California · Rock climbing · Boulevard

Cottonwood Giants

Cottonwood Giants in California has 26 bouldering routes across 11 grades.

26 routes
V0 – V4
Bouldering

Best time to visit Cottonwood Giants

Best months: April–November. 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

    50° / 33°

  2. Feb

    50° / 34°

  3. Mar

    54° / 36°

  4. Apr

    61° / 40°

  5. May

    68° / 46°

  6. Jun

    78° / 53°

  7. Jul

    83° / 60°

  8. Aug

    82° / 58°

  9. Sep

    76° / 54°

  10. Oct

    67° / 45°

  11. Nov

    57° / 38°

  12. Dec

    51° / 34°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Laguna #3, CA, 6 mi away at 5,920 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.

Cottonwood Giants is a bouldering area on Bureau of Land Management land in California's El Centro Field Office, about a mile from Cottonwood Campground. The climbing here is all bouldering, with 26 routes spread across the boulders. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 68°F and October highs around 67°F, while July highs reach about 83°F and winter lows drop to the mid-30s. The routes run from V0 to V4 on the V scale, with a few in the 5.9 range on the YDS scale. Among the named routes are Brick Dance (High start) at V0, Pity The Fool at V3 and Uncracked Walnut at V4. Carrizo Overlook Boulders and Lowenbrau Pinnacle are both within about 5 miles, and the Star Party Trail and Burnt Rancheria campground are a little farther out.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive