Rings Loop Trail: Climbing Through Mojave Volcanic Tuff With Iron Rings

The roughly two-kilometre loop starts at the Hole-in-the-Wall visitor centre. The trail descends through a notably narrow slot, with hikers gripping iron rings bolted into the rock face. The rings were installed by the National Park Service in the 1980s.

The porous texture of the stone comes from a tuff laid down when a nearby volcanic caldera erupted, then sculpted by wind and weather over millions of years. Geologists put the age of the rock at around 18.5 million years.

From April to May the Mojave yuccas blooming on the slopes alongside the path add to the experience. Rangers recommend early-morning visits during the summer heat and remind hikers always to carry water.