California · Rock climbing · Twin Bridges

Main Wall

Main Wall in California has 30 climbing routes across 20 difficulty grades.

Main WallPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
30 routes
5.7 – 5.13b
Trad · Sport

Is Main Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Main 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, 10.2 mi away at 6,314 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

    Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

Main Wall is a climbing area in the Placerville Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with the West Wall and Lower Buttress both about 0.1 mile away, and the Climber's Descent Trail right next to it. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at South Lake Tahoe show July and August highs around 80°F with only about two wet days a month, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. Lovers Leap Campground and Lovers Leap Cg & Day Use are about 0.3 mile away, and Pyramid Peak Trail is about 0.6 mile off. For paddling, Strawberry Creek is roughly 2.8 miles away.

Routes (30)

North CountryFA: Charley Jones, Victor Marcus, Jim Orey, C Stanborough, 19755.10Wall FlowerFA: Paul Crawford, Jay Smith, Bill Todd 19765.10Absolutely BillyFA: Petch5.10aCheap ShotFA: Jay Smith, Paul Crawford (1982)5.10aCrash Landing5.10aEeyore's EnigmaFA: Warren Harding, TM Herbert & Galen Rowell, 1969 FFA: Jim Orey et al., 19735.10aStem MeisterFA: Will Cottrell and John Robinson5.10aDragon BackFA: Bruce Runmals, Al Swanson, 19895.10bEpitaphFA: Paul Obanheim, Brian Harrington, Chris Bay, 19855.10cTombstone TerrorFA: Anderson, Miller, Smith, and Sumner 19765.10cPurple HazeFA: Richard Harrison and Jay Smith, 19775.10dUnder The Big TopFA: Karl McConachie, Jay Smith (1981)5.10dBoot HillFA: Paul Crawford, Paul Obanheim and Jay Smith, 19845.11Power LustFA: Steve Glotfelty, J. Arnold5.11-Yankee DogFA: Mark Nicholas, 19965.11+Cross Town Traffic5.11aNorth Face Route5.11aAbsolutely BrilliantFA: John Robinson and Tom Leksan5.11bDeadpool5.11cFreak ShowFA: Jay Smith5.11c/dBatmans NightmareFA: Dan Osman (1989)5.12R.I.P.FA: J. Arnold, A. Grady5.12aThunder StruckFA: Jay Smith5.12a/bSilly Willy CrackFA: Bill Price, 1982.5.12cTravelin' ManFA: Charlie Barrett5.13bCorrugation CornerFA: K. Edsburg et al., 1960's5.7Eeyore's EcstacyFA: FFA Al McDonald and Steve Roper 19595.7Blue CabFA: Blue Blocker, Taxi Dave 20035.9Traveler ButtressFA: Dick long, Al Steck, 19655.9Clown CarFA: Dave Stallard, Mike McLaughlin5.9-

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