California · Rock climbing · Lone Pine

Moonshine Pillar

Moonshine Pillar in California has 6 climbing routes across 3 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Moonshine PillarPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6 routes
5.7 – 5.8
Sport · Trad

Best time to visit Moonshine Pillar

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

    58° / 30°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    61° / 33°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    69° / 39°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    76° / 44°

    1 wet

  5. May

    85° / 53°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    96° / 62°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    102° / 67°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    101° / 65°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    93° / 58°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    81° / 48°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    67° / 36°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    57° / 29°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Independence, CA, 14.1 mi away at 3,950 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Moonshine Pillar is a climbing area in California on Bureau of Land Management land within the Bishop Field Office. It sits in a cluster of climbing spots, with The Poodle Wall and Hillbilly Pillar both about 0.1 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Independence run to highs around 76°F in April and 81°F in October, while July highs average about 102°F. The area has six routes, with five of them sport climbs and one, Kettle Corn, a trad climb. Grades range from 5.7 to 5.8, with 200 Proof and Kettle Corn both at 5.7. The Arch Loop Trail is about 0.6 mile away, and Tuttle Creek Campground is about 2.6 miles off.

Routes (6)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The Poodle WallPhoto: hesyifei, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Poodle Wall

~0 min drive

Poodle Wall, The in California has 7 climbing routes in mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Hillbilly PillarPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hillbilly Pillar

~0 min drive

Hillbilly Pillar in California has 5 sport climbing routes ranging across 5 difficulty grades.

Cattle Pocket and Corridors AreaPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cattle Pocket and Corridors Area

~0 min drive

Cattle Pocket and Corridors Area in California has 2 climbing routes.

The Cattle PocketPhoto: hakkun, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Cattle Pocket

~0 min drive

Cattle Pocket, The in California has 17 climbing routes across 11 grades.

Paul's ParadisePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Paul's Paradise

~0 min drive

Paul's Paradise in California has 3 climbing routes ranging over 2 difficulty grades.

Paul's BackyardPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Paul's Backyard

~0 min drive

Paul's Backyard in California has 19 climbing routes ranging across 9 difficulty grades.

Zoo WallPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Zoo Wall

~0 min drive

Zoo Wall in California offers 7 climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades, featuring mixed and traditional styles.

Dinosaur CracksPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dinosaur Cracks

~0 min drive

Dinosaur Cracks in California has 5 trad routes across 3 difficulty grades.

Sunday Matinee WallPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sunday Matinee Wall

~0 min drive

Sunday Matinee Wall in California has 18 climbing routes with 10 difficulty grades.

The CorridorsPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Corridors

~0 min drive

Corridors, The is a climbing area in California with 6 routes.