California · Rock climbing · Ocotillo

Leaning Tower

Leaning Tower in California has 6 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

6 routes

5.6 – 5.11a

Sport · Trad

Best time to visit Leaning Tower

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.

Jan
61° / 35°
6 wet
Feb
61° / 35°
8 wet
Mar
65° / 35°
7 wet
Apr
69° / 38°
5 wet
May
76° / 42°
2 wet
Jun
85° / 46°
1 wet
Jul
91° / 53°
2 wet
Aug
93° / 55°
2 wet
Sep
88° / 50°
2 wet
Oct
78° / 43°
2 wet
Nov
69° / 38°
4 wet
Dec
61° / 34°
6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Campo Asos, CA, 22.8 mi away at 2,641 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.

Leaning Tower is a climbing area in California's Jacumba Wilderness, within the Bureau of Land Management's El Centro Field Office. It sits among several other climbing spots, with The Fortress and Gravity Wall about 0.2 miles away and Patina Wall and Sundagger Wall within 0.3 miles. The area is managed by the BLM, and the surrounding wilderness adds to the setting. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the Campo Asos weather station, about 23 miles away, show April highs near 69°F and October highs near 78°F. The station sits about 1,300 feet lower than the tower, so temperatures on the wall run cooler. The area offers six routes, five of which are sport and one is trad. Grades range from 5.6 to 5.11a. Among the sport routes are Under Pressure at 5.9, Instinct at 5.10d and Micro Trauma at 5.11a, all with first ascents listed for Jeff Brown.