California · Rock climbing · Santa Barbara

Alcove Area

Alcove Area in California has 14 climbing routes across 11 difficulty grades.

14 routes
V0 – V8
Bouldering

Is Alcove Area open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Los Padres National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Los Padres National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Alcove Area

Best months: October–May. 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

    61° / 33°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    62° / 34°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    66° / 37°

    5 wet

  4. Apr

    71° / 40°

    3 wet

  5. May

    80° / 45°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    88° / 51°

    0 wet

  7. Jul

    95° / 57°

    0 wet

  8. Aug

    94° / 56°

    0 wet

  9. Sep

    89° / 52°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    78° / 43°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    68° / 36°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    61° / 32°

    5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at New Cuyama Fire Stn, CA, 31.3 mi away at 2,160 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.

Alcove Area is a climbing area in the Santa Barbara Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California. It sits within the forest's boundaries, and two other climbing areas, Morning Glory and Jacked and Tan, lie just 0.1 mile away, making it easy to pair them on a single visit. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 71°F and October highs around 78°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. That station sits well below the area, so temperatures here run cooler. For a walk, Tunnel Connector and Rock Garden Trail are both about a mile away. Upper Oso Campground, roughly 5.7 miles off, offers a place to stay, and Sage Hill, about 6.6 miles away, is a saltwater fishing spot.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive