California · Rock climbing · Kirkwood

Caples Lake

Caples Lake in California has 10 climbing routes across 6 grades.

10 routes
V1 – V9
Bouldering

Is Caples Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Caples Lake

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

    36° / 23°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    37° / 23°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    42° / 26°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    48° / 29°

    5 wet

  5. May

    56° / 35°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    66° / 42°

    2 wet

  7. Jul

    75° / 49°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    74° / 49°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    67° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    55° / 36°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    43° / 28°

    5 wet

  12. Dec

    35° / 23°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 21 mi away at 7,334 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

    Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

Caples Lake is a climbing area in the Amador Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits about 0.2 miles from Carson Pass Highway (88), making it an easy stop for climbers heading through the pass. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. At Dagget Pass, a nearby weather station about 21 miles away at a similar elevation, typical July averages run to a high of 75°F and a low of 49°F, with only about two wet days in the month. Winters there are cold, with typical January highs around 36°F. Caples Lake Resort and Caples Lake Campground are both within about a mile and a half, and Round Top Lake is roughly 1.4 miles away. For more climbing, Green Wall Cliff lies about 3.5 miles off.

Routes (10)

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