California · Rock climbing · North Fork

Magic Wall

Magic Wall in California has 13 climbing routes across 7 grades.

13 routes
5.9 – 5.11d
Trad · Sport

Is Magic Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Magic Wall, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Best time to visit Magic 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

    43° / 24°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    44° / 23°

    11 wet

  3. Mar

    46° / 26°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    50° / 29°

    8 wet

  5. May

    56° / 36°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    66° / 42°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    74° / 49°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    74° / 49°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    68° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    58° / 37°

    4 wet

  11. Nov

    49° / 31°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    44° / 25°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 19 mi away at 7,020 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.

Magic Wall is a climbing area in the Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Quarter Day Dome about 0.1 mile away and Chilkoot Lake about 0.3 mile away, making it easy to pair with other routes in the same corner of the forest. The area offers a mix of trad and sport climbing, with 13 routes in total. Grades run from 5.9 up to 5.11d, and the median is 5.10c. Among the named routes are Aces, Straights and Flushes (5.9 trad), Hocus Pocus Arete (5.10b sport), and Whirlin Merlin (5.11d trad). The climbing is best suited to those comfortable with 5.10 and 5.11 grades. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the Huntington Lake weather station, about 19 miles away, show July and August highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only one or two wet days a month. Winter is much colder, with January highs around 43°F and lows near 24°F. For a break from the rock, the Beasore Trail and Central Trail are both about 2.5 miles away, and Gaggs Camp and Texas Flat offer camping within about 4 miles.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

TalonPhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Main Wall - Lower LeftPhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Wall - Lower Left

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High EaglePhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

High Eagle

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Enchanted Rock

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Enchanted Rock in California offers 11 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Fresno DomePhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fresno Dome

~8 min drive

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j. Hawk DomePhoto: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

j. Hawk Dome

~8 min drive

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CorduroyPhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Corduroy

~9 min drive

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Gold EaglePhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gold Eagle

~9 min drive

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Chilkoot Lake

~0 min drive

Chilkoot Lake in California has 9 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Forty Licks

~1 min drive

Forty Licks in California has 6 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad styles.