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Peak · California

Malapai Hill

Malapai Hill, seen from above at true elevation

Malapai Hill rises to 1,304 m in California. Quail Mountain stands 1,772 m to the west-northwest, 10.0 miles off. The nearest named place is Malapai Hill viewpoint, a attraction 0.6 miles away.

About

The story

Malapai Hill is a small mountain in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California, which may have been part of an ancient volcano. It formed during a period of intrusive activity and either rose above the surface or eventually was exposed by erosion. Its name is a derivative of the Spanish word malpaís.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q6741304, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

The record

What the record says

Elevation
1,304 m
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates33.93973, -116.08778
Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Cliffs: 60
  • Hunk Rock - East Face: 6.8 mi
  • Hunk Rock - West Face: 6.8 mi
  • Snickers North Face: 6.9 mi
  • Mounds - Deep Throat: 7.0 mi
  • Pope's Crack: 7.0 mi
Parks
  • Joshua Tree National Park: 9.9 mi
  • Indio Hills Community Center: 11.4 mi
  • Knott's Sky Park: 12.9 mi
  • Bucklin Park: 13.6 mi
  • Veteran's Park: 14.2 mi
Attractions: 25
  • Malapai Hill viewpoint: 0.6 mi
  • Star Wars Rock viewpoint and climbing access: 0.7 mi
  • Elephant Rock: 4.0 mi
  • Skull Rock: 4.3 mi
  • Face Rock: 4.5 mi
Springs: 18
  • Pine Spring: 7.4 mi
  • Stubbe Spring: 8.7 mi
  • Johnson Spring: 10.9 mi
  • Sneakeye Spring: 11.4 mi
  • Fortynine Palms Oasis Spring: 11.5 mi
Historic sites: 16
Nature reserves: 13
Museums: 11
Gardens: 8
  • Meditation Garden: 10.0 mi
  • University Park Community Gardens: 19.2 mi
  • Wildflower Field: 21.4 mi
  • Sunnylands Center and Gardens: 21.4 mi
  • West Gardens: 21.5 mi
Artworks: 6
  • Orrery: 10.1 mi
  • Synergy: 18.9 mi
  • Morning Light, Evening Light, and Dreaming Cahuilla Basketry: 20.2 mi
  • Road Trip: 21.3 mi
  • Birds of Welcome: 21.6 mi
Picnic sites: 4
  • Live Oak Picnic Area: 4.7 mi
  • Quail Springs Picknic area: 9.3 mi
  • Cottonwood Picnic Area: 20.7 mi
  • Delos Bench: 21.8 mi
On the horizon

Other summits around it

The highest named summits within 24.1 miles of Malapai Hill. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Quail MountainWNW1,772 m10.0 mi
Queen MountainN1,718 m7.8 mi
Inspiration PeakW1,694 m6.2 mi
Eureka PeakWNW1,682 m16.3 mi
Ryan MountainNW1,663 m4.2 mi
Bernard PointS1,655 m4.9 mi
Mt. Minerva HoytWNW1,647 m9.5 mi
Eagle MountainSE1,631 m24.1 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:4918:2318:56
June solstice05:3419:2219:59
September equinox06:3318:1018:43
December solstice06:4716:0216:40

Local time (America/Los_Angeles).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Oct–May.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F535662687685919083715951
Precip in0.50.60.40.10.00.00.40.70.30.10.20.6

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Twentynine Palms, 13 mi away.

In the park

Inside the official boundary of Joshua Tree National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Jul and Aug; busiest: Mar.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidata

OpenStreetMap element node/358808302

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