The Coolest Rocks in Southern California

Apples and Americana seem to go hand in hand. There’s mom’s apple pie, beloved serial trespasser Johnny Appleseed and, of course, the Apple Boulders of Perris, CA. This classic example of roadside art was created in 1983 by a local artist Neil Larson who, like so many artists before him, had a vision—a vision of something to munch on. People around here seem to like these massive boulders painted to look...

On the way to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear is Heart Rock Falls in the Valley of Enchantment. Sounds like the perfect place to take your honey for Valentine's! The actual falls are about a one mile round trip hike, suitable for mostly anyone - and here you will see the heart-shaped pool embedded in the rock created from the force of falling water. In summer, you can even take a dive in the swimming hole be...

It's not certain when the tradition started but at some point in recent history someone thought it would be a good idea to paint this spherical boulder as a jack-o-lantern. Overlooking the valley it can be seen from a distance, its bright orange color standing out from the dry, neutral California landscape. It's also worth a detour just to hike up the boulder and have a clear view of the valley below. Do...

This flimsy looking precipice is not for the faint of heart nor for the out of shape. Even though you're in for a treat with beautiful scenery during the hike, this isn't the most secluded destination. When you get to the actual ledge, you may be disappointed to find that a dozen or more people are in line in front of you to take their photos. In spite of all the negatives, you'll produce a pretty memora...

Toothy, menacing fish heads surfacing from the dry desert landscape. What's not to love? Still, these rocks have divided locals since the '30s, starting a war that would see the fish heads painted, embellished with graffiti, entirely painted over, and then (lucky for us!) repainted back on with just eyes and teeth.

As if the dry, harsh desert landscape of Joshua Tree isn’t enough to make you think of death, there’s a natural rock formation in the shape of a skull there that’ll do the trick, real quick. Water erosion carved out the eye-sockets and nose cavity, and your morbid imagination will fill in the rest. Lat/Long: 33.997815, -116.059565

If you’re heading north on Box Canyon Road, you can spot a woman’s face (or possibly a dude with long locks?) carved into the rock. Its origins are a mystery to us. Who made it? What’s behind that curious expression? Is she squinting from the sun or sporting a pained grimace? If you’ve got any info, we’re listening!

This moderate 6.4-mile trail is reached via the Pacific Crest Trail and is named for large pieces of granite that closely resemble the magnificent bird of prey. To get there park in front of the Warner Springs Fire Dept. on Hwy 79. The trailhead starts on the right side of the station. (Submitted by Stephanie Ledbetter)

A giant boulder accessible via an unmarked trail from the White Tank Campground has a natural formation in the shape of a heart. It's about 10 feet tall, rising out of a landscape strewn with boulders. Getting there might be tricky since there is no official path. The easiest way would be to first find Arch Rock and then find a path that will lead you northeast to Heart Rock. In a straight line Heart Roc...

A large granite boulder is Tooth Rock and can be accessed via Rattlesnake Creek. The hike can be strenuous with a sharp elevation gain. It's about a 3.5-mile trail loop and you'll need roughly two to three hours to complete it. From I-15 exit onto Ted Williams Parkway, exit 19. Continue north east for 5.4 miles to Twin Peaks Road. Go right on Twin Peaks Road and continue east 2.3 miles to Espola Road. Tu...

An elephantine rock on Highway 79 has been a mascot for a few causes. First, Hemet High baseball team painted "Uncle Wally's Elephant" on its side in 1967 after a popular coach at the school. After that the elephant became a sort of local tradition. Later on the elephant was painted pink to hopefully prevent DUIs and even made the cover of the CHP magazine. Today it is still a part of the community altho...

No one really knows when this comic-strip-style eagle showed up but it's said to have appeared some time in the 1980s. To see it park in the Walgreens parking lot and walk west on Newport for half a mile. Eagle Rock will be on your left. 

Inside the Jumbo Rocks Campground, you'll find a 13-foot tall boulder that looks like a penguin (minus the tuxedo). A penguin in the desert, you say? Yep, we know, crazy stuff. To find Pinguino Rock, park in one of the guest spots at the Jumbo Rocks Campground entrance and make your way to campsite 18. The rock and and the almost-as-popular juniper tree are on the hill right behind that campsite. It shou...

Another one of those unique Joshua Tree attractions that you won't find on any of the park maps. Samuelson Rocks are a series of boulders with words of wisdom carved into them by early homesteader John Samuelson in the 1920s. It's a little tricky finding the rocks because there isn't an official trail so we suggest you plug the below coordinates into Google Maps before you make the trip, save an offline ...