California · Rock climbing · Lee Vining

Ellery Dam Spillway Crag

Ellery Dam Spillway Crag in California has 12 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

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

12 routes

5.6 – 5.11a

Mixed · Trad · Sport

Is Ellery Dam Spillway Crag 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 Ellery Dam Spillway 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.

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, 7.5 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

Ellery Dam Spillway Crag is a climbing area in the Mono Lake Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of crags, with Demonology Cliff Band about 0.1 mile away and Dinosaur Crag about 0.2 mile away. The area is best approached as a base for exploring the surrounding rock and trails. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. The crag has 12 routes, with styles ranging from mixed and trad to sport. Grades run from 5.6 to 5.11a, with mixed routes making up half the list. Some of the better-known climbs include Roof-to-Dihedral at 5.6 and Dominant Partner, a sport route at 5.11a. Nearby options include Ellery Campground, about 0.9 mile away, and the Warren Fork Trail, about 1.1 mile away. Junction Campground is about 1.2 miles off.