California · Rock climbing · Green Valley Lake

North Face (Upper)

North Face (Upper) in California has 10 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

10 routes
5.7 – 5.11a
Trad · Sport

Is North Face (Upper) open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name North Face (Upper), 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 (Upper)

Best months: May–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

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    51° / 27°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    57° / 31°

    4 wet

  5. May

    66° / 37°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    75° / 43°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 50°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    79° / 49°

    3 wet

  9. Sep

    73° / 44°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 35°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    53° / 28°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 24°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Bear Lake, CA, 7 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.

North Face (Upper) is a climbing area in California's San Bernardino National Forest, within the Mountaintop Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits about 0.1 mile from the North Face (Lower) climbing area and the Rock Craft (South Face) climbing area, making it part of a cluster of crags in this corner of the forest. The climbing here runs from about 5.7 to 5.11a on the YDS scale, with seven traditional routes and three sport routes among the 10 routes listed. Some of the more notable ones are Smelly Bush Crack at 5.7, Yellowman at 5.10b and Reggae Calypso at 5.11a, the hardest grade in the area. For timing, summer is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from the nearby Big Bear Lake weather station, which sits about 1,100 feet lower, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 50°F and only about two wet days. Winter there averages highs near 46°F. Several other spots are within a few miles. Green Valley campground is about 1.5 miles away, Little Green Valley is a hike at about 1.7 miles and Green Valley Lake, a fishing spot, is about 2.4 miles off.

Routes (10)