California · Rock climbing · Lake Arrowhead

Lower Buttresses

Lower Buttresses in California has 14 routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

14 routes
5.4 – 5.10c
Sport · Trad

Is Lower Buttresses open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Lower Buttresses, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Lower Buttresses

Best months: April–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

    44° / 29°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  2. Feb

    45° / 30°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  3. Mar

    52° / 32°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    60° / 36°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    67° / 41°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    76° / 49°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    81° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    82° / 57°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    74° / 52°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 43°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    52° / 34°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    43° / 29°

    5 wet · 1 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Arrowhead, CA, 4.7 mi away at 5,205 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Lower Buttresses is a climbing area in the Mountaintop Ranger District of San Bernardino National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with Upper Buttresses and Pinnacle 2 both about 0.1 mile away. The area has 14 routes, a mix of sport and trad climbing, with grades ranging from 5.4 to 5.10c. Sport routes include Queen's Chase at 5.9 and Basset Hound at 5.10c, while the trad route Branded Approach is 5.4. The first ascents of these routes date back to the mid-1990s. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the Lake Arrowhead weather station, about 4.7 miles away, show May highs around 67°F and September highs around 74°F, with only a day or two of rain each month. Winter brings highs in the low 40s and a few snow days a month. Nearby, the Pinnacles hike is about 1.2 miles away and the Metate hike about 1.4 miles. For an overnight stay, North Shore Campground is roughly 4.4 miles off, and Lake Arrowhead - Green Valley Lake Recreation Area is about 5 miles away.

Routes (14)

Stranded on the Toilet BowlFA: Pat Brennan, Tony Gough 4-955.10+Hidden TreasuresFA: Rigney, McElvany, Kenaga, Brennan - 19945.10bShakin' the TreeFA: Brad Singer & Pat Brennan, January 19955.10bBasset HoundFA: Todd Gordon, Mary Ann, Loehr, Pat Brennan 4-985.10cBranded ApproachFA: Pat Brennan & Ken Kenaga, April 19955.4BrandedFA: Brad Singer & Mike Rigney, February 19955.7Doing What You LikeFA: Pat Brennan, Kenn Kenaga 3-965.7Crow's NestFA: Kenn Kenaga, Travis McElvany, Pat Brennan 12-945.8Fed ExFA: Kenn Kenaga, Pat Brennan 4-955.8Popped the CherryFA: Pat Brennan 2-955.8Cut the Crap, get Real SweetheartFA: Singer, Singer, Drollinger - 19955.9Finger FoodFA: Brad Singer, Pat Brennan 12-945.9Queen's ChaseFA: Singer, Rigney - 19955.9Sun Your BunsFA: Mc Elvany, O'Brien - 19955.9

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