California · Rock climbing · North Fork

Chilkoot Lake

Chilkoot Lake in California has 9 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

9 routes
5.4 – 5.12a
Sport · Trad

Is Chilkoot Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Chilkoot Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Best time to visit Chilkoot 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

    43° / 24°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    44° / 23°

    11 wet

  3. Mar

    46° / 26°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    50° / 29°

    8 wet

  5. May

    56° / 36°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    66° / 42°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    74° / 49°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    74° / 49°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    68° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    58° / 37°

    4 wet

  11. Nov

    49° / 31°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    44° / 25°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 18.8 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 500 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.

Chilkoot Lake is a climbing area in the Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Quarter Day Dome about 0.2 miles away and Magic Wall about 0.3 miles away. The climbing here ranges from sport routes to trad, with grades from 5.4 up to 5.12a. Among the named routes are All Grin, No Frown (5.4 trad), Wall 1-Unnamed 5.8 (5.8 sport), and Merry Christmas (5.12a sport). Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the Huntington Lake weather station, about 19 miles away, show July and August highs near 74°F with lows around 49°F and only a day or two of rain each month. For more time in the area, the Central Trail is about 2.4 miles away, Gaggs Camp is about 3.6 miles away, and Texas Flat campground is about 4 miles away.

Routes (9)

Christmas Wall(1)

Merry Christmas5.12a

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