California · Rock climbing · Shaver Lake

High Sierra

High Sierra in California has 4 climbing routes with alpine no fixed protection.

High SierraPhoto: feverblue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
4 routes
5.10+
Alpine

Is High Sierra open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name High Sierra, 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 High Sierra

Best months: June–September. 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

    41° / 13°

  2. Feb

    38° / 12°

  3. Mar

    42° / 15°

  4. Apr

    45° / 22°

  5. May

    54° / 27°

  6. Jun

    65° / 33°

  7. Jul

    71° / 38°

  8. Aug

    70° / 36°

  9. Sep

    65° / 32°

  10. Oct

    57° / 26°

  11. Nov

    47° / 20°

  12. Dec

    40° / 12°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 42.5 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.

The High Sierra is a climbing area in California's John Muir Wilderness, within the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 71°F with lows near 38°F, and temperatures at the climbing area run cooler than those figures because the station sits well below the wilderness. Forth Recess Lake and Pioneer Basin are both hikes about 0.1 to 0.2 miles away. Starr Wall, a climbing area about 2 miles off, and Mosquito Flat Backpacker Campground, about 2.3 miles away, round out the nearby options.

Routes (4)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Starr WallPhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Starr Wall

~3 min drive

Starr Wall in California has 11 climbing routes.

Little Lakes Valley & Mono RecessesPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses

~5 min drive

Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses has 22 climbing routes in California.

4:20 WallPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

4:20 Wall

~9 min drive

4:20 Wall is a California climbing crag with 2 trad routes.

Inconsiderate WallPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Inconsiderate Wall

~9 min drive

Inconsiderate Wall in California has 11 routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Juniper WallPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Juniper Wall

~9 min drive

Juniper Wall in California has 17 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Elderberry ButtressPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Elderberry Buttress

~13 min drive

Elderberry Buttress in California has 6 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Orange Pillar

~4 min drive

Orange Pillar in California has 15 mixed and trad routes across 11 grades.

First Cliff, Right Tower

~4 min drive

First Cliff, Right Tower in California has 5 trad routes on 5 difficulty grades.

Patricia Bowl

~4 min drive

Patricia Bowl in California has 4 routes ranging from moderate to hard, offering sport and trad climbing.

Sierra Eastside

~5 min drive

Sierra Eastside in California has 5 climbing routes with bouldering pads, mixed, and trad styles.