California · Rock climbing · Sunol

Indian Joe Caves

Indian Joe Caves in California has 3 sport climbing routes with 3 difficulty grades.

Indian Joe CavesPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
3 routes
5.10a – 5.12c
Sport

Best time to visit Indian Joe Caves

Best months: October–June. 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

    57° / 39°

  2. Feb

    61° / 41°

  3. Mar

    66° / 43°

  4. Apr

    71° / 46°

  5. May

    77° / 50°

  6. Jun

    84° / 54°

  7. Jul

    89° / 57°

  8. Aug

    89° / 57°

  9. Sep

    86° / 55°

  10. Oct

    77° / 50°

  11. Nov

    65° / 43°

  12. Dec

    57° / 39°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Livermore, CA, 11.6 mi away at 393 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.

Indian Joe Caves is a climbing area in California's Sunol Regional Wilderness, on land managed by a regional agency. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with Cleavage Rock and the Indian Joe Creek Trail both about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is sport, and the routes run from about 5.10a to 5.12c. Three routes are listed: Pull Up at 5.10a, Orange Arete 5.11a and Little Eiger at 5.12c. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Livermore show May and October highs around 77°F, while July and August average about 89°F. That station sits roughly 600 feet lower than the caves, so temperatures at the site run a little cooler. The Indian Joe Creek Trail and Eagle View Trail are both within half a mile. Alameda Creek, about 1.3 miles away, offers canoeing.

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