Black Bluff - West Face
Black Bluff - West Face in California has 5 climbing routes with alpine no fixed protection.
- 5 routes
- 5.10d – 5.12a
- Alpine
Is Black Bluff - West Face open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Black Bluff - West Face, 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 - West Face
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 900 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 - West Face is an alpine climbing area in California's San Bernardino National Forest, within the Mountaintop Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the West Face sits about a tenth of a mile from the North Face, making it easy to pair with a visit to the adjacent wall. The area has five alpine routes, all rated between 5.10d and 5.12a. Among them are Slap and Tickle at 5.10d, Black and Tan at 5.11c, and Fire on the Mountain at 5.12a. The North Face and the N. Face (Right Side) are each about 0.1 mile away, so climbers can move between the faces without backtracking. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from the Big Bear Lake weather station, about 4.6 miles away, run to highs near 80°F in July and 73°F in September, with lows in the mid-40s. Winter brings highs around 46°F and lows near 24°F. The station sits about 850 feet below the bluff, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. The Bluff Mesa Loop Trail and Bluff Mesa Group Camp are both within about a mile and a quarter. Big Bear Lake is about 2 miles away, and Boulder Group Camp is roughly 2.8 miles off.
Routes (5)
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