California · Rock climbing · Springville

The Needles / Kern River

Needles / Kern River, The is a 5-route climbing area in California with trad routes on 5 distinct difficulty grades.

5 routes
5.7 – 5.10+
Trad

Is Needles / Kern River, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sequoia National Forest. It doesn't name Needles / Kern River, The, 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 The Needles / Kern River

Best months: March–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

    51° / 27°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    55° / 29°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    62° / 34°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    69° / 39°

    2 wet

  5. May

    78° / 47°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    89° / 56°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    94° / 62°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    93° / 61°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    86° / 54°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    74° / 43°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    60° / 33°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    50° / 26°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Haiwee, CA, 32.2 mi away at 3,825 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.

The Needles / Kern River climbing area sits in the Western Divide Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest, on Forest Service land. It is a climbing destination rather than a route with a set distance or elevation gain. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 78°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. That station sits well below the area, so temperatures up high run cooler. Dome Rock, another climbing area, is about 2 miles away. Durwood Camp and Lower Peppermint campground are each a little over 2 miles off. Demon Dome is roughly 5 miles away.

Routes (5)

Trilogy Rock(1)

Jam Time5.8

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