The Grotto
Grotto, The in California has 28 climbing routes with bouldering pads, mixed, sport, and trad styles.
Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 28 routes
- 5.8 – 5.12d
- Trad · Sport · Bouldering
Best time to visit The Grotto
Best months: October–June. 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.
Jan
56° / 33°
10 wet
Feb
58° / 34°
10 wet
Mar
62° / 37°
10 wet
Apr
67° / 40°
6 wet
May
76° / 45°
4 wet
Jun
85° / 51°
1 wet
Jul
93° / 57°
0 wet
Aug
92° / 56°
0 wet
Sep
87° / 51°
1 wet
Oct
76° / 43°
4 wet
Nov
63° / 36°
7 wet
Dec
55° / 32°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sonora, CA, 5 mi away at 1,675 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Grotto is a climbing area in California on Bureau of Land Management land within the Mother Lode Field Office. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, including Ort Wall, The Eastern Front and Welcome Wall, all about 0.1 mile away. The area has 28 routes, with 16 in trad and 10 in sport. The YDS grades run from 5.8 to 5.12d, with the hardest route, The Bombardier, a sport climb at 5.12d. Bandito is a trad route at 5.8, and Hole in the Wall is a trad route at 5.10a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sonora show May and October highs around 76°F with lows in the mid-40s, while July and August average highs in the low 90s.
Routes (28)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)The Eastern Front
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Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Table Mountain
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Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Fort Apache
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Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Senior Wall
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Photo: Genista, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Lower Arboretum
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Photo: Elaine with Grey Cats, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Knight's Ferry
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Photo: A Silly Person, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Pinecrest Lake
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Welcome Wall
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Jailhouse Rock
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Labyrinth Main
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Labyrinth Main is a California climbing area with 17 routes on 12 grades.
