I know what you’re thinking: pictures of a giant rock? How exciting…
But what if I told you it’s reputed to be the world’s largest free-standing boulder? You may then ask, “and just how large is it?” And I would thus provide a couple pictures to drive the point home: (try to spot the girl in green!)
Giant Rock is located in the Mojave Desert and only a short drive from my home in Joshua Tree. The rock and the surrounding land had been held to be holy ground by the Native Americans and over the years has attracted spiritual seekers, scientists, and UFO enthusiasts. Now it seems to attract regular folks like me and a lot of kids with spray paint and too much time on their hands.
In the early 30’s Frank Critzer dug under the Giant Rock and made his home there. He was suspected by police to be a German spy and killed when the tear gas they used in an attempt to bring him out from under his rock ignited a stash of dynamite (or it was self-ignited – I’ve read different opinions). I searched in vain for any remnants of his home.
Can you spot my wee white Honda Accord in the photo below? It’s done amazingly well traveling the desert terrain and the country twice over. To get to Giant Rock you have to travel down many unmarked dirt roads.
We finished our visit to Giant Rock with another beautiful desert sunset. And that is all I have to say about Giant Rock! How much can you really say about a giant rock anyways? Except it was definitely worth the visit. Go. Now.