California · Rock climbing · Pioneer

The Freaks

9 bouldering routes in California spanning 7 difficulty grades.

The FreaksPhoto: sarahstierch, CC0 (via Flickr)
9 routes
V2 – V9
Bouldering

Is Freaks, The 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 The Freaks

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, 24 mi away at 7,334 ft. 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

The Freaks is a bouldering area in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Amador Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the climbing sits among several other destinations in this corner of the forest. The area is packed with bouldering, with nine routes listed, all of them boulders graded from V2 to V9. The V4 route Fully Dazed and the V5 route Dude Wheres My Pipe are among the picks. At the top end, Red Vines is rated V9. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the Dagget Pass weather station, about 24 miles away and at a similar elevation, run to highs near 75°F in July and August, with only a day or two of rain each month. Winter is cold, with January highs around 36°F. The Basement climbing area is just 0.1 mile away, and The Attic Boulder is 0.3 mile off. For a longer outing, Silver Lake Cg is half a mile away, and the Silver Lake-Horse Canyon Trail starts about 0.3 mile from the boulders.

Routes (9)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The BasementPhoto: sarahstierch, CC0 (via Flickr)

The Basement

~0 min drive

7 bouldering routes at Basement in California

Emigrant WallPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emigrant Wall

~4 min drive

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

Lover's LeapPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lover's Leap

~15 min drive

Lover's Leap in California has 1 trad climbing route.

West WallPhoto: Justin.Johnsen, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

West Wall

~15 min drive

West Wall in California has 23 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades.

Main WallPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Main Wall

~15 min drive

Main Wall in California has 30 climbing routes across 20 difficulty grades.

Lower ButtressPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Buttress

~15 min drive

Lower Buttress in California has 20 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Echo SummitPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Echo Summit

~17 min drive

Echo Summit in California has 6 bouldering routes across 3 difficulty grades.

Gemini BouldersPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gemini Boulders

~18 min drive

5 bouldering routes at Gemini Boulders in California.

Troubled Waters BoulderPhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Troubled Waters Boulder

~18 min drive

Troubled Waters Boulder in California has 11 bouldering routes across 7 grades.

Middle SpirePhoto: Ben Chun, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Middle Spire

~18 min drive

Middle Spire in California has 22 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.