California · Rock climbing · Soda Springs

Fern Grotto

7 mixed climbing routes in California spanning 5 difficulty grades.

7 routes
5.7 – 5.10a
Trad · Mixed · Sport

Is Fern Grotto open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Tahoe National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Fern Grotto

Best months: June–August. 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

    40° / 15°

  2. Feb

    41° / 15°

  3. Mar

    48° / 19°

  4. Apr

    53° / 22°

  5. May

    62° / 28°

  6. Jun

    72° / 32°

  7. Jul

    80° / 37°

  8. Aug

    79° / 35°

  9. Sep

    73° / 31°

  10. Oct

    61° / 24°

  11. Nov

    49° / 20°

  12. Dec

    39° / 14°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sagehen Creek, CA, 8.4 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.

Fern Grotto is a climbing area in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Truckee Ranger District. The land is managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with the Leaning Tree Wall and Rest Stop Cliffs both about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with seven routes in total. The grades range from 5.7 to 5.10+, with the hardest being Leave The Eave at 5.10+. Classic Corner and Maiden Voyage are both 5.10a trad routes, and Weekend At Fernies is a mixed route at 5.7. Ferning Down The House is a sport route at 5.8. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the Sagehen Creek weather station, about 8 miles away, run to highs near 80°F in July and August, with lows in the mid-30s. That station sits roughly 1,100 feet below the grotto, so temperatures here run cooler. Beyond climbing, the Glacier Meadow Loop hike is 0.4 mile away and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 is 0.6 mile away. Milton Reservoir, a lake fishing spot, is about 1.8 miles off.

Routes (7)

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