California · Rock climbing · Lake Elsinore

Hot Shots Area

Hot Shots Area in California has 5 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

5 routes
5.4 – 5.10b/c
Mixed · Trad · Sport

Is Hot Shots Area open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cleveland National Forest. It doesn't name Hot Shots Area, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Cleveland National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Hot Shots Area

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

    66° / 37°

  2. Feb

    66° / 38°

  3. Mar

    71° / 40°

  4. Apr

    74° / 44°

  5. May

    80° / 51°

  6. Jun

    87° / 56°

  7. Jul

    94° / 62°

  8. Aug

    95° / 62°

  9. Sep

    92° / 59°

  10. Oct

    82° / 49°

  11. Nov

    72° / 41°

  12. Dec

    65° / 37°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at March Afb, CA, 21 mi away at 1,516 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.

Hot Shots Area is a climbing area in the Trabuco Ranger District of Cleveland National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with El Cariso, Ridge Trail and El Cariso - Misc Problems all about 0.1 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 74°F and October highs around 82°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. That station sits well below the area, so temperatures up high run cooler. For a hike, Viejo Tie is about 0.9 mile away and Falcon about 1.1 mile. Falcon Group campground is about 1.3 miles off, and Blue Jay Campground is about 1.4 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive