California · Rock climbing · Palmdale

Angeles National Forest

Near Palmdale

21 routes
5.0 – 5.12
Trad · Sport · Alpine

Is Angeles National Forest open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Angeles National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Angeles National Forest

Best months: Year-round. 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

    56° / 38°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    55° / 37°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    59° / 39°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    63° / 42°

    4 wet

  5. May

    70° / 48°

    3 wet

  6. Jun

    79° / 58°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 64°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    85° / 64°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    81° / 59°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    72° / 51°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    63° / 43°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 37°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Wilson Cbs, CA, 7 mi away at 5,710 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Angeles National Forest is a climbing area in California's San Gabriel Mountains, within the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Ranger District of the Angeles National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land. The forest's climbing draws on a range of styles, with 21 routes in total. These include sport and trad routes, alpine and boulder objectives, and a few ice routes. The YDS grades run from 5.0 to 5.12, with the median at 5.10a. Among the named routes are The Oblivious Old Man Route (5.0, alpine), Fish Taco (5.7, alpine), Millard Crack (5.9, sport), The Bandwagon (5.10b, sport) and Center Ladder (5.12, trad). Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Wilson, about 7 miles away, show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 72°F, while July and August average in the mid-80s. That station sits roughly 1,360 feet below the forest, so temperatures up high run cooler. The Alder Creek and Alder Creek Trail hikes are each about a mile away, and the Far Side and Pie Slice Area climbing areas are about 1.6 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Eagles Roost ButtressPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Eagles Roost Buttress

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Stream WallPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Stream Wall

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Freezer Burn Wall

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Mushroom BoulderPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mushroom Boulder

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Waterfall WallPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Waterfall Wall

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Ramblin' WallPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ramblin' Wall

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Williamson RockPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Williamson Rock

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London WallPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

London Wall

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South AreaPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

South Area

~21 min drive

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VD (Very Direct) WallPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

VD (Very Direct) Wall

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