California · Rock climbing · Yosemite National Park

Church Bowl

Church Bowl in California has 25 routes across 15 grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.

Church BowlPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
25 routes
5.4 – 5.12a
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Is Church Bowl open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Yosemite National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Yosemite National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Church Bowl

Best months: March–June and September–November. 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

    48° / 29°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    51° / 30°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    57° / 33°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    63° / 38°

    8 wet

  5. May

    70° / 45°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 51°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    89° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    89° / 57°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    83° / 51°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    71° / 41°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    56° / 32°

    6 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 28°

    8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yosemite Park Hq, CA, 0.5 mi away at 4,018 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Church Bowl is a climbing area in Yosemite National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's own boundaries, and a fee is charged for access. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with 17 trad routes, 5 sport routes and one boulder problem among the 25 listed. The YDS grades run from 5.4 up to 5.12a, with the median at 5.10a. Some of the named routes include Aunt Fanny's Pantry (5.4), Uncle Fanny (5.7), Deja Thorus (5.10a) and Bitches' Terror (5.11a). For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 71°F, while July and August average highs near 89°F. Ahwahnee Boulders and Western Royal Arches are both within half a mile. Lower Pines Campground and North Pines Campground are each about 0.9 miles away.

Routes (25)

Church Bowl TreeFA: Mark Jefferson, Dave Collins, 19705.10-Deja ThorusFA: Jim Beyer & Misa Giesey5.10aPole PositionFA: John Harpole, et al, late 1980s.5.10aRevivalFA: Unknown, by 19825.10aLacerated SkyFA: Brandon Adams, Matt Bernstein, 20205.10bJacob's LadderFA: Mark Carpenter and Jeff Hornibrook (late 80's)5.10cTammy FaeFA: Mark Carpenter et al, late 1980's5.10cBook of RevelationFA: Gordon Webster, Chuck Ostin, 10/1965 FFA: Bob Finn, Chris Falkenstein, 19745.10dHaley's Little Warm-upFA: Ken Yager, Haley Yager/Ballerini, Coiler, Blitzo.5.10dBitches' TerrorFA: Walt Shipley & Eric Kohl - 19905.11aWalk On the WaterFA: Marc Volland & Josh Holmes - 04/20085.11aEnergizerFA: Dan McDevitt, Sue McDevitt, 19905.11bNo Rest For The WickedFA: Walt Shipley, Eric Kohl (1990)5.11b700 Club5.11cOral Roberts5.12aAunt Fanny's PantryFA: Sheridan Anderson & Leo LebBon, 19655.4Parkay SqueezeFA: Ken Yager and Grant Hiskes, at night by match light.5.5Unknown5.6Church Bowl ChimneyFA: FA: unknown, by 19505.7Shomer ShabbatFA: Marc Volland & Matt Arnold - 4/045.7Uncle FannyFA: Bruce Price, Michael McLean, 1/70.5.7Bishops TerraceFA: FA: Russ Warne, Dave McFadden, and Steve Roper, December, 1959 FFA: Chuck Pratt, Herb Swedlund, 1960.5.8Church Bowl LiebackFA: Unknown, by 19875.8Church Bowl TerraceFA: Jim Bridwell, Hamish Mutch, 12/1965.5.8Black is BrownFA: Kim Schmitz, Frank Trummel, 1966.5.9

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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