California · Rock climbing · Kyburz

Phantom Wall

Phantom Wall in California has 5 climbing routes on mixed, sport, and trad.

5 routes
5.10a – 5.11c
Trad · Mixed · Sport

Is Phantom Wall 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 Phantom Wall

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, 15.4 mi away at 6,314 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. 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

Phantom Wall is a climbing area in the Placerville Ranger District of Eldorado National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of spires, with Lower Spire and Middle Spire each about 0.1 mile away. 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 only about two wet days a month, while winter highs hover near 43°F with lows in the teens. The Pony Express Trail is about 0.7 mile away, and the South Fork American River offers canoeing about 1.6 miles off. For an overnight stay, China Flat Campground is about 2.6 miles away.

Routes (5)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Middle SpirePhoto: Ben Chun, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Middle Spire

~0 min drive

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Phantom SpiresPhoto: Ben Chun, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Phantom Spires

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Upper SpirePhoto: Ben Chun, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Spire

~0 min drive

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East FacePhoto: cogdogblog, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Face

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Sugarloaf AreaPhoto: cogdogblog, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Campground BouldersPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Dear John ButtressPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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South FacePhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~10 min drive

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Lower ButtressPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Buttress

~10 min drive

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Lover's LeapPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~10 min drive

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