California · Rock climbing · Santa Barbara

The Big Heat

Big Heat, The in California has 6 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.

Photo: DieselDemon, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

6 routes

V0 – V0+

Bouldering

Is Big Heat, The open right now?

Alert in the area

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

Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-00-26-05 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-5406-01 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest

As of Oct 23, 7:55 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Los Padres National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Big Heat

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.

Jan
66° / 36°
8 wet
Feb
67° / 36°
9 wet
Mar
70° / 38°
7 wet
Apr
76° / 41°
4 wet
May
80° / 46°
2 wet
Jun
88° / 49°
0 wet
Jul
94° / 55°
0 wet
Aug
96° / 54°
0 wet
Sep
91° / 51°
1 wet
Oct
83° / 45°
2 wet
Nov
73° / 40°
3 wet
Dec
64° / 34°
6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibraltar Dam #2, CA, 10.6 mi away at 1,558 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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 Big Heat is a bouldering area in the Santa Barbara Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Meilee Area each about 0.1 mile away. The area is a bouldering destination, with six routes all rated V0 or V0+ on the V scale. The routes include Dobbsie (V0-), My Pal (V0), The knob (V0-1) and Good Times (V0+). The boulders are the focus here, and the grades sit at the lower end of the scale. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 80°F and October highs around 83°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. That station sits about 1,440 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures at the climbing area run cooler. Nearby, Fremont Campground offers saltwater fishing about 3.8 miles away, and Paradise Campground is about 4.1 miles off. The Rattlesnake Trail and the Snyder hike are both within about 5 miles.