Washington Column
Washington Column in California has 13 climbing routes across 7 grades.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 13 routes
- 5.8 – 5.11c
- Trad · Mixed
Is Washington Column open right now?
No closures listed
The National Park Service lists no closures for Yosemite National Park.
As of · Source: NPS · Yosemite National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Washington Column
Best months: March–June and September–November. 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
48° / 29°
9 wet
Feb
51° / 30°
9 wet
Mar
57° / 33°
10 wet
Apr
63° / 38°
8 wet
May
70° / 45°
6 wet
Jun
80° / 51°
3 wet
Jul
89° / 57°
1 wet
Aug
89° / 57°
1 wet
Sep
83° / 51°
2 wet
Oct
71° / 41°
3 wet
Nov
56° / 32°
6 wet
Dec
46° / 28°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yosemite Park Hq, CA, 1.7 mi away at 4,018 ft. The station sits about 700 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.
Washington Column is a climbing area in California's Yosemite National Park, within the Yosemite Wilderness, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations in the park's high country, and a fee is charged for visits. The most comfortable months for a trip are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 70°F in May to 71°F in October, while July and August average highs near 89°F. That station sits about 700 feet below the area, so temperatures at Washington Column run a little cooler. The area has 13 climbing routes, mostly trad with a few mixed. The Direct Route is a trad 5.9 that was first climbed in 1940, and the harder Astroman is a trad 5.11c. The Mirror Lake Old Carriage Trail starts about 0.3 miles away, and the Royal Arches Area is about 0.4 miles off. North Pines Campground and Lower Pines Campground are both within about half a mile.
Routes (13)
Facts about this crag
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