California · Rock climbing · Big Bear City

Gunsmoke Wall

Gunsmoke Wall in California has 19 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering sport and trad options.

19 routes
5.3 – 5.12c
Sport · Trad

Is Gunsmoke Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Gunsmoke Wall, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Gunsmoke Wall

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

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    51° / 27°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    57° / 31°

    4 wet

  5. May

    66° / 37°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    75° / 43°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 50°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    79° / 49°

    3 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 35°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    53° / 28°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Bear Lake, CA, 5 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Gunsmoke Wall is a climbing area in California's San Bernardino National Forest, within the Mountaintop Ranger District. It sits on Forest Service land about 5 miles from Big Bear Lake, and two other climbing areas, Central Pinnacles and Thunderbird Wall, lie right beside it, each about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is a mix of sport and trad routes, with sport making up the majority. Of the 19 routes, the easiest is Fever Pitch at 5.3, and the hardest is Joe's Dilemma at 5.12c. The median grade is around 5.10a. That puts Gunsmoke Wall among the more challenging climbing in the region, with routes in the 10a to 12c range. Summer is the warmest stretch. Typical averages from the nearby Big Bear Lake weather station put July highs around 80°F with lows near 50°F. The station sits about 800 feet lower than the wall, so temperatures up here run cooler. Winter is cold, with typical highs in the mid-40s. For an overnight stay, Tanglewood Group Camp is about 1.3 miles away and Holcomb Valley Ranch about 2.1 miles. Big Bear Lake Recreation Area, roughly 3.4 miles off, offers lake fishing.

Routes (19)