California · Rock climbing · Twin Bridges

North Face

North Face in California has 11 traditional climbing routes across 7 grades.

North FacePhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
11 routes
5.5 – 5.10d
Trad

Is North Face open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit North Face

Best months: May–September. 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

    43° / 18°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    43° / 19°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    48° / 24°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    53° / 28°

    8 wet

  5. May

    62° / 33°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    72° / 38°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 43°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 41°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 35°

    3 wet

  10. Oct

    62° / 29°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 23°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    43° / 18°

    10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 10 mi away at 6,314 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

    Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

North Face is a climbing area in the Placerville Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, on land managed by the Forest Service. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at South Lake Tahoe show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the low 40s, and only about two wet days a month. Winter highs there sit in the low 40s, with lows near 18°F. South Face and the Pyramid Peak Trail lie about 0.2 miles away, and East Wall is about 0.3 miles off. Lovers Leap Campground is about half a mile away for an overnight stay.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive