California · Rock climbing · Swall Meadows

McCracken Wall

McCracken Wall in California features 7 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

McCracken WallPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
7 routes
5.8 – 5.12a
Sport

Is McCracken Wall 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 McCracken Wall

Best months: April–May and 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

    56° / 24°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    59° / 26°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 31°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    74° / 37°

    2 wet

  5. May

    83° / 44°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    94° / 51°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    100° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    98° / 54°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    90° / 47°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    78° / 37°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    64° / 27°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 22°

    3 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bishop Ap, CA, 15.8 mi away at 4,102 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.

McCracken Wall is a climbing area in the White Mountain Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California, on land managed by the city. It sits among other climbing spots, with Supreme Wizard Formation and P.T. Barnum Wall both about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is all sport routes, with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.12a. Party On Sean is the easiest at 5.8, and Micro Pete is the hardest at 5.12a. Ego Unchained and Party Pooper fall in the 5.10 range. The first ascents are listed for each of these routes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bishop show April highs around 74°F and October highs around 78°F, while July highs reach about 100°F. That station sits roughly 1,450 feet lower than the wall, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Lower Rock Creek Trail, Section 3, is about 2.4 miles away for a hike, and Sand Canyon offers mountain biking about 3.8 miles off. Tuff Campground and Holiday Campground, both within about 6 miles, are the closest places to camp.

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