California · Rock climbing · Running Springs

North Face

North Face in California has 5 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

5 routes
5.7 – 5.11b
Sport · Trad

Is North Face open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name North Face, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit North Face

Best months: April–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.

  1. Jan

    44° / 29°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  2. Feb

    45° / 30°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  3. Mar

    52° / 32°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    60° / 36°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    67° / 41°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    76° / 49°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    81° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    82° / 57°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    74° / 52°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 43°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    52° / 34°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    43° / 29°

    5 wet · 1 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Arrowhead, CA, 5.5 mi away at 5,205 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

North Face is a climbing area in the Mountaintop Ranger District of San Bernardino National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations in the high country of the forest. The most comfortable months for a visit are summer and early fall. Typical averages from the Lake Arrowhead weather station, about 5.5 miles away, show July and August highs in the low 80s with lows in the upper 50s, while winter brings highs in the low to mid 40s and a few snowy days each month. The closest neighbor is Deep Creek Narrows, a climbing area just 0.1 mile away. Running Springs Area is about 1.1 miles off, and the Exploration Trail and Arrowbear Lake, roughly 1 mile and 1.4 miles away, offer hiking and fishing.

Routes (5)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Running Springs Area

~2 min drive

Running Springs Area in California has 10 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

Escuelita Rock

~2 min drive

Escuelita Rock in California has 5 climbing routes with sport and trad options.

School Rock - West Face

~2 min drive

School Rock - West Face in California has 8 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades.

School Rock (aka Eagle Eye Rock)

~2 min drive

School Rock (Eagle Eye Rock) in California has 5 routes across 4 grades, offering bouldering and trad climbing.

(a) Morning Wall

~3 min drive

Morning Wall in California has 5 climbing routes.

Lower Dinosaur Rock - N. Face

~3 min drive

Lower Dinosaur Rock - N. Face in California has 8 climbing routes across 6 grades.

Lower Dinosaur Rock

~3 min drive

Lower Dinosaur Rock in California has 1 route with alpine no fixed protection.

Lower Dinosaur Rock - W. Face

~3 min drive

Lower Dinosaur Rock - W. Face has 8 climbing routes in California.

Upper Dinosaur Rock - North Face

~3 min drive

Upper Dinosaur Rock - North Face in California has 6 climbing routes.

Upper Dinosaur Rock

~3 min drive

Upper Dinosaur Rock in California has 3 climbing routes with bouldering pads and alpine no fixed protection.