"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

"Started off around 9AM from the road between Hidden Valley and Juniper Flats. Accidentally climbed the false summit of 5405' and realized it once we false summited. Ate lunch behind a rock and suddenly found ourselves in a serious snowstorm! About 6 waves of snow came, completely coating the Joshua Trees and Yuccas all the way back to the car. Truly an amazing contrast with the desert surrounding. The conditions were near whiteout and we had trouble finding where we parked on the road to get back to our car." — Christopher • Mar 18, 2012