Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses
Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses has 22 climbing routes in California.
Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 22 routes
- 5.4 – 5.10a
- Alpine
Is Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Effect
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · Order 05-04-50-26-23 · USFS · Inyo National Forest
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · USFS · Inyo National Forest
Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · Order 05-04-50-25-04 · USFS · Inyo National Forest
Golden Trout and Hoover Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · Order 05-04-50-25-05 · USFS · Inyo National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses is a climbing area in California's John Muir Wilderness, within the White Mountain Ranger District of Inyo National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits in designated wilderness, so expect backcountry conditions. The climbing here is alpine, with 20 routes in that style and three on ice. Grades run from 5.4 to 5.10a, with the North Buttress at the top end. Among the named routes are the Northwest Couloir, an ice route at 5.4, and the SW Ridge direct, an alpine route at 5.5. Ruby Lake and Long Lake, both mountain biking destinations, lie within a mile. Ruby Peak, a climbing area, is about 0.7 miles away. For an overnight base, Mosquito Flat Backpacker Campground is about 2 miles off.
Routes (22)
Bear Creek Spire(3)
Little Lakes Peak(3)
Lookout Peak(1)
Mount Abbot(1)
Mount Dade(1)
Mount Morgan (North)(1)
Mt Mills(1)
Mt Morgan (South)(1)
Patricia Peak(1)
Petit Griffon(2)
Third Recess Peak(1)
Treasure Peak(1)
Wheeler Peak(2)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Starr Wall
~4 min drive
Starr Wall in California has 11 climbing routes.
Photo: feverblue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)High Sierra
~5 min drive
High Sierra in California has 4 climbing routes with alpine no fixed protection.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Uptown Rock
~9 min drive
Uptown Rock is a California climbing crag with 6 sport routes.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Planetarium / Gecko Wall
~9 min drive
Planetarium / Gecko Wall in California has 27 climbing routes with 16 difficulty grades.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Barbershop Buttress
~9 min drive
Barbershop Buttress in California has 10 climbing routes with sport and trad styles.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Diagnosis Cliffs
~9 min drive
6 routes at Diagnosis Cliffs in California, from V2 to V5.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Elderberry Buttress
~9 min drive
Elderberry Buttress in California has 6 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Secret Cliffs
~9 min drive
Secret Cliffs in California has 9 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Uptown Rock - Upper Tier
~9 min drive
Uptown Rock - Upper Tier in California has 8 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Ruby Peak
~1 min drive
Ruby Peak in California has 12 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.
