California · Rock climbing · Mammoth Lakes

Crystal Crag

Crystal Crag in California has 16 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades.

16 routes
5.6 – 5.11d
Alpine

Is Crystal Crag 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 Crystal Crag

Best months: June–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° / 13°

  2. Feb

    38° / 12°

  3. Mar

    42° / 15°

  4. Apr

    45° / 22°

  5. May

    54° / 27°

  6. Jun

    65° / 33°

  7. Jul

    71° / 38°

  8. Aug

    70° / 36°

  9. Sep

    65° / 32°

  10. Oct

    57° / 26°

  11. Nov

    47° / 20°

  12. Dec

    40° / 12°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 26.7 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.

Crystal Crag is an alpine climbing area in the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest, in California, where the Forest Service manages the land. It sits among several other named climbing areas, with Highlands Wall just 0.1 mile away and East Face 0.3 mile off. The climbing is all alpine in style, and the grade range runs from 5.6 to 5.11d. Among the 16 routes are Aretes of Crystal Crag direct (5.6), East Face, Central Gully (5.7), and Le Petit Ecolier (5.11d). The routes are clustered close together, so the whole area makes an easy base for a day of alpine climbing. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. At a nearby weather station, typical July averages are a high of 71°F and a low of 38°F. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the crag, so temperatures up top run cooler. Winters are cold, with typical January highs around 41°F and lows near 13°F. Lake George Campground is 0.7 mile away and Coldwater Campground is 1.1 mile off. Mountain bikers can ride the Sotcher Lake Trailhead Crystal Lake loop, 0.4 mile from the crag, and paddlers can head to Mammoth Creek, about 3.6 miles away.

Routes (16)

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