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California · Rock Climbing
Mentone sits at the western edge of the San Bernardino Mountains, and the climbing here punches well above what most people expect from a small foothill town.
20 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 20 spots
Mentone sits at the western edge of the San Bernardino Mountains, and the climbing here punches well above what most people expect from a small foothill town. The action is concentrated around Mill Creek Wash and the Thurman Flat area, where you'll find a solid mix of sport routes and bouldering on granite and conglomerate. Routes like Diagonal Direct, Big Red Spider, and Liquidity sit alongside bouldering problems ranging from approachable warm-ups to harder test pieces like Mean Machine and Deez Nuts. The Mill Creek Wash Bouldering area and Sport Boulder at Thurman Flat are the two main climbing areas, and between them they cover enough ground to fill a full day or a long weekend. The wash setting means some routes -- Spillway, Waterfront, Undertow, Drowning Pool, Strainer -- carry water-themed names that hint at the terrain: low-angle slabs, steep pockets, and traverses on river-polished rock. Bouldering problems like the V3 Traverse, Chipped V3, and Lazy Irishman give newer climbers something to work on while more experienced partners project harder lines nearby. The area is low-elevation by Southern California standards, which makes it climbable for more of the year than destinations higher in the San Bernardinos.
The two primary areas are Mill Creek Wash Bouldering and Thurman Flat, which includes the Sport Boulder on its northwest face. Mill Creek Wash has a mix of bouldering and rope routes; Thurman Flat leans more toward sport climbing. Both are accessible from the Mentone side of Mill Creek.
There's a genuine range here. Bouldering problems like Lazy Irishman and the V3 Traverse work well for intermediate boulderers, while Mean Machine and Deez Nuts are harder test pieces. On the rope-climbing side, routes like Green Spot and Oso Smokey are good starting points, with steeper, more committing lines like Diagonal Direct and Big Red Spider for climbers looking for more difficulty.
Sport Boulder (NW Face)
~1 min drive
Compact NW-facing California crag with boulder problems and sport climbing.
Spider Baby
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Chipped V3
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
(b) Thurman Flat (Sport Boulder)
~1 min drive
Sport bouldering area in California with accessible problems for developing climbers.
Drowning Pool
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Mean Machine
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
(a) Mill Creek Wash Bouldering
~1 min drive
Desert wash bouldering in California with varied problems and natural rock formations.
Spillway
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
V3 Traverse
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Malaria Crag
~5 min drive
California climbing crag with varied routes and accessible terrain.
Mosquito
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Lazy Irishman
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near California.
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Bouldering
Mentone, California
Bouldering
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Bouldering
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Bouldering
Mentone, California
Rock climbing
Mentone, California
Fall through spring is the sweet spot. Summers get hot at this elevation, and midday temperatures can make friction climbing on south-facing rock miserable from June through August. Winter days are often climbable, though the wash can run with water after heavy rain, which may affect access to some Mill Creek Wash problems.
For the bouldering at Mill Creek Wash and Thurman Flat, bring a crash pad, climbing shoes, and a brush -- the rock can hold chalk and dust. For the sport routes, a standard sport rack with quickdraws covers most lines. Check recent trip reports before going, as bolt conditions on some routes can vary.
Mill Creek Wash is the main approach corridor for most of the climbing here. The wash crossing can be wet or impassable after significant rainfall, so check conditions if you're visiting in winter or early spring. Parking is typically roadside near the trailheads -- don't leave valuables in your car, as break-ins have been reported in the area.