California · Rock climbing · Apple Valley

Middle Earth

Middle Earth in California has 17 climbing routes across 12 grades.

17 routes
5.6 – 5.12a
Sport · Bouldering

Best time to visit Middle Earth

Best months: October–May. 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

    58° / 33°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    61° / 36°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 40°

    4 wet

  4. Apr

    73° / 44°

    2 wet

  5. May

    81° / 51°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    91° / 58°

    0 wet

  7. Jul

    98° / 64°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    97° / 63°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    91° / 58°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    79° / 47°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    67° / 38°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    57° / 32°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Victorville, CA, 10 mi away at 2,880 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Middle Earth is a climbing area in California on Bureau of Land Management land within the Barstow Field Office. It sits among several other climbing areas, including The Owl, Northeast side and West Side, all about 0.1 mile away, and Hercules' Foot, which makes it easy to string together a day of climbing on the same crag. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Victorville show April highs around 73°F and October highs around 79°F, while July and August average in the upper 90s. That station sits about 1,000 feet lower than the crag, so temperatures here run cooler. The area has 17 routes, mostly sport climbing with grades from 5.6 up to 5.12a. The boulder route is V1. Among the sport routes are Jay's Revenge at 5.6, Walla Walla at 5.11a and Palm Nailer at 5.12a. For a change from the rock, Bass Hill Trail and Farly Mine Trail are both about 6 miles away, and Chimney Rock Loop is roughly 9 miles off.

Routes (17)