California · Rock climbing · Lee Vining

Demonology Cliff Band

13-route climbing crag in California with mixed and trad climbing.

Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

13 routes

5.10a – 5.11c/d

Mixed · Trad

Is Demonology Cliff Band open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Effect
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · Order 05-04-50-26-23 · USFS · Inyo National Forest
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · USFS · Inyo National Forest
Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · Order 05-04-50-25-04 · USFS · Inyo National Forest
Golden Trout and Hoover Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Inyo National Forest · Order 05-04-50-25-05 · USFS · Inyo National Forest

As of Oct 24, 6:40 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Demonology Cliff Band

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.

Jan
41° / 13°
Feb
38° / 12°
Mar
42° / 15°
Apr
45° / 22°
May
54° / 27°
Jun
65° / 33°
Jul
71° / 38°
Aug
70° / 36°
Sep
65° / 32°
Oct
57° / 26°
Nov
47° / 20°
Dec
40° / 12°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 7.6 mi away at 8,694 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.

Demonology Cliff Band is a climbing area in California's Inyo National Forest, within the Mono Lake Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among a cluster of crags that make it an easy target for a full day of climbing. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July highs reach about 71°F with lows near 38°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows. That station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the crag, so temperatures here run cooler. The area's 13 routes range in grade from 5.10a to 5.11c/d, with both trad and mixed styles. Mixed routes make up the majority, and the hardest is Old Farts on Crack at 5.11c/d. Some of the crag's names, like Demonology and Hidden Persuasion, hint at the theme that inspired the climbing. Ellery Dam Spillway Crag and Dinosaur Crag are each about a tenth of a mile away. Ellery Campground is under a mile off, and Junction Campground is about 1.3 miles away for those who want to camp the night.