California · Rock climbing · South Lake Tahoe

Old Peculiar

Old Peculiar in California has 8 climbing routes with mixed and traditional styles.

Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

8 routes

5.7 – 5.11c

Mixed · Trad

Is Old Peculiar open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It doesn't name Old Peculiar, so check the source for the area it covers.

Harmful Algal Blooms
Agency closure covering Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit · USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Desolation Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage (Bear Canister) Restriction
Agency alert covering Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit · Order 19-25-06 · USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Meyers Landfill Area Closure
Agency alert covering Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit · Order 19-25-01 · USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit · Order 19-24-04 · USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Camping/Overnight Stay Restriction
Agency alert covering Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit · Order 19-24-05 · USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

As of Oct 24, 8:05 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Old Peculiar

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
36° / 23°
9 wet
Feb
37° / 23°
8 wet
Mar
42° / 26°
7 wet
Apr
48° / 29°
5 wet
May
56° / 35°
4 wet
Jun
66° / 42°
2 wet
Jul
75° / 49°
2 wet
Aug
74° / 49°
1 wet
Sep
67° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
55° / 36°
3 wet
Nov
43° / 28°
5 wet
Dec
35° / 23°
7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 13.2 mi away at 7,334 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Old Peculiar is a climbing area in California's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, managed by the Forest Service. It sits alongside Gangsta Wall and Billy Land, both climbing areas about 0.1 mile away, making it easy to pair with a second route in a single visit. The climbing here runs from moderate to challenging, with eight routes in total. Five are mixed, and three are trad, and the grades range from 5.7 to 5.11c. Some of the better-known routes include Old Peculiar at 5.8 and Freon at 5.11c. The area's namesake route, Old Peculiar, was first climbed by Mike Corbett and Bill and Charlene Suniuk in 1979. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. A nearby weather station at Dagget Pass records typical July highs around 75°F with lows near 49°F, and July and August see only about one or two wet days a month. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 36°F and lows near 23°F. For time off the rock, Saucer Lake Trail starts about 0.4 mile away, and Triangle Lateral Trail is about a mile off. Paddlers can head to the Upper Truckee River, about 3.5 miles away, and Lovers Leap Campground is about 5 miles away.