California · Rock climbing · Big Bear City

Mad Cow Wall

Mad Cow Wall in California has 8 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

8 routes
5.8 – 5.11a
Sport · Trad

Is Mad Cow Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Mad Cow Wall, 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 Mad Cow Wall

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

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    51° / 27°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    57° / 31°

    4 wet

  5. May

    66° / 37°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    75° / 43°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 50°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    79° / 49°

    3 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 35°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    53° / 28°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Bear Lake, CA, 5 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Mad Cow Wall is a climbing area in California's San Bernardino National Forest, within the Mountaintop Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the wall sits among several other climbing spots in the district, with Coyote Crag and Skyy Slab each about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here offers a range of styles and grades. Of the eight routes listed, five are sport and three are trad, with YDS grades from 5.8 up to 5.11a. Sport climbers can try Gorilla Tape (5.8) or March of Dimes (5.11a), and trad climbers have Black Angus (5.10a) and Cowdura (5.10b). For the most comfortable conditions, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the Big Bear Lake weather station, about 5 miles away and roughly 800 feet lower, show May highs around 66°F and September highs around 73°F, while winter brings highs near 46°F and lows in the mid-20s. The station's figures run a few degrees warmer than the wall's higher elevation. Tanglewood Group Camp is about 1.3 miles off, and the John Bull Trail lies about 1.7 miles away. Big Bear Lake Recreation Area is about 3.4 miles away, and Holcomb Valley Ranch offers camping about 2.1 miles out.

Routes (8)