"Started hike from Upper Covington Flats, pretty easy for the first mile or 2, than the trail disappears for the most part and you are on your own. The all trails route is a good rough estimate of the route but you will have to pick your way from the second to last ridge to the summit. DO NOT ATTEMPT IN SUMMER UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING. No shade, no water, no signal (without a satellite GPS UNIT). Left some summit signs up there under a rock for you to take a picture with near the US geo plaque. If you are more about actual cross country hiking and off trail navigation this is an amazing experience " — EsqueletoExpeditions • Feb 28, 2026

"All right, I just finished the whole loop in 2 hours and 40 minutes. It's 11 miles with only 2400 feet of gain, which definitely feels more than that. It was a lot of open country traverse, running in dry washes, climbing up the mountain without a trail. There were some trails here and there, but mostly it was just an open country approach. It was cold and windy, I had to change a couple of times on the route. All in all, great solo adventure run!" — nandorszotak • Feb 13, 2026

"Cross country hiked to Mt Minerva Hoyt peak then Quail peak with HPS! True Quail peak is not the same as HPS registry Quail peak(only 0.1mile apart!) It’s a fun day with Peter & Ignacia D & Chinouk as leaders! Scenery wise… umm.. not something to write home! " — diane • Dec 7, 2025

"This was a really fun one that was done as an overnight backpacking trip. Not because it's required, but more I just wanted to spend the night in Joshua Tree and it's backcountry. Amazing views of the San Jacinto & San Gorgonio Mountains, almost made me forget I was in Southern California. The recent snow a couple days before meant for a cooler night (ranger said got down to round 25f / -4c that night) also a bit more snow. Experiencing snow though for a second time in Joshua Tree sure was a treat." — matty44m • Mar 4, 2023

"The second peak of a 5 peak overnight hike. It has been almost 20 years since I climbed Quail Mountain. This time I found the register! I camped about half a mile, and 200 feet below the peak, and the wind howled all night. " — Mojavewanderer • Nov 6, 2021

"Hot and sunny day, but temps were just low enough in the higher desert altitudes to get this done comfortably. Swung a right on the dirt road after mile marker 23 then stopped to eat lunch at the dead end. From there it's choose your own path. Made our way across to the foothills, stayed low going through them and then began scrambling up toward the peak. Came up on the ridge slightly east of the peak leaving just a short trek over to the summit. Great views all around, beautiful clear day." — jodola • Jun 9, 2020

"Got to check out a ton of the namesake trees. Jack rabbits running all over the place and even saw a flock of Quail on the way back. Gorgonio and Jacinto were covered in snow. Hit Minerva Hoyt after. " — MatthewWinterberg • Mar 5, 2019

"Las Vegas Mountaineers Club planned a group outing to Joshua Tree for the weekend. There were high winds, but that was kind of nice, since we also had some warm temps! I wanted to get the National Park highpoint, so Quail Mountain was at the top of my to-do list while there! We parked at a turnout off of Keys View Road, then hiked across the desert until we intersected the dirt road. We took a side trip up to Tandy Benchmark via the NE Gully, then took the North Gully back to the road. Soon, we headed across the desert again to Kaye Benchmark. There were a few lumps at the top all of similar height. I found the one with the benchmark and register. Finally, we were on to the big 2. We crossed the desert and ascended the SE ridge of Mount Minerva Hoyt, then traversed over to Quail Mountain, hitting each of the summits (2 which had registers). We descended back down to the desert, picked up the dirt road we started on and made the long, hot hike out. If it wasn't as windy as it was, I think we might have been in trouble with the heat." — Kevin • Apr 7, 2018

"6/9 HPS peaks in Joshua Tree National Park over a long weekend. Pleasant cross-country hike across the valley floor, up a gully, and over to the summit. Encountered two sleeping coyotes (they woke up), a black-tailed jack rabbit, and and owl. With Mount Minerva Hoyt." — klotito • Feb 14, 2015

"Was not expecting much since everything went wrong right in the Morning. Did not find my Meetup Group and not having proper route description or notes. So still pleased at the end of the Day to have managed to climb three Peak on my own. Climbed Mount Minerva Hoyt before continuing to Quail, and had climbed Malapai Hill in the Morning" — Nuernberger • Dec 27, 2014