California · Rock climbing · Springville

The Needles

Needles, The in California has 13 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering bouldering, mixed, and trad styles.

13 routes
5.7 – 5.13b
Trad · Bouldering · Mixed

Is Needles, The open right now?

Closure in the area

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

The Needles is a climbing area in California's Sequoia National Forest, within the Western Divide Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits in a cluster of climbing spots. The Magician lies about half a mile away and The Charlatan about 0.6 miles, so the Needles pairs easily with those nearby. Thirteen routes make up the area, and they run from trad climbing at 5.7 up to 5.13b. The bouldering is a smaller part of the mix, with two routes at V3-4. A few of the named routes include Middle Dihedral at 5.7, Yellow Brick Road at 5.9+, and Pyromania at 5.13b. For a change from the rock, Needles Lookout is about a mile away and Needles Creek-Needles Camp about 1.6 miles. Quaking Aspen campground and Quaking Aspen Cabin are roughly 3 miles off.