California · Rock climbing · Baker

High Desert

High Desert is a California climbing area with 2 trad routes.

2 routes

5.3 – 5.7

Trad

Best time to visit High Desert

Best months: November–April. 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
63° / 35°
3 wet
Feb
69° / 40°
4 wet
Mar
77° / 46°
3 wet
Apr
84° / 53°
1 wet
May
93° / 62°
1 wet
Jun
104° / 72°
0 wet
Jul
110° / 78°
1 wet
Aug
108° / 76°
1 wet
Sep
101° / 68°
1 wet
Oct
87° / 54°
1 wet
Nov
72° / 42°
2 wet
Dec
62° / 33°
2 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Baker, CA, 26.7 mi away at 962 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

High Desert is a climbing area in the Kelso Dunes Wilderness of California, within the Bureau of Land Management's Needles Field Office. It sits in the high desert country of the region, and the surrounding land is managed by the BLM. The best time to visit is in the cooler months. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Baker put January highs around 63°F with lows near 35°F, while July highs average about 110°F. That station sits roughly 600 feet lower than the area, so temperatures at the crag run a little cooler. The area has two traditional routes, both rated in the 5.3 to 5.7 range. They are Butt Naked at 5.3 and The North Face of Old Woman Statue at 5.7.