California · Rock climbing · Angelus Oaks

Buckthorn Boulder

Buckthorn Boulder in California has 13 bouldering routes with bouldering pads.

13 routes
V0
Bouldering

Is Buckthorn Boulder open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Buckthorn Boulder, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Buckthorn Boulder

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.

  1. Jan

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    51° / 27°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    57° / 31°

    4 wet

  5. May

    66° / 37°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    75° / 43°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 50°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    79° / 49°

    3 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 35°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    53° / 28°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Bear Lake, CA, 2 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.

Buckthorn Boulder is a bouldering area in the Mountaintop Ranger District of San Bernardino National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with Skyline Boulder and Skyline Slab just 0.1 mile away and the Going Green hike at a similar distance. The area is a bouldering destination, with 13 routes all rated V0 on the V scale. The Turtle Trail route is one of them, and the Coyote and Westridge routes are also listed at V0. The climbing is bouldering only, so there is no rope climbing to plan for. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Big Bear Lake weather station, which sits about 1,300 feet lower, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 50°F. Winter is much colder, with January highs around 46°F and lows near 24°F. For an overnight stay, Buttercup Group Camp is about 1.3 miles away and Boulder Group Camp about 2.8 miles. Big Bear Lake Recreation Area, a lake fishing spot, is about 3 miles off.

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