Split Rock Loop Trail

The Split Rock Loop Trail is located at the end of the Split Rock Picnic Area, roughly .5 miles off of Park Boulevard. It's a 2 mile loop trail, with a .1 mile side trip to see Face Rock if you so desire. The area is popular with climbers, especially on the weekends. It is also a good wildflower trail in the spring as there are wildflowers and cacti are found along the way. Leaving the picnic area, the trail drops down and around a large split rock where a cave is located. Providing shade from the sun, it is a nice place to explore before continuing your journey. The trail is marked by rocks through an open section where no discernible trail can be seen. Working its way out into the boulders, views of the surrounding rocks come into view. You can understand why it's such a popular place with rock climbers. Follow the signs as they help guide you when the trail gets difficult to follow or what appear to be trails go off in different directions. Wildflowers and cacti bloom in the spring, adding a bit of color to the journey. Around .25 miles, the trail cuts back to the left and starts to climb up the hillside via a sand and gravel trail, with stairs found in the steeper sections. The trail begins to roll through the desert as the trail follows the contour of the landscape. At roughly .8 miles, the trail enters a rock field, one of several that the trail will move around over the next mile or so. Rock climbers can be seen climbing above the trail throughout these sections. At roughly 1.25 miles, a side trail to Face Rock goes off to the right. This leads to a rock feature that looks like a human face, and then returns to Split Rock Trail. Continuing to snake through the landscape, various climbing access trails break off from the main trail as it descends gently for the last .4 miles back to the parking lot.