Black Bluff - N. Face (Right Side)
13 climbing routes on the north face right side of Black Bluff in California.
- 13 routes
- 5.7 – 5.12b
- Alpine · Bouldering
Is Black Bluff - N. Face (Right Side) open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Black Bluff - N. Face (Right Side), so check the source for the area it covers.
Radford Fire Closure Area
Agency closure covering Mountaintop Ranger District · Order 05-12-52-24-06 · USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District
Safety Alert - Falling Rocks at Bonita Falls
Agency alert covering San Bernardino National Forest · USFS · San Bernardino National Forest
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering San Bernardino National Forest · Order 05-12-00-26-05 · USFS · San Bernardino National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Black Bluff - N. Face (Right Side)
Best months: May–October. 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
46° / 24°
6 wet
Feb
46° / 24°
6 wet
Mar
51° / 27°
6 wet
Apr
57° / 31°
4 wet
May
66° / 37°
2 wet
Jun
75° / 43°
1 wet
Jul
80° / 50°
2 wet
Aug
79° / 49°
3 wet
Sep
73° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
63° / 35°
2 wet
Nov
53° / 28°
3 wet
Dec
46° / 24°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Bear Lake, CA, 4.6 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 800 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.
Black Bluff - N. Face (Right Side) is a climbing area on the Mountaintop Ranger District of San Bernardino National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits about 0.1 mile from the North Face and West Face of Black Bluff, so the right side of the north face is close to those other two faces. The most comfortable months for a visit run from June through September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station in Big Bear Lake show highs in the mid-70s to around 80°F, with lows in the 40s. Winter is much colder, with typical highs around 46°F and lows near 24°F. The Bluff Mesa Loop Trail and Glory Ridge are both about a mile away, and Bluff Mesa Group Camp is about 1.2 miles off. Big Bear Lake, roughly 1.9 miles away, offers lake fishing.
Routes (13)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Forest Road 2N86
~2 min drive
Forest Road 2N86 in California has 2 climbing routes with alpine no fixed protection.
Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Castle Grey Skull
~2 min drive
Castle Grey Skull is a California climbing crag with 11 routes.
Fisherman’s Boulders
~3 min drive
Fisherman’s Boulders in California has 19 routes across 12 difficulty grades, offering bouldering pads, sport, and trad.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Castle Rock Slab (West Face)
~3 min drive
5 routes at Castle Rock Slab (West Face) in California range from 5 difficulty grades and offer sport and trad climbing.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Castle Rock Slab
~3 min drive
Castle Rock Slab in California has 3 climbing routes ranging from easy to hard, offering sport and trad options.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Castle Rock Area
~3 min drive
Castle Rock Area in California has 11 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering bouldering pads, sport, and trad.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)(a) Castle Rock - Southwest Face
~3 min drive
Castle Rock - Southwest Face in California has 6 routes across 5 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)(b) Castle Rock - South Face
~3 min drive
(b) Castle Rock - South Face in California has 7 climbing routes on the south face.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)(c) Castle Rock - Southeast Face
~3 min drive
Castle Rock - Southeast Face in California has 10 routes (moderate to hard) in sport and trad styles.
Photo: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)(e) Castle Rock - East Face
~3 min drive
Castle Rock - East Face in California has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades.
