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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
1304 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
  • 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
Nature reserves: 28
  • Pushwalla Palms: 13.6 mi
  • Pushwalla Palms: 13.8 mi
  • Pushwalla Palms: 14.0 mi
  • Indian Palms: 14.0 mi
  • Indian Palms: 14.0 mi
Attractions: 27
  • 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: 19
  • Pine Spring: 7.4 mi
  • Stubbe Spring: 8.7 mi
  • Stubbe Spring: 8.8 mi
  • Johnson Spring: 10.9 mi
  • Sneakeye Spring: 11.4 mi
Historic sites: 17
Museums: 11
Gardens: 10
  • 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 MountainWNW 298°1,772 m10.0 mi
Queen MountainN 355°1,718 m7.8 mi
Inspiration PeakW 267°1,694 m6.2 mi
Eureka PeakWNW 293°1,682 m16.3 mi
Ryan MountainNW 320°1,663 m4.2 mi
Bernard PointS 175°1,655 m4.9 mi
Mt. Minerva HoytWNW 303°1,647 m9.5 mi
Lost Horse MountainW 266°1,609 m2.8 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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