California · Rock climbing · Calistoga

The Shock Block

The Shock Block in California has 12 sport climbing routes across 8 grades.

The Shock BlockPhoto: theforestprimeval, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
12 routes
5.10a – 5.12d
Sport

Best time to visit The Shock Block

Best months: February–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

    54° / 39°

    13 wet

  2. Feb

    56° / 40°

    11 wet

  3. Mar

    60° / 41°

    11 wet

  4. Apr

    66° / 42°

    8 wet

  5. May

    73° / 47°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 51°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 54°

    0 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 54°

    0 wet

  9. Sep

    81° / 53°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    72° / 50°

    4 wet

  11. Nov

    60° / 43°

    9 wet

  12. Dec

    53° / 39°

    13 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Angwin Pacific Union College, CA, 9.1 mi away at 1,715 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Shock Block is a climbing area in California, about 4 miles from the town of Woodleaf. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Iron Curtain, Wine Wall and The Lair all about 0.1 mile away. The Lair is the closest of these, and the Palisades Trail and Climbers Approach Trail are within a third of a mile, so the area works well for a day of climbing paired with a short walk. The climbing here is all sport, and the routes run from about 5.10a up to 5.12d. The median grade is 5.10c, with Decorator Crab at 5.10a and Ultramega at 5.12d among the named routes. That makes it a destination for climbers comfortable with 5.10 and 5.12 grades. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 73°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August average in the mid-80s. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the area, so temperatures on the rock may run slightly cooler.

Routes (12)

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