California · Rock climbing · Yosemite Valley

The Grack Area

The Grack Area in California has 19 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

19 routes
5.6 – 5.12a
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Is The Grack Area open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Yosemite National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Yosemite National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Grack Area

Best months: March–June and September–November. 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

    48° / 29°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    51° / 30°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    57° / 33°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    63° / 38°

    8 wet

  5. May

    70° / 45°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 51°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    89° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    89° / 57°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    83° / 51°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    71° / 41°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    56° / 32°

    6 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 28°

    8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yosemite Park Hq, CA, 2 mi away at 4,018 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Grack Area is a climbing area in Yosemite National Park, California, within the Yosemite Wilderness. The National Park Service manages the land, and the area sits among several other climbing spots, including the Strange Energy Area and the Goodrich Pinnacle Area, both within a quarter mile. The climbing here is a mix of trad, sport and mixed routes, with 19 routes in total. The YDS grade range runs from 5.6 to 5.12a, and the median is 5.10b. The Cow-Center Route is the easiest at 5.6, while Jack the Zipper is the hardest at 5.12a. The Cow-Left Side, a trad route, was first climbed by Ken Boche and Mary Bomba in 1970. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 71°F, with July and August peaking near 89°F. A fee is charged for climbing here. Lower Pines Campground and North Pines Campground are both about 0.8 miles away. The Happy Isles Loop Road and the Stock Trail are also close by.

Routes (19)

An Udder Way5.10aValley HizemanFA: Beyer-solo5.10aGrack WrongFA: Beyer-solo5.10bHoppy's FavoriteFA: Dennis Oakeshott and Verne Clevenger, 19745.10bThe Bear5.10bA Mother's LamentFA: Rab Carrington and Rik Reider, September 19725.10cTransistor Sister5.10cOchre Fields5.11aDead Baby5.11bPsychic Energy5.11bTightropeFA: Verne Clevenger, Tom Carter, et. al. 19755.11b/cJack the Zipper5.12aThe Cow-Center RouteFA: unknown, but 1960's5.6The Grack - CenterFA: Bill Sorenson, Jack Delk 19675.6The Cow-Right Side5.7The Grack - Left SideFA: Bob Kamps and Andy Lichtman, 8/635.7The Cow-Left SideFA: Ken Boche and mary Bomba 1970.5.8The Grack, MarginalFA: Ken Boche, Mary Bomba & Joe McKeown 5/705.9The Grack, Right SideFA: TM Herbert and Ken Boche5.9

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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