California · Rock climbing · Pollock Pines

Lower Buttress

Lower Buttress in California has 5 climbing routes with mixed and sport styles.

5 routes
5.6 – 5.10b
Mixed · Sport

Is Lower Buttress open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Lower Buttress

Best months: May–October. 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

    37° / 22°

  2. Feb

    38° / 22°

  3. Mar

    43° / 25°

  4. Apr

    49° / 27°

  5. May

    58° / 34°

  6. Jun

    69° / 40°

  7. Jul

    77° / 46°

  8. Aug

    76° / 46°

  9. Sep

    69° / 41°

  10. Oct

    58° / 34°

  11. Nov

    44° / 27°

  12. Dec

    38° / 21°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 9.2 mi away at 6,315 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

    Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

Lower Buttress is a climbing area in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Pacific Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits about half a mile from Pleasant Campground, making it an easy base for an overnight stay. The climbing here is a mix of mixed and sport routes, with five routes in total. The grades run from 5.6 to 5.10b, so there is something for climbers of different abilities. The mixed routes include Piece of Pus at 5.6 and Revenge of the Lawn at 5.8, while the sport routes are In Watermelon Sugar at 5.10a and Trout Fishing in America at 5.10b. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Tahoma weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 46°F, while winter highs stay in the upper 30s. The Rubicon Trail is about a mile away, and the Rubicon River offers canoeing at roughly 1.5 miles. Loon Lake, another climbing area, is about 1.8 miles off, and Red Fir campground is about 1.5 miles away.

Routes (5)

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