California · Rock climbing · Crowley Lake

Convict Lake & McGee Creek

Convict Lake & McGee Creek in California has 7 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

7 routes
5.5 – 5.10
Alpine

Is Convict Lake & McGee Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Convict Lake & McGee Creek

Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    41° / 13°

  2. Feb

    38° / 12°

  3. Mar

    42° / 15°

  4. Apr

    45° / 22°

  5. May

    54° / 27°

  6. Jun

    65° / 33°

  7. Jul

    71° / 38°

  8. Aug

    70° / 36°

  9. Sep

    65° / 32°

  10. Oct

    57° / 26°

  11. Nov

    47° / 20°

  12. Dec

    40° / 12°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 34.5 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Convict Lake & McGee Creek is a climbing area in California's John Muir Wilderness, within the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits inside designated wilderness, which makes it a remote, backcountry destination. The climbing here is alpine in style, with seven routes spread across the area. The grades run from 5.5 to 5.10 on the YDS scale, so the routes are suited to climbers comfortable with that range. Among the named routes are East Rib - North at 5.5, The Ordovician Ogopogo at 5.7 and Hai'nanu at 5.10. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, and the station sits about 1,600 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. The closest neighbors are the Convict Creek and Dorothy-Bighorn Lake hikes, both under a mile away. North Face and Mt. Morrison, two other climbing areas, lie within about 3 miles. For an overnight base, Convict Lake Campground is about 4 miles off.

Routes (7)

Ordovician Ogopogo, The(1)

The Ordovician Ogopogo5.7

Piscator Peak(1)

North Buttress5.8

Pyramid Peak(1)

Mostly Dead5.9

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