California · Rock climbing · Swall Meadows

Lower Elbow Room

Lower Elbow Room is a California climbing area with 21 sport routes across 12 difficulty grades.

21 routes
5.7 – 5.13a/b
Sport

Is Lower Elbow Room open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Lower Elbow Room

Best months: April–May and 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

    56° / 24°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    59° / 26°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 31°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    74° / 37°

    2 wet

  5. May

    83° / 44°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    94° / 51°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    100° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    98° / 54°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    90° / 47°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    78° / 37°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    64° / 27°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 22°

    3 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bishop Ap, CA, 15.8 mi away at 4,102 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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 Elbow Room is a climbing area in California's Inyo National Forest, within the White Mountain Ranger District, on land managed as city property. It sits among several other climbing areas, with Gorgeous Towers and McCracken Wall each about 0.1 mile away, so it works well as one stop among a cluster of sport routes. The area has 21 sport routes, spanning grades from 5.7 up to 5.13a/b. Quail Trail is the median route at 5.10b, and Danger Baby is the hardest, at 5.13a/b. Phoenix, the easiest, is a 5.7. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bishop run to highs around 74°F in April and 78°F in October, while July highs average 100°F and winter lows drop to the low 20s. Lower Rock Creek Trail, Section 3, is about 2.4 miles away, and Sand Canyon offers mountain biking about 3.8 miles out. Tuff Campground and Holiday Campground are both within about six miles.

Routes (21)

Pet TrackersFA: Scott Ayers, Richard Spencer, 19925.10aQuail CrackFA: Kelly Cordner (1997) TD5.10aAunti VigilanteFA: Barry Oswick, Kelly Cordner, Dec 19975.10bHoly guacamolyFA: Dan McDevitt5.10bQuail TrailFA: Kelly Cordner, Randy Jacobs (1997) TD5.10bChuckersFA: Kelly Cordner 10/19975.10dYou Don't Want NoneFA: Mike Strassman, Charlie Byrne, Mark McNally (1997) TD5.10dBrighter DaysFA: Dan McDevitt and Nik Schnieder5.11bPalm ReaderFA: Jay Goodwin, Kelly Cordner5.12aRoller Coaster RideFA: Oswick, Sorenson, Castillo; 20055.12aFukitFA: Brandon Adams 20205.12bFight or FlightFA: Brandon Adams 20205.12cDanger BabyFA: Tom Helvie, Fan Yang; 20215.13a/bPhoenixFA: Kelly Cordner, Dec 19975.7Sunny warmupFA: Dan McDevitt5.7Free Range Pit BullsFA: E.Wolfe/J.Reidhead5.8P.D. TimeFA: Mike Strassman, Scott Ayers, 19925.8Short and SweetFA: Dan McDevitt5.8+Don't Kid, MinibikeFA: M.Strassman, C.Byrne, M.McNally, J.Carrol5.9Iceberg IIFA: Kelly Cordner, Dec 19975.9Slip 'n SlideFA: Kelly Cordner, Barry Oswick (1997) GU5.9

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