California · Rock climbing · Mammoth Lakes

Central - Maximum Joy Area

22-boulder crag in California with 10 difficulty grades.

22 routes
V0 – V6
Bouldering

Is Central - Maximum Joy Area open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Central - Maximum Joy Area

Best months: May–September. 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

    41° / 17°

  2. Feb

    41° / 18°

  3. Mar

    45° / 22°

  4. Apr

    51° / 27°

  5. May

    60° / 35°

  6. Jun

    70° / 42°

  7. Jul

    78° / 49°

  8. Aug

    77° / 47°

  9. Sep

    71° / 40°

  10. Oct

    61° / 30°

  11. Nov

    49° / 23°

  12. Dec

    41° / 17°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 18.5 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Central - Maximum Joy Area is a bouldering area in California's Inyo National Forest, within the White Mountain Ranger District. It sits on city land, and the surrounding area is packed with other climbing spots, including The Magnolia Boulder, South - Pocket Rocket Area and Hidden Cliff, all about 0.1 mile away. The area is a bouldering destination, with 23 routes, all of them boulders. The grades run from V0 to V6, with the median at V2. Among the named routes are Groundhog Day at V0, Problem B at V2 and Native Hymn at V6. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F and lows near 49°F, while winter highs stay around 41°F with lows in the teens. Tuff Campground is about 2.6 miles away, and Lower Rock Creek is a hike about 2.8 miles off. French Camp and the Sand Canyon Trail are both within about 5 miles.