California · Rock climbing · South Lake Tahoe

Eagle's Nest

Eagle's Nest in California has 6 climbing routes with mixed and traditional styles.

Eagle's NestPhoto: ftzdomino, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
6 routes
5.9 – 5.12a
Trad · Mixed

Is Eagle's Nest open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It doesn't name Eagle's Nest, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Eagle's Nest

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

    36° / 23°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    37° / 23°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    42° / 26°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    48° / 29°

    5 wet

  5. May

    56° / 35°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    66° / 42°

    2 wet

  7. Jul

    75° / 49°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    74° / 49°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    67° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    55° / 36°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    43° / 28°

    5 wet

  12. Dec

    35° / 23°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 13.1 mi away at 7,334 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Eagle's Nest is a climbing area in California's Desolation Wilderness, within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits inside designated wilderness. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass, Nevada, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 49°F and only about two wet days in the month. Winter is much colder, with January highs in the mid-30s. The climbing area has six routes, five of which are trad and one mixed. Grades range from 5.9 to 5.12a. Among the routes are Horny (5.9), Fledgling Crack (5.10a) and Bird of Prey (5.11a, mixed). Eagle Lake Buttress and Whiskey Cliff / Eagle Creek Cliff are both climbing areas about half a mile away. Bayview Campground is 1.8 miles off, and Fallen Leaf Campground is 4.7 miles away.

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