California · Rock climbing · South Lake Tahoe

Mayhem Cove

Mayhem Cove in California features 32 sport climbing routes across 16 difficulty grades.

Mayhem CovePhoto: radicalespresso, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
32 routes
5.9 – 5.13a/b
Sport

Is Mayhem Cove open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It doesn't name Mayhem Cove, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Mayhem Cove

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

    37° / 22°

  2. Feb

    38° / 22°

  3. Mar

    43° / 25°

  4. Apr

    49° / 27°

  5. May

    58° / 34°

  6. Jun

    69° / 40°

  7. Jul

    77° / 46°

  8. Aug

    76° / 46°

  9. Sep

    69° / 41°

  10. Oct

    58° / 34°

  11. Nov

    44° / 27°

  12. Dec

    38° / 21°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 7.4 mi away at 6,315 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Mayhem Cove is a sport climbing area in California's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within a cluster of climbing and hiking close to the Eagle Falls trail, and its sport routes range from about 5.9 to 5.13. The most comfortable months for a visit are July and August, when typical averages at a nearby weather station run from about 76 to 77°F for highs and 46°F for lows. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the cove, so temperatures at the crag itself run slightly cooler. The area has 32 routes, all sport, with grades from 5.9 up to 5.13. Notable climbs include Car Jacker (5.9), Black Rain (5.13a) and Kyle's Face (5.13). The 90 Foot Wall and Eagle Creek Canyon climbing areas are both within a few tenths of a mile. Eagle Falls Vista and the Eagle Falls trail are just 0.1 mile away. Bayview Campground is about a mile off, and Fallen Leaf Campground is roughly 4 miles away.

Routes (32)

PhallucyFA: Kenny Thompson 19935.10a/bDiamondFA: Art Sable, Dave Nettle, Jim Howle, 19905.10bCubic ZarconiaFA: Dave Griffith, Dave Hatchett?5.10cPhysical Evidence5.10dSkullduggery5.11aThe Guillotine DirectFA: Todd Worsfold 875.11aA Florida Man...FA: Sean Haverstock5.11bDWI5.11bRiddlerFA: T. Worsfold 19905.11b/cTemporary InsanityFA: Kenny Thompson 19935.11b/cMalice in ChainsFA: Dan Osman5.11cMutilated CorpsesFA: Geoff Maliska5.11cOverkill5.11cIndecent ExposureFA: Kenny Thompson 19935.12-Disturbing the Priest5.12aFatal AttractionFA: Paul Crawford 895.12aMandatory Suicide5.12aThe Coroner5.12aHuntin' GatorFA: Dan Osman & Paul Crawford, 19895.12bIndia InkFA: Paul Crawford5.12bPsycho IIFA: Dave Griffith5.12bDrinkin' White LightningFA: Dan Osman, 19895.12cTar Babies5.12cVerbal AbuseFA: Paul Crawford and Dan Osman5.12cKyle's Face5.13Black RainFA: Mike Lechlinski and Tom Gilje5.13aCajun HellFA: Dan Osman, 19905.13aGator Bait5.13aJumboliaFA: Paul Crawford5.13aSlander5.13aVerbal Lighting5.13a/bCar JackerFA: Dan Osman, Paul Crawford,Kenny Thompson and Geoff Maliska5.9

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