California · Rock climbing · Lakeside

Center/Headwall

Center/Headwall in California has 10 routes across 8 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

10 routes
5.9 – 5.12a
Sport · Mixed · Trad

Is Center/Headwall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cleveland National Forest. It doesn't name Center/Headwall, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Best time to visit Center/Headwall

Best months: October–June. 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

    64° / 42°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    64° / 42°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 44°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    71° / 47°

    4 wet

  5. May

    74° / 51°

    3 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 54°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    87° / 60°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    89° / 62°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    86° / 60°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    78° / 54°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    71° / 48°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    63° / 42°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Alpine, CA, 5.3 mi away at 1,695 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.

Center/Headwall is a climbing area in California's Cleveland National Forest, within the Descanso Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the surrounding district holds several climbing areas just a short distance away, which makes this part of the forest a compact destination for climbers. The climbing here runs from about 5.9 to 5.12a on the YDS scale. Most of the 10 routes are sport climbs, with two mixed routes and one traditional route. Among the named routes are Supply Line at 5.9, Black Castle at 5.11a and The Commander at 5.12a. Center Direct is a trad climb at 5.10. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Alpine weather station, which sits about 800 feet lower than the area, run from highs of 71°F with lows near 47°F in April to highs of 78°F with lows near 54°F in October, while July and August average highs in the upper 80s. The Wedge and Triton Tower are both about a tenth of a mile away. The El Cajon Mountain Summit Trail is roughly 2 miles off, and the San Diego River offers paddling about 5 miles away.

Routes (10)

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