North Face Main
North Face Main in California has 15 climbing routes across 12 grades, featuring mixed, sport, and trad styles.
- 15 routes
- 5.7+ – 5.13a
- Trad · Mixed · Sport
Is North Face Main open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Tahoe National Forest.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-26-25 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest
Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts
Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit North Face Main
Best months: May–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.
Jan
41° / 17°
11 wet
Feb
43° / 18°
10 wet
Mar
48° / 22°
10 wet
Apr
53° / 26°
7 wet
May
63° / 33°
6 wet
Jun
73° / 38°
3 wet
Jul
82° / 44°
2 wet
Aug
81° / 42°
2 wet
Sep
74° / 36°
2 wet
Oct
63° / 29°
4 wet
Nov
49° / 23°
7 wet
Dec
39° / 17°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Donner Mem Sp, CA, 4.6 mi away at 5,937 ft. The station sits about 900 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.
North Face Main is a climbing area in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Truckee Ranger District. The land is managed by the Forest Service, and the area sits in close proximity to two other climbing zones, Gully - Left Side and Gully - Right Side, each about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here ranges from trad routes like Devaluation (5.7+) and Crack Of The Eighties (5.13a) to mixed styles on Bottomless Topless (5.10a) and Peter Principle (5.11a). The median grade is 5.11a, and the area's mix of styles and grade range makes it a destination for climbers of different abilities. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 82°F in July, with lows near 44°F, while winter highs there sit in the low 40s. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler.
Routes (15)
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Gully - Right Side
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