California · Rock climbing · Big Meadow

Main Formation Upper Wall

Main Formation Upper Wall in California has 7 bouldering routes across 3 grades.

7 routes
V0 – V2
Bouldering

Is Main Formation Upper Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Main Formation Upper Wall, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Best time to visit Main Formation Upper Wall

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

    43° / 18°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    43° / 19°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    48° / 24°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    53° / 28°

    8 wet

  5. May

    62° / 33°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    72° / 38°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 43°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 41°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 35°

    3 wet

  10. Oct

    62° / 29°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 23°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    43° / 18°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 33.9 mi away at 6,314 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Main Formation Upper Wall is a bouldering area in the Calaveras Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits about 0.1 mile from the Main Formation North Wall and the Big Meadow Campground, which makes it easy to pair with those destinations in one visit. The climbing here is all bouldering, with seven routes spread across the wall. The grades run from V0 to V2, with the Caterpillar Crack Left and Caterpillar Crack Right at the top end. The Flake series of boulders, all V0, is the easiest place to start. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the low 40s and only about two wet days a month. Winter is much colder, with highs in the low 40s and lows near 18°F. Big Meadow Campground is the closest place to camp, about 0.2 mile away. Sand Flat is about 1.5 miles off, and the 7N01G SNOW TRAIL hike is about 2 miles away. Paddlers can reach the North Fork Stanislaus River, roughly 4.9 miles from the wall.

Routes (7)