North of the Ridge
North of the Ridge in California has 9 traditional climbing routes across 8 grades.
- 9 routes
- 5.5 – 5.12a
- Trad
Is North of the Ridge open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name North of the Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers.
Radford Fire Closure Area
Agency closure covering Mountaintop Ranger District · Order 05-12-52-24-06 · USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District
Safety Alert - Falling Rocks at Bonita Falls
Agency alert covering San Bernardino National Forest · USFS · San Bernardino National Forest
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering San Bernardino National Forest · Order 05-12-00-26-05 · USFS · San Bernardino National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Mountaintop Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit North of the Ridge
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.
Jan
46° / 24°
6 wet
Feb
46° / 24°
6 wet
Mar
51° / 27°
6 wet
Apr
57° / 31°
4 wet
May
66° / 37°
2 wet
Jun
75° / 43°
1 wet
Jul
80° / 50°
2 wet
Aug
79° / 49°
3 wet
Sep
73° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
63° / 35°
2 wet
Nov
53° / 28°
3 wet
Dec
46° / 24°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Bear Lake, CA, 7.1 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 of the Ridge 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 spots, with (b) 5.8 Wall and (d) Rock Links both about 0.1 mile away. The area has nine trad routes, ranging from 5.5 to 5.12a. The easiest is "44" at 5.5, and the hardest is Tantrum (aka 24) at 5.12a. The median grade is 5.8, so the climbing here is mostly in the 5.7 to 5.9 range. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. 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. Winter is much colder, with highs in the mid-40s and lows in the mid-20s. Green Valley campground is about 1.4 miles away, and Little Green Valley is a hike about 1.6 miles off. Green Valley Lake, about 2.3 miles away, offers fishing, and Arrowbear Lake is about 3.3 miles away.
Routes (9)
(a) Building Block Rock(1)
(c) Grain Top Pinnacle(1)
(d) Party Wall(4)
(e) West Velveeta Point(3)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
(d) Rock Links
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Rock Links is a climbing area in California with 5 routes.
(f) East Velveeta Point
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East Velveeta Point in California has 6 routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
South of the Ridge
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South of the Ridge in California has 21 climbing routes across 10 grades.
(g) Shorty
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Shorty is a California climbing crag with 6 trad routes on 4 difficulty grades.
(h) Old Crafts Tit
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Old Crafts Tit in California has 10 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
(k) Untch Rock
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Untch Rock in California has 18 climbing routes across 9 grades, featuring sport and trad styles.
(l) Snatch Zone
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Snatch Zone in California has 9 routes with sport and trad climbing options.
North Face (Lower)
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North Face (Lower) in California has 9 trad routes across 7 difficulty grades.
Rock Craft (South Face)
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Rock Craft (South Face) in California has 7 climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.
North Face (Upper)
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North Face (Upper) in California has 10 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad styles.
