California · Rock climbing · Soda Springs

Lower Cliffs, Middle Tier

Lower Cliffs, Middle Tier in California has 5 routes ranging from easy to hard, with sport and trad options.

5 routes
5.5 – 5.10b
Trad · Sport

Is Lower Cliffs, Middle Tier open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Tahoe National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Lower Cliffs, Middle Tier

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

    44° / 25°

  2. Feb

    46° / 26°

  3. Mar

    51° / 27°

  4. Apr

    56° / 30°

  5. May

    64° / 37°

  6. Jun

    75° / 43°

  7. Jul

    82° / 48°

  8. Aug

    82° / 47°

  9. Sep

    76° / 44°

  10. Oct

    65° / 37°

  11. Nov

    51° / 30°

  12. Dec

    43° / 25°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Spaulding, CA, 4 mi away at 5,156 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Lower Cliffs, Middle Tier is a climbing area in California's Tahoe National Forest, within the Yuba River Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the tier sits between the Lower Cliffs, Lower Tier and the Lower Cliffs, Upper Tier, both about 0.1 mile away. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the Lake Spaulding weather station, 4 miles away and about 560 feet lower, show July and August highs around 82°F with lows near 48°F, and September highs near 76°F. The routes here run from 5.5 to 5.10b, with three traditional and two sport climbs. Juniper Tree is 5.5, Purple Haze is 5.9, and Quarantine is 5.9. Mandate for Dummies, a 5.10b, is the hardest. Indian Springs Campground is 0.2 mile away and Signal Peak is 0.5 mile away. Pierce Creek Campground is 1.7 miles off, and Fordyce Creek, a paddling spot, is 3.6 miles away.

Routes (5)