California · Rock climbing · Mammoth Lakes

McLeod Lake

McLeod Lake in California offers 12 sport climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

12 routes
5.4 – 5.11b
Sport

Is McLeod Lake 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 McLeod Lake

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

    41° / 17°

  2. Feb

    41° / 18°

  3. Mar

    45° / 22°

  4. Apr

    51° / 27°

  5. May

    60° / 35°

  6. Jun

    70° / 42°

  7. Jul

    78° / 49°

  8. Aug

    77° / 47°

  9. Sep

    71° / 40°

  10. Oct

    61° / 30°

  11. Nov

    49° / 23°

  12. Dec

    41° / 17°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 4.6 mi away at 7,804 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.

McLeod Lake is a climbing area in the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and riding spots, with the Mammoth Pass Cutoff mountain bike trail just 0.2 miles away and the Sunshine Wall and Labor Wall climbing areas each about 0.3 miles off. The climbing here is all sport, with 12 routes spread across a range from 5.4 to 5.11b. The easiest is Fun-gi at 5.4, and the hardest is The Gathering at 5.11b. The Quickening, at 5.10b/c, is another of the more challenging options. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes run to highs around 78°F in July and 77°F in August, with lows in the upper 40s. That station sits roughly 1,500 feet below the lake, so temperatures at McLeod Lake run cooler. Lake George Campground and Lake Mary Campground are both within about a mile and a half, and the Rim Trail is 0.4 miles away.

Routes (12)

Slap and TickleFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 14th August 20085.10aUp The JunctionFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 14th August 20085.10aCool For CatsFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 14th August 20085.10bHighlanderFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 14th August 20085.10b/cThe QuickeningFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 12th August 20085.10b/cKilt LifterFA: Chris Miller, September 2008; First Lead Euan Cameron, 19th August 20125.10cThe GatheringFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 12th August 20085.11bFun-giFA: Euan Cameron, Michael Cameron, Alex Cameron, Julie Wright, 17th August 20095.4No ApplauseFA: Julie Wright, Euan Cameron, 17th August 20095.5On the Count of ThreeFA: Euan Cameron, Alex Cameron, Julie Wright, Michael Cameron, 17th August 20095.6ImmortalFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 14th August 20085.8Time For TeaFA: Euan Cameron and Julie Wright, 17th August 20095.8

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