0

Locomotion Rock–Sports Challenge Rock, 5 summits

5.3 mi · ▲ 371 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Locomotion Rock–Sports Challenge Rock, 5 summits is a 5.3-mile out-and-back near Panorama Heights, CA. The route passes Pretzel Rock, Entrance boulder and Sports Challenge Rock before reaching Locomotion Rock at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 371 ft. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi4,062 – 4,265 ft6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Playhouse approach 34.02236, -116.17331
Nearest town Panorama Heights, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Locomotion Rock–Sports Challenge Rock, 5 summits

5.3 mi · ▲ 371 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 4,062–4,267 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Playhouse approach · 34.02236, -116.17331

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 98°F / low 74° · precip 1% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:59 AM · sunset 7:44 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Hemingway-Playhouse Connector, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftSharp right, heading N.
  4. 400 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 450 ftTurn left onto Quail Springs Historic Trail, heading N.
  6. 500 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  8. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  9. 1.2 miPass Pretzel Rock.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 50 ftPass Entrance boulder.
  12. 0.2 miPass Sports Challenge Rock.
  13. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  14. 500 ftBear right, heading NW.
  15. 250 ftTurn left onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.1 miReach Locomotion Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 1.3 miBear right, heading N.
  21. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  22. 250 ftTurn right onto Quail Springs Historic Trail, heading N.
  23. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  24. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 400 ftSharp left, heading N.
  26. 150 ftSharp right onto Hemingway-Playhouse Connector, heading N.
  27. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/locomotion-rock-sports-challenge-rock-out-back-7-rocks-9-km

Trail surface

18% dirt1% paved81% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 98°F74°
Feels like79°Precip1%Wind6 mphUV9Humidity14%
Hourly temperature
100°70°
Sunrise 5:59 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:44 PM
Wed 95°68°
Thu 97°77°
Fri 98°80°
Sat 100°82°
Sun 95°79°
Mon 94°75°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Playhouse approach Trailhead

Hikes near Panorama Heights, California