California · Rock climbing · Bishop

Drifter/Smoking Boulder

Drifter/Smoking Boulder in California has 9 bouldering routes at 7 difficulty grades.

Photo: Kunstee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

9 routes

V0 – V11

Bouldering

Is Drifter/Smoking Boulder 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 23, 7:55 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Drifter/Smoking Boulder

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.

Jan
43° / 24°
11 wet
Feb
44° / 23°
11 wet
Mar
46° / 26°
10 wet
Apr
50° / 29°
8 wet
May
56° / 36°
6 wet
Jun
66° / 42°
3 wet
Jul
74° / 49°
2 wet
Aug
74° / 49°
1 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
58° / 37°
4 wet
Nov
49° / 31°
8 wet
Dec
44° / 25°
10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 36.3 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Drifter/Smoking Boulder is a bouldering area in the White Mountain Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Lower Smoking Boulder and Mandala/Pope's Prow Boulder each about 0.1 mile away. The area holds nine boulder problems, ranging from V0 to V11. The easiest is Smoking at V0, and the hardest is Les Trois Maunets at V11, first ascended by Fred Nicole. The median grade is V6, so the boulders here suit climbers of all levels. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the Huntington Lake weather station, about 36 miles away, show July and August highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only one or two wet days a month. Winter is much colder, with January highs around 43°F and lows near 24°F. Nearby, the Egypt and Mount Tom hikes are both about 3 miles away, and Bitterbrush Campground and Bishop Creek are each a little over 3 miles off.