California · Rock climbing · Mesa Camp

Lower Gorge

Lower Gorge in California has 12 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

12 routes

5.8 – 5.12a

Sport · Trad

Best time to visit Lower Gorge

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.

Jan
56° / 24°
4 wet
Feb
59° / 26°
4 wet
Mar
67° / 31°
3 wet
Apr
74° / 37°
2 wet
May
83° / 44°
2 wet
Jun
94° / 51°
1 wet
Jul
100° / 57°
1 wet
Aug
98° / 54°
1 wet
Sep
90° / 47°
1 wet
Oct
78° / 37°
1 wet
Nov
64° / 27°
2 wet
Dec
55° / 22°
3 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bishop Ap, CA, 14.8 mi away at 4,102 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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 Gorge is a climbing area on city land in California, about 14.8 miles from the Bishop airport weather station. It sits among several other climbing spots, with Dead Crow Buttress and Blocky Top Area each about 0.1 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the Bishop station show April highs around 74°F and October highs around 78°F, while July and August average near 100°F. That station sits about 1,000 feet lower than the gorge, so temperatures here run cooler. Lower Rock Creek Trail, Section 3, is about 1.8 miles away, and Lower Rock Creek offers canoeing about 2.7 miles off. Sand Canyon, a mountain biking area, is about 4.2 miles away, and Tuff Campground is about 6.5 miles away.