California · Rock climbing · Kyburz

Emigrant Wall

Emigrant Wall in California offers 15 climbing routes across 6 grades, with sport and trad options.

Emigrant WallPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
15 routes
5.5 – 5.9-
Sport · Trad

Is Emigrant Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Emigrant Wall

Best months: May–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.

  1. Jan

    43° / 18°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    43° / 19°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    48° / 24°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    53° / 28°

    8 wet

  5. May

    62° / 33°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    72° / 38°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 43°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 41°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 35°

    3 wet

  10. Oct

    62° / 29°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 23°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    43° / 18°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 18 mi away at 6,314 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

    Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

Emigrant Wall is a climbing area in the Amador Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with Shealor Lake about a mile away and Old Camp Bluff roughly a mile off. The area has 15 routes, 12 of them sport and 3 trad, with grades ranging from 5.5 to 5.9. Among the sport routes are Independence, MO at 5.5 and Trackless Wilderness at 5.9. The trad route Climb it like you stole it is 5.8. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at South Lake Tahoe show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the low 40s and only about two wet days a month. That station sits roughly 650 feet lower than the wall, so temperatures here run cooler. Nearby options include the Shealor Lake hike, the Erratica Central climbing area and Silver Lake Campground, all within about 2 miles. North Tragedy Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 1.4 miles away.

Routes (15)

Independence, MOFA: Tim and Jess Maly, August 20205.5High Plains DrifterFA: Bobby Hutton and Nathan Doyle, Sept 20185.6Taking it for GraniteFA: Bobby Hutton, AnnaLisa Lopez5.6The Great PlainsFA: Bobby Hutton and Nathan Doyle, Oct 20185.6The PassFA: Bobby Hutton, AnnaLisa Lopez5.6Five Finger DiscountFA: Nate Schmidt, Amanda Oyao, Todd Erickson5.7Light, Cam, ActionFA: Nate Schmidt, Glen Prior, Todd Erickson, Bobby Hutton Aug 20205.7Trad Rack, Meshach and AbednegoFA: Eric Kablanow, Bobby Hutton5.7Climb it like you stole itFA: Nate Schmidt, Tristan Davis and Todd Erickson July 31, 20205.8Follow the RiverFA: Bobby Hutton, AnnaLisa Lopez5.8Into the SunFA: Bobby Hutton Oct 20195.8Three SpringsFA: Nathan Doyle and Bobby Hutton, Oct 20185.8Juniperus OccidentalisFA: Bobby Hutton July 20205.9Trackless WildernessFA: Todd Erickson and Bobby Hutton Aug 29, 20205.9Winches and WindlassesFA: Bobby Hutton and Nathan Doyle July 20205.9-

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