Milky Way Wall
Milky Way Wall in California has 8 trad climbing routes across 6 grades.
- 8 routes
- 5.8 – 5.10d
- Trad
Is Milky Way Wall open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Milky Way Wall, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).
Safety Tips for Burned Areas: Garnet Fire Area
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-03 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Food and Refuse Storage
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-02 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Forest Order removes Fish Camp, Soda Springs, and Little Jackass from closure list
Agency alert covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-11 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-09 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Sierra National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Milky Way Wall
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.
Jan
43° / 24°
11 wet
Feb
44° / 23°
11 wet
Mar
46° / 26°
10 wet
Apr
50° / 29°
8 wet
May
56° / 36°
6 wet
Jun
66° / 42°
3 wet
Jul
74° / 49°
2 wet
Aug
74° / 49°
1 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
58° / 37°
4 wet
Nov
49° / 31°
8 wet
Dec
44° / 25°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 12.4 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Milky Way Wall is a climbing area in the Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing destinations, which makes it easy to pair with another objective on a single trip. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Huntington Lake weather station put July and August highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only a day or two of wet weather each month. Winters there are cold, with January highs around 43°F and lows near 24°F. Big Sleep Area is just 0.3 miles away, and Eagle Beaks, The is about 0.7 miles off. For a hike, Shuteye Pass is roughly a mile away. Whisky Falls Campground lies about 3.3 miles from the wall.
Routes (8)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
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The Eagle Beaks
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