California · Rock climbing · Bridgeport

Big Face

Big Face in California has 5 traditional climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.

5 routes
5.5 – 5.10a
Trad

Is Big Face open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Big Face, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Best time to visit Big Face

Best months: May–September. 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

    43° / 10°

    5 wet · 4 snow

  2. Feb

    45° / 13°

    5 wet · 3 snow

  3. Mar

    52° / 20°

    4 wet · 3 snow

  4. Apr

    59° / 25°

    3 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    67° / 32°

    3 wet · 1 snow

  6. Jun

    77° / 39°

    2 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 43°

    3 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 41°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    78° / 34°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    66° / 24°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    55° / 17°

    3 wet · 1 snow

  12. Dec

    45° / 12°

    5 wet · 3 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bridgeport, CA, 18.4 mi away at 6,470 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Big Face is a climbing area in the Bridgeport Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of trails, campsites and other climbing spots, so it works well as a base for a day or longer in the area. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Bridgeport weather station show July highs around 85°F with lows near 43°F, and September still runs in the upper 70s. That station sits about 1,000 feet below the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. Lta, a climbing area, and the Leavitt Trail are both about 0.1 mile away. Secret Lake and Leavitt Meadows Campground are each about 0.3 mile off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive