California · Rock climbing · Foresthill

Handlebar Boulder

Handlebar Boulder in California has 10 bouldering routes across 6 grades.

10 routes
V2-3 – V7+
Bouldering

Best time to visit Handlebar Boulder

Best months: October–May. 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

    56° / 38°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    59° / 40°

    10 wet

  3. Mar

    63° / 42°

    9 wet

  4. Apr

    68° / 45°

    7 wet

  5. May

    77° / 52°

    5 wet

  6. Jun

    86° / 58°

    2 wet

  7. Jul

    93° / 63°

    0 wet

  8. Aug

    92° / 63°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    87° / 60°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    77° / 52°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    64° / 43°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    56° / 37°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Auburn, CA, 4.2 mi away at 1,292 ft. The station sits about 700 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Handlebar Boulder is a bouldering area in Auburn State Recreation Area in California, managed by State Park and Recreation. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Martini Bar Boulder, The Bar and Bar Rock all about 0.1 mile away. The name Handlebar comes from the Handlebar right route, and the area's boulders range from V2-3 to V7+. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Auburn show May and October highs around 77°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. That station sits about 700 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures up high run cooler. The routes here are all boulders, with 10 in total. The Handlebar Arete is the hardest at V7+, and Flowmaster and Gaston Problem are both V6. The Confluence Trail for mountain biking and Murderer's Trail for hiking are both within half a mile.

Routes (10)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Salmon BouldersPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Salmon Boulders

~42 min drive

Salmon Boulders in California has 7 bouldering routes across 4 grades.

The MermaidsPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Mermaids

~42 min drive

11 bouldering routes in California spanning 6 grades.

Cosumnes River GorgePhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cosumnes River Gorge

~42 min drive

Cosumnes River Gorge in California has 4 mixed and sport climbing routes across 4 grades.

Dinkum GulleyPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dinkum Gulley

~42 min drive

Dinkum Gulley in California has 17 climbing routes across 15 difficulty grades, offering bouldering, mixed, sport, and trad.

Ten-Minute CliffPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ten-Minute Cliff

~42 min drive

Ten-Minute Cliff in California has 6 routes with bouldering and mixed climbing.

The Bar

~0 min drive

Bar, The in California has 19 climbing routes on bouldering pads.

Bar Rock

~0 min drive

Bar Rock in California has 9 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering bouldering and sport climbing.

Scale Wall

~1 min drive

Scale Wall in California has 9 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Horseshoe Canyon

~1 min drive

Horseshoe Canyon in California offers 10 sport climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.

Memorial Wall

~1 min drive

Memorial Wall in California has 9 routes across 7 grades, offering bouldering and sport climbing.