Panorama Loop and Warren Peak (Joshua Tree)

8 miles - Moderate Effort
Or: 6.8 Without Warren Peak
3-4 Hours (Total)
1,750 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 5,165 feet
No Dogs Allowed

The Panorama Loop and Warren Peak hike in Joshua Tree NP gets you away from the crowds and into some classic Joshua Tree terrain. You'll enjoy Joshua Tree groves, foothill climbs, and epic views. You'll also bag the most western point over 5000 feet in Joshua Tree NP. And Warren Peak is not Warren Peak. More about that in the guide.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for Panorama Loop & Warren Peak Hike
Where to Park for the Panorama Loop
Insider Tips & Recommendations for the Hike

Quick Links: Joshua Tree National Park - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Feb 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where is the Panorama Loop Trailhead?

The hike starts in the western part of Joshua Tree National Park, away from the main tourist drags in the center. You're going to want to navigate to:
Black Rock Canyon Campground, 9800 Black Rock Canyon Rd, Yucca Valley, CA 92284

Panorama Loop And Warren Pea Parking — The hiker parking lot is right by the entrance to the campground, on the paved road on the way out. The easiest thing to do is just drive across the sand when you first enter. The trail starts to the right of the parking area.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 2 — Here's another view of the parking. The parking lot is shared with the California Riding and Hiking Trail, and can get full. If that's the case, find another spot within the campground.

There is no entrance gate to Joshua Tree NP here. I just leave my National Parks pass on my dashboard.

Gear For the Hike

This is your classic Joshua Tree trail. In the summer, it's probably too hot to hike outside of sunrise and sunset. The trail can be very sandy. Bring plenty of water and trekking poles for the steep slopes of Warren Peak.

I waste my time with lousy hiking gear so you don't have to. Only the winners get onto my gear page. There's no fluff, sponsorships, or promotions. It's just gear I personally use, have tested, and recommend. Right now I'm liking my inReach Mini 2, Garmin Epix, and Lone Peak 6 shoes.
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My February 2023 Top Gear Picks

Panorama Loop Trail Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Free Nav Tools: GaiaGPS - AllTrails

Guides to Help You Navigate

How To Use the AllTrails App (Beginners)

Hiking With Gaia GPS For Beginners

How-To: Using Routes, Tracks, and Waypoints for Garmin Outdoors GPS

How To Read a Topographic Map

Elevation Profile

Panorama Loop And Warren Pea Elevation — There's a bit of climbing, but it's nothing too crazy. The first climb to the viewpoint starts gradually and then gets steeper toward the end. After a nice cruise downhill, it's the same experience for Warren Peak, easy at first and steep at the end, but it's not as long as the initial climb up Black Rock Canyon.

3D Map

Panorama Loop & Warren Peak Hike Directions

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Video Directions

Turn by Turn Directions

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 3 — Start at the trail board to the right of the parking area. Don't worry about the permits, they're only if you are hiking overnight.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 4 — The start of the trail is sandy and flat.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 5 — Continue on the widest trail around to the right as other smaller use-trails join.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 6 — At the junction for the California Riding & Hiking Trail, keep straight.

If you're looking for a fun backpacking trip through Joshua Tree NP, the California Riding & Hiking Trail (CRHT) is a thru-hike that you can bag in 2-3 days. I have a full guide here.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 7 — Here's the sign from the last junction. Nothing about Warren Peak or the Panorama Loop yet.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 8 — Just past that junction is a sign for Black Rock Canyon. Keep hiking straight up the sandy trail.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 9 — Shortly after that is the junction for the Short Loop Trail. Keep hiking straight.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 10 — Here's the sign from that junction.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 11 — Keep hiking straight past the Burnt Hill Trail junction.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 12 — And then you see a sign for the Black Rock Canyon trails. Keep hiking straight up the gradual climb toward Panorama Loop.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 13 — There's some serious Joshua Tree growth here in Black Rock Canyon.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 14 — There are also sections that split and rejoin eventually. They're usually well marked like this one.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 15 — At about 1.6 miles in, the canyon narrows and becomes lusher. When the canyon narrows you are at Black Rock Spring.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 16 — And as the canyon narrows, there are some incredible rock formations close to the trail.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 17 — At about 1.8 miles in, you'll reach the loop part of the Panorama Loop Trail. We're going to go clockwise. When we return, we'll pop out from the left.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 18 — Here's the sign from the junction.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 19 — There's also an old wooden marker at the split. "WP" is Warren Peak.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 20 — Past the junction the trail becomes much narrower. And thankfully the thick sand is gone until we return.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 21 — And at about 2.7 miles in you start the switchbacks. The trail gets steeper.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 22 — Enjoy the views, including to San Gorgonio, as you climb.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 24 — Keep hiking up the switchbacks, which are well-maintained.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 25 — You'll get nice views into Joshua Tree and the peaks beyond in Mojave National Preserve.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 26 — When you reach the flat area at the top, you're at the viewpoint.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 27 — Prepare for some jaw-dropping views, including views of Mount San Jacinto.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 28 — And San Gorgonio.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 29 — Continue along the ridge. The views "keep on keeping on."

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 30 — When the trail splits you can go either way. If you climb the rise, you'll be at unnamed point "5195" (feet).

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 31 — Enjoy the long and gradual downhill.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 32 — When you come to the flat area, make the hard right by the "PL" trail sign.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 33 — The Joshua Trees along here are massive.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 34 — And soon Warren Peak comes into view.

Warren Peak is not officially Warren Peak. The Parks Service refers to it as Warren Peak, but it's listed as a survey marker "with checked spot elevation," and the word "Warren" is next to it on the official USGS Topographic maps. The elevation benchmark is from 1939. It first appeared on the official map in 1955. But the word "Warren" doesn't appear on maps until 1972. Some people call it "Warren Point" since it's not an official peak name.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 35 — As you descend the trail becomes more like the initial climb up Black Rock Canyon.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 36 — The turnoff for Warren Peak can be easy to miss. Look for the big tree in the middle of the trail, about 4.4 miles into the hike, and make the hard left.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 37 — The climb up to Warren Peak starts gradually.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 38 — Stay right at the junction with the Morongo View Trail.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 39 — When you approach the rocky area of the peak, the trail goes right and then climbs up the ridge.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 40 — There's a small viewpoint to the right, and then the trail continues uphill to the left.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 41 — The last stretch up to the summit is steep.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 1 — And when you get to this pile of granite, you've reached the summit. You'll continue to have great views of the high peaks you saw earlier.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 42 — And also views into the Little San Bernardino Mountains and Joshua Tree NP.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 43 — And here's the survey benchmark.

After visiting Warren Peak, head back the way you came.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 44 — You'll rejoin the Panorama Trail at the big tree.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 45 — And then continue down a short stretch of the loop.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 46 — And then arrive back at the original split. Make the left to hike back to the trailhead.

Panorama Loop And Warren Peak Directions 47 — And that's it!

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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