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I have long needed to find a safe place to stop and rest in the middle of my frequent commutes between Beaumont and Needles. This is the perfect place, with clean air, shaded tables and spotless outdoor toilets. Be sure to bring your own water for washing and for drinking and a sun hat.
This was a super cool stop on our way to Death Valley from Joshua Tree. We didn't have time to hike to the crater but it was interesting to read about the history.
Always searching for Adventure this hike was highly planned the excitement of a new place to hike, history, the Deserted Desert... I Planned this hike as the weather was going to be great ! After stopping by a road side attraction and speaking with the owner of all the tails of high school children who use to play inside the Amboy Crater and at times would ignite a fire to give those the impression the Volcano was active. She had me intrigued and I could not wait. I went durning the month of October weather was in late 70's. There was only one other couple out there the day I went hiking. Always let someone know your location. Service for cell highly varies with carrier. Huge alert ! Interesting hiking thru a once active Volcano some 10,000 years ago ! , be careful rocks are sharp, one wrong step and injury can happen. The hike itself is 4.1-mile out-and-back trail. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 38 min to complete. The best times to visit this trail are September through February. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. There are picnic tables, restroom facilities, hiking trail to the rim with rest stations along the way, and an ADA ramada overlook for viewing. Amboy Crater was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973 and is recognized for its visual and geological significance. Definitely worth it; exhilarating views from the rim! Amboy is a little bit out of the way (south of Mojave National Preserve and north of Joshua Tree National Park) as there is nowhere really close to stay unless you are camping, but I think it is absolutely worth visiting if you are in the area.
If you're not in a hurry to get to Laughlin and heading down Interstate 40 get off at the Ludlow exit and head to Amboy crater. Driving to my home in Bullhead City I decided to stop at Amboy crater. I hiked inside the crater about 25 years ago and had not been back since. They have really improved the road leading to the crater's hiking trail. It's now paved with a parking lot, bathrooms and a nice covered observation deck. I walked with my dog Frankie to the deck. One gets a nice view on the crater and surrounding lava flow. Well worth the stop and it brought back memories of when I hiked up and inside the crater 25 years ago with my brother.
If you're in Joshua Tree, take the south exit and swing a left on Route 66 to make your way to Amboy Crater. There is a ghost town of Amboy is about a mile east from this Crater, so stop at Roy's Motel and Cafe if you need water and snacks... or gas! Check their hours: https://www.yelp.com/biz/roys-motel-and-cafe-amboy?uid=cKJ0r01eF7E-tYp2FQOyRA&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) The Crater trail is about 4 miles round trip. The place is surrounded by the lava that erupted from the volcano around 10,000 years ago. It's quite desolate, and I wouldn't venture out during the summer, as there's no shade. We took a photo from the covered picnic area, overlooking the trail leading to the Crater. It's 97 degrees and we passed on the hike. There are toilets that was quite decent, but no running water so bring sanitizer or wipes. I would probably take the suggestion of Sam W and come back for the stars. I bet it's lovely.
Great! I suggest going on a cool cloudy day because the walk takes about an hour and a half to get to the crater. It's a almost flat nice windy trail. Had lunch inside the crater. It was a harder trek to get into the crater and if you want to climb the rim. I suggest hiking shoes! Overall took about 3-3.5 hours to visit. Two adults and a 2 year old made it. I suggest bringing an ergo or carrier for the way back.
Really cool spot to hike. Nothing but desert surrounding the crater. We went on 10/14/22. It was very very hot (96f) at the site. Come prepared with electrolyte drinks and enough water. There's a restroom with no sink. Easy safe hike. Wear shoes that can withstand rocks.
Another unique hike; this one involving volcanic rocks and a crater. The trail was easy to follow and consists of sand and rocks. To get to the rim of the crater, you will need to climb up some very steep inclines. Be careful though because the ground has many loose rocks. In addition, it was very windy out there! Total should be around ~4 miles. The views were okay, not great compared to many other hikes. However, it was something different so I found that interesting.
My visit to Amboy Crater was 12 years ago. This was on my to do list and I got one of my buddies and we drove from Las Vegas to explore the crater. In the parking lot, we talked with a couple who had a crate with 5 Mojave green rattle snakes they had caught and were taking to sell. Watch your feet as you walk around. Enjoy the sights, but be aware that you may have critters near you that you'd rather not meet. From the parking area, it's a short hike to the crater. The route to the rim is evident and over the years more than one has been created. Once on the rim, I suggest you walk around the top of the rim and enjoy the view in all directions. The hardened lava flows are very interesting. After walking the rim, I'd walk down one of the paths to the bottom and see the depth and enjoy looking up. Be aware that you're close to the Marine base at Twentynine Palms and not too far from the crater, the military land begins. There used to be signs warning people not to hike beyond the signs as there might be unexploded ordinance. After you return to the parking area, there are covered picnic tables.
Amboy Crater, a national natural landmark, is halfway between Barstow and Needles on National Trails Highway, a lonely road that parallels Interstate 40 to the north. If you've driven to Joshua Tree National Park from I-40, you've surely seen Amboy Crater. Indeed, I had seen Amboy Crater many times but I didn't stop until I saw a sea of bright yellow and purple flowers surrounding the crater one Spring morning. It was a beautiful sight at that time of year and the comfortable temperatures encouraged a hike, so I took the opportunity to stop and make my way to the crater. I've driven by a few other craters, but Amboy Crater has a regal bearing. Perhaps, it's the symmetry of its crown-like cone or the surrounding landscape -- I'm not really sure -- but it does demand attention. The blooming colors of the springtime flowers only add to the presence of this little kingdom. Yes, you can hike up to the cone and walk about in the rocky and grassy bowl. There's not much to see inside, but how many people can say that they've been in an old volcano?
We impulsively decided to take advantage of the (rare?) bloom here to hike to the crater--who knows when there'll be golden flowers glowing against all that black ground again? We arrived in late afternoon (after a sound bath at the Integratron), too late to hike up the side of the crater and inside (needed to get back to civilization that evening). Guys younger and fitter than us who passed us on their way back said the climb up is really steep, with loose rock and nothing to hold onto. Since I'd already managed to twist my ankle on a loose rock on the trail, we didn't attempt it. It was really pretty there, with lots of flowers, views across the Mohave of distant mountains, and some impressive raincloud formations to the southwest. Glad we went.
While everyone focuses on the day hike and Crater, I'm going to review the most overlooked part of Amboy Crater: the night sky. Amboy Crater boasts the darkest night sky with pavement, bathrooms, and nearby water and coffee (at Roys, 2 miles away) in all of California. There are darker skies, slightly, in Trilobite Wilderness, Walker's Pass, and the far northern end of the state, but none have the amenities, the utter silence (spare the BNSF train), the accessibility of Amboy. Think your sky over Mt Pinos is darker? Wrong. Think Joshua Tree is dark? Amboy is far darker. The Milky Way in Summer is so bright, you can walk and read by it. The Perseid meteor shower is incredible. Don't waste your time going to see the full moon, either. Wait for the moonless nights, and get your astronomical kicks on Route 66
If you're young and in any sort of shape, this hike is easy. But for me it wasn't about the actual hike. You start off in a nicely kept parking lot with bathroom pits, but no sinks. The trail is littered with some sort of porous volcanic rock, and the path can get a little sandy. If you follow the trail heads at a solid pace you can reach the crater base in around 30 minutes. The trail runs along to the back of the crater where a slightly vertical path begins, but nothing too rough. Just be careful of slipping rocks into people behind you. All at once after a quick climb, the inside of the crater opens up to you in its majestic form. You will be at the only opening, and there are several ways to get to the crater rim. There was a large group at the nearest path, and since the missus and I wanted a panoramic, we went for a farther path. Inside are two pieces of solid ground atypical from the rest of the trails, where people have spelled things out with rock. We got to the path to the top, and ascended carefully. Some of it gets pretty slanted, I'll be honest. Once at the top, it was breathtaking. You can see everything around you, Amboy in the distance, and a silent feeling of peace. I set up the camera for the shots, and left feeling satisfied. From parking to leaving we were there for about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Bring sunblock and water. Don't be a fool.
Natural beauty! This extint volcano is incredible. If you're up for it, you can hike the trail that goes right into the volcano. This place also has views for those less physically inclined. As you head out towards Amboy, you can see the volcano and its dark volcanic rocks scattered across the area. It's definitely hot, so dress appropriately and make sure to bring plenty of water. There's a small continence store near by, but expect to pay the cost for getting supplies in the deep desert. read more
9 months ago
Awesome experience. When u first pull in for the crater there is BLM land for free camping. The crater was a easy fun hike with lots of history. When u first start u hike the lava field then head around the back, switch back the side of the crater then can choose to go into the center or up around the rim. Def awesome for an experience. read more
1 year ago
I have long needed to find a safe place to stop and rest in the middle of my frequent commutes between Beaumont and Needles. This is the perfect place, with clean air, shaded tables and spotless outdoor toilets. Be sure to bring your own water for washing and for drinking and a sun hat. read more
3 years ago
Always searching for Adventure this hike was highly planned the excitement of a new place to hike, history, the Deserted Desert... I Planned this hike as the weather was going to be great ! After stopping by a road side attraction and speaking with the owner of all the tails of high school children who use to play inside the Amboy Crater and at times would ignite a fire to give those the impression the Volcano was active. She had me intrigued and I could not wait. I went durning the month of October weather was in late 70's. There was only one other couple out there the day I went hiking. Always let someone know your location. Service for cell highly varies with carrier. Huge alert ! Interesting hiking thru a once active Volcano some 10,000 years ago ! , be careful rocks are sharp, one wrong step and injury can happen. The hike itself is 4.1-mile out-and-back trail. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 38 min to complete. The best times to visit this trail are September through February. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. There are picnic tables, restroom facilities, hiking trail to the rim with rest stations along the way, and an ADA ramada overlook for viewing. Amboy Crater was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973 and is recognized for its visual and geological significance. Definitely worth it; exhilarating views from the rim! Amboy is a little bit out of the way (south of Mojave National Preserve and north of Joshua Tree National Park) as there is nowhere really close to stay unless you are camping, but I think it is absolutely worth visiting if you are in the area. read more
10 months ago
If you're not in a hurry to get to Laughlin and heading down Interstate 40 get off at the Ludlow exit and head to Amboy crater. Driving to my home in Bullhead City I decided to stop at Amboy crater. I hiked inside the crater about 25 years ago and had not been back since. They have really improved the road leading to the crater's hiking trail. It's now paved with a parking lot, bathrooms and a nice covered observation deck. I walked with my dog Frankie to the deck. One gets a nice view on the crater and surrounding lava flow. Well worth the stop and it brought back memories of when I hiked up and inside the crater 25 years ago with my brother. read more
5 years ago
If you're in Joshua Tree, take the south exit and swing a left on Route 66 to make your way to Amboy Crater. There is a ghost town of Amboy is about a mile east from this Crater, so stop at Roy's Motel and Cafe if you need water and snacks... or gas! Check their hours: https://www.yelp.com/biz/roys-motel-and-cafe-amboy?uid=cKJ0r01eF7E-tYp2FQOyRA&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) The Crater trail is about 4 miles round trip. The place is surrounded by the lava that erupted from the volcano around 10,000 years ago. It's quite desolate, and I wouldn't venture out during the summer, as there's no shade. We took a photo from the covered picnic area, overlooking the trail leading to the Crater. It's 97 degrees and we passed on the hike. There are toilets that was quite decent, but no running water so bring sanitizer or wipes. I would probably take the suggestion of Sam W and come back for the stars. I bet it's lovely. read more
Great! I suggest going on a cool cloudy day because the walk takes about an hour and a half to get to the crater. It's a almost flat nice windy trail. Had lunch inside the crater. It was a harder trek to get into the crater and if you want to climb the rim. I suggest hiking shoes! Overall took about 3-3.5 hours to visit. Two adults and a 2 year old made it. I suggest bringing an ergo or carrier for the way back. read more
Really cool spot to hike. Nothing but desert surrounding the crater. We went on 10/14/22. It was very very hot (96f) at the site. Come prepared with electrolyte drinks and enough water. There's a restroom with no sink. Easy safe hike. Wear shoes that can withstand rocks. read more
Another unique hike; this one involving volcanic rocks and a crater. The trail was easy to follow and consists of sand and rocks. To get to the rim of the crater, you will need to climb up some very steep inclines. Be careful though because the ground has many loose rocks. In addition, it was very windy out there! Total should be around ~4 miles. The views were okay, not great compared to many other hikes. However, it was something different so I found that interesting. read more
My visit to Amboy Crater was 12 years ago. This was on my to do list and I got one of my buddies and we drove from Las Vegas to explore the crater. In the parking lot, we talked with a couple who had a crate with 5 Mojave green rattle snakes they had caught and were taking to sell. Watch your feet as you walk around. Enjoy the sights, but be aware that you may have critters near you that you'd rather not meet. From the parking area, it's a short hike to the crater. The route to the rim is evident and over the years more than one has been created. Once on the rim, I suggest you walk around the top of the rim and enjoy the view in all directions. The hardened lava flows are very interesting. After walking the rim, I'd walk down one of the paths to the bottom and see the depth and enjoy looking up. Be aware that you're close to the Marine base at Twentynine Palms and not too far from the crater, the military land begins. There used to be signs warning people not to hike beyond the signs as there might be unexploded ordinance. After you return to the parking area, there are covered picnic tables. read more
Amboy Crater, a national natural landmark, is halfway between Barstow and Needles on National Trails Highway, a lonely road that parallels Interstate 40 to the north. If you've driven to Joshua Tree National Park from I-40, you've surely seen Amboy Crater. Indeed, I had seen Amboy Crater many times but I didn't stop until I saw a sea of bright yellow and purple flowers surrounding the crater one Spring morning. It was a beautiful sight at that time of year and the comfortable temperatures encouraged a hike, so I took the opportunity to stop and make my way to the crater. I've driven by a few other craters, but Amboy Crater has a regal bearing. Perhaps, it's the symmetry of its crown-like cone or the surrounding landscape -- I'm not really sure -- but it does demand attention. The blooming colors of the springtime flowers only add to the presence of this little kingdom. Yes, you can hike up to the cone and walk about in the rocky and grassy bowl. There's not much to see inside, but how many people can say that they've been in an old volcano? read more
7 years ago
We impulsively decided to take advantage of the (rare?) bloom here to hike to the crater--who knows when there'll be golden flowers glowing against all that black ground again? We arrived in late afternoon (after a sound bath at the Integratron), too late to hike up the side of the crater and inside (needed to get back to civilization that evening). Guys younger and fitter than us who passed us on their way back said the climb up is really steep, with loose rock and nothing to hold onto. Since I'd already managed to twist my ankle on a loose rock on the trail, we didn't attempt it. It was really pretty there, with lots of flowers, views across the Mohave of distant mountains, and some impressive raincloud formations to the southwest. Glad we went. read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
While everyone focuses on the day hike and Crater, I'm going to review the most overlooked part of Amboy Crater: the night sky. Amboy Crater boasts the darkest night sky with pavement, bathrooms, and nearby water and coffee (at Roys, 2 miles away) in all of California. There are darker skies, slightly, in Trilobite Wilderness, Walker's Pass, and the far northern end of the state, but none have the amenities, the utter silence (spare the BNSF train), the accessibility of Amboy. Think your sky over Mt Pinos is darker? Wrong. Think Joshua Tree is dark? Amboy is far darker. The Milky Way in Summer is so bright, you can walk and read by it. The Perseid meteor shower is incredible. Don't waste your time going to see the full moon, either. Wait for the moonless nights, and get your astronomical kicks on Route 66 read more
4 years ago
13 years ago
If you're young and in any sort of shape, this hike is easy. But for me it wasn't about the actual hike. You start off in a nicely kept parking lot with bathroom pits, but no sinks. The trail is littered with some sort of porous volcanic rock, and the path can get a little sandy. If you follow the trail heads at a solid pace you can reach the crater base in around 30 minutes. The trail runs along to the back of the crater where a slightly vertical path begins, but nothing too rough. Just be careful of slipping rocks into people behind you. All at once after a quick climb, the inside of the crater opens up to you in its majestic form. You will be at the only opening, and there are several ways to get to the crater rim. There was a large group at the nearest path, and since the missus and I wanted a panoramic, we went for a farther path. Inside are two pieces of solid ground atypical from the rest of the trails, where people have spelled things out with rock. We got to the path to the top, and ascended carefully. Some of it gets pretty slanted, I'll be honest. Once at the top, it was breathtaking. You can see everything around you, Amboy in the distance, and a silent feeling of peace. I set up the camera for the shots, and left feeling satisfied. From parking to leaving we were there for about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Bring sunblock and water. Don't be a fool. read more
11 years ago
Amboy Crater, located on historic Route 66 between Kelbaker and Amboy Crater...a huge black thing in the ground. It's easy to access, there are picnic tables and it's free. And I suppose it's geologically significant and if you are passing through, it might be worth checking out, but visually speaking...it's just not all that exciting to me. It get Hades hot here so remember to bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. read more
9 years ago
If you like solitude and silence this is for you. I had a nice long drive started in Riverside up around the 15 N. Found some neat abandoned buildings along route 66. Not much of anything but still a nice drive. I took my drone and actually made a video available on YouTube. It's under. https://youtu.be/Tmy6CRpLDJ4" or "Amboy crater drone video" Paint by geez. I went when not very hot but have heard can be brutal if it is hot, no shade at all. Make sure you do not wear light flimsy shoes. Will get full of sand. Of course plenty of water. You can Take your pets and kids of course always with care. It sure is different because it's an actual volcanic crater. Where else are you going to drive and hike into one read more
This was an awesome hike. Worth the drive and worth the hike around and up the back of the crater, around the rim and down to the bottom. The trail is both sandy and rocky especially in the crater it gets adventurous. There are two bench pit stops on the way out. It's an other worldly experience once you're there perhaps as close to a Mars or moon experience as one can get! Highly recommended if it's a nice not too hot, not too windy day. read more
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