California · Rock climbing · Crowley Lake

Magnus Pillar

Magnus Pillar in California has 9 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering sport and trad options.

9 routes
5.8 – 5.11c
Trad · Sport

Is Magnus Pillar 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 Magnus Pillar

Best months: May–September. 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

    41° / 17°

  2. Feb

    41° / 18°

  3. Mar

    45° / 22°

  4. Apr

    51° / 27°

  5. May

    60° / 35°

  6. Jun

    70° / 42°

  7. Jul

    78° / 49°

  8. Aug

    77° / 47°

  9. Sep

    71° / 40°

  10. Oct

    61° / 30°

  11. Nov

    49° / 23°

  12. Dec

    41° / 17°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 16.5 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.

Magnus Pillar is a climbing area in the White Mountain Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Granny Slab and Solstice Wall each about 0.1 mile away. The area has nine routes, eight of which are trad and one sport. Grades run from 5.8 up to 5.11c, with The Magnus at 5.10c and Omaha Stylee, the sport route, at 5.11c. The Long Haired Boy is the easiest at 5.8. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F and lows near 49°F, while winter highs sit around 41°F. That station sits about 1,600 feet lower than the pillar, so temperatures here run cooler. Big Meadow Campground is about 0.6 mile away, and Palisade Group Campground is about 0.8 mile away. The Upper Rock Creek Canyon Trail starts about 0.9 mile off, and the East Fork Ski Loop is about 1.3 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive