Geology

Malapai Hill

Riverside County, CA

Coordinate verified

Dark basalt volcanic dome rising above Queen Valley inside Joshua Tree National Park—one of the park’s clearest windows into young Mojave volcanism. Hard black basalt weathers slowly against pale monzogranite, and a short Geology Tour Road spur plus a ~1.6 mi out-and-back scramble put visitors on the hill’s lower slopes with wide views across the park’s basin-and-range landscape.

Field facts

RegionRiverside County, CA
Coordinates33.9397, -116.0878
ManagementJoshua Tree National Park (NPS)
FeatureBasaltic volcanic dome / plug
AccessGeology Tour Road (4WD/high-clearance recommended when soft)
NearbyRyan Mountain, Hexie Mountains, Pinto Basin

Nearby locations

Nearby amenities

Public recreation data — BLM & Recreation.gov (RIDB). Verify current access, fees, and seasonal closures before traveling.

Map preview

Explore the area

The interactive map and its tiles load only when requested.

Plan ahead. Leave no trace. Verify current access before traveling.