California · Rock climbing · Inyokern

Middle Cliff

Middle Cliff in California offers 8 sport climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

8 routes
5.9 – 5.11c/d
Sport

Is Middle Cliff open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sequoia National Forest. It doesn't name Middle Cliff, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Best time to visit Middle Cliff

Best months: February–May and October–November. 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

    61° / 31°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    63° / 33°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 36°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    72° / 40°

    4 wet

  5. May

    80° / 48°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    91° / 56°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    99° / 63°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    98° / 62°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    92° / 56°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    81° / 46°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    69° / 36°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    60° / 31°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Kern River Ph 3, CA, 2.9 mi away at 2,703 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Middle Cliff is a climbing area in the Kern River Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, with Rusty Nail Area, New Directions and Nowhere Man all about 0.1 mile away. Chico Flat campground is 0.3 mile off, making it the closest place to camp. The climbing here is all sport, with eight routes spread across a range from 5.9 to 5.11c/d. The easiest are Kawasaki Kingdom and Tantalum at 5.9, and the hardest is Argentum at 5.11c/d. Kernville Chopper and The Kern Mantle sit in the middle at 5.10b and 5.10c. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 80°F and October highs around 81°F, while July and August average near 99°F. That station sits about 586 feet lower than the cliff, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. For more time in the area, Baker Point is a hike about 3.9 miles away, and the Kern River Ranger District offers river fishing roughly 4.9 miles out.

Routes (8)

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