California · Rock climbing · Yosemite National Park

Lower Cathedral Area

Lower Cathedral Area in California has 4 routes with mixed and trad climbing.

Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

4 routes

5.10c – 5.12b

Trad · Mixed

Is Lower Cathedral Area open right now?

No closures listed

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

As of Oct 24, 8:00 pm PDT · Source: NPS · Yosemite National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Lower Cathedral 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.

Jan
48° / 29°
9 wet
Feb
51° / 30°
9 wet
Mar
57° / 33°
10 wet
Apr
63° / 38°
8 wet
May
70° / 45°
6 wet
Jun
80° / 51°
3 wet
Jul
89° / 57°
1 wet
Aug
89° / 57°
1 wet
Sep
83° / 51°
2 wet
Oct
71° / 41°
3 wet
Nov
56° / 32°
6 wet
Dec
46° / 28°
8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yosemite Park Hq, CA, 3.7 mi away at 4,018 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.

The Lower Cathedral Area is a climbing area in Yosemite National Park, within the Yosemite Wilderness, managed by the National Park Service. It sits in the park's backcountry, where the land is designated wilderness, and a fee is charged for visits. Late spring and early fall tend to be the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Yosemite Park HQ show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 71°F, while July and August average highs near 89°F. That station sits well below the area, so temperatures here run cooler. Lower Cathedral Rock and the Mecca climbing area are both about 0.2 miles away. Bridalveil Fall Trail is about 0.4 miles off, and Bridalveil Creek Campground is roughly 4 miles away for an overnight stay.