California · Rock climbing · North Fork

Gold Block

6 climbing routes at Gold Block in California, spanning 5 difficulty grades and offering sport and trad styles.

6 routes
5.9 – 5.12d
Trad · Sport

Is Gold Block open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Gold Block, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Best time to visit Gold Block

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

    43° / 24°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    44° / 23°

    11 wet

  3. Mar

    46° / 26°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    50° / 29°

    8 wet

  5. May

    56° / 36°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    66° / 42°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    74° / 49°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    74° / 49°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    68° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    58° / 37°

    4 wet

  11. Nov

    49° / 31°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    44° / 25°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 18 mi away at 7,020 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Gold Block is a climbing area in the Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with the Apron and Melting Wall areas each about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is a mix of sport and trad routes, with six routes in total. The grades run from 5.9 up to 5.12d, and the median is 5.10-. The trad routes include Simpler Times and Spread Eagle, both 5.9, and Welcome to Lost Eagle at 5.10-. The sport routes are A God In An Alcove at 5.10c and Twilight at 5.12d. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Huntington Lake weather station show July and August highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only one or two wet days a month. Winter is much colder, with January highs around 43°F and lows near 24°F. For a change from the rock, the Shuteye Lookout Trail and Beasore Trail are both about 3 miles away. Lower Chiquito campground is about 3.4 miles off, and West Fork Chiquito Creek offers canoeing at about 3.3 miles.

Routes (6)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

TalonPhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Talon

~5 min drive

Talon in California has 10 sport climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Main Wall - Lower LeftPhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Wall - Lower Left

~5 min drive

6 routes at Main Wall - Lower Left in California, ranging from moderate to hard difficulty.

High EaglePhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

High Eagle

~5 min drive

High Eagle in California has 10 climbing routes with sport and trad options.

CorduroyPhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Corduroy

~8 min drive

Corduroy in California has 5 climbing routes ranging across 5 difficulty grades.

Gold EaglePhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gold Eagle

~8 min drive

Gold Eagle in California has 7 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad styles.

Midway DomePhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Midway Dome

~9 min drive

Midway Dome in California has 5 climbing routes across 3 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Enchanted RockPhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Enchanted Rock

~9 min drive

Enchanted Rock in California offers 11 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Apron

~0 min drive

Apron in California has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Melting Wall

~0 min drive

6 trad routes at Melting Wall, California, spanning 3 difficulty grades.

Swimming Hole Wall

~1 min drive

Swimming Hole Wall is a climbing area in California with 5 routes.