California · Rock climbing · Lake Elsinore

El Vaquero

Among the most difficult climbs at Tenaja Falls.

5.11+
grade
Sport Bolted
style

Is El Vaquero open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cleveland National Forest. It doesn't name El Vaquero, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Cleveland National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit El Vaquero

Best months: October–May. 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

    66° / 42°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    67° / 43°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    72° / 46°

    5 wet

  4. Apr

    76° / 49°

    3 wet

  5. May

    82° / 54°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    90° / 58°

    0 wet

  7. Jul

    97° / 64°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    98° / 65°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    93° / 61°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    83° / 54°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    73° / 46°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    65° / 40°

    5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Elsinore, CA, 9.5 mi away at 1,268 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

One of the hardest routes catalogued at Tenaja Falls, where climbs range from 4th class to 5.11+.

Photo of the crag

Tenaja Falls — the crag this route is on
Tenaja Falls, California — this photo shows the crag, not this individual route.Photo: Seauton, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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San Juan CanyonPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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