California · Rock climbing · Oakhurst

Main Wall

Main Wall in California has 15 climbing routes across 9 grades.

15 routes
5.8 – 5.11b
Trad · Sport

Is Main Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Main 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 Main 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, 23.4 mi away at 7,020 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Main Wall is a climbing area in California's Sierra National Forest, within the Bass Lake Ranger District and managed by the Forest Service. Two other climbing areas, J. Hawk Dome and Fresno Dome, sit just 0.1 mile away, making this a cluster of crags rather than a single objective. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Huntington Lake, at a similar elevation, 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 highs in the mid-40s. The area offers a range of routes. There are 15 in total, with grades from 5.8 up to 5.11b. Nine are traditional routes and six are sport routes. Among them are Crossroads (5.8, trad) and Chicken Hawk (5.10a, sport), and Kung Fu Down Under (5.10b, trad) and Close Call (5.11b, trad) are on the harder end. Kelty Meadow campground is about a mile away, and Sky Trail is 1.4 miles off. For paddling, Big Creek is about 4.5 miles away.

Routes (15)

My Pussy HurtsFA: Mike A.5.10-Chicken HawkFA: Jerry, Sigrid and Lynnea Anderson5.10aSplit PersonalityFA: Jerry and Sigrid Andersen (2010)5.10aChicken Fried DaddyFA: Jerry, Sigrid, Lynnea Andersen. Csuri Odrey, Zac Gonslaves5.10bKung Fu Down UnderFA: Grahm Doe 2-20205.10bZsofie's RouteFA: Andersons with Csuri Odrey, 20015.10bUnnamed 10b/cFA: Albert Nugue5.10b/cOB/GYNFA: Mike Arechiga/Brad Watson5.11aYou aren't bragging if you can't do itFA: Jerry and Sigrid (2007)5.11a2HPFA: Albert Nugue & Jerry Anderson, 20075.11bAye Corona!FA: Grahm Doe 5-20205.11bClose CallFA: Grahm Doe 2-20205.11bCrossroadsFA: Jerry and Sigrid Anderson (2006)5.8Bottoms Up, Tops DownFA: Jerry and Sigrid Anderson, late 1990s5.9Myst DefyingFA: Grahm Doe, Leo Miner 3-2020 Ground Up5.9+

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