California · Rock climbing · Pinecrest

Pinecrest Lake Buttress

Pinecrest Lake Buttress in California has 6 climbing routes with sport and trad options.

6 routes
5.8 – 5.10b
Trad · Sport

Is Pinecrest Lake Buttress open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Pinecrest Lake Buttress, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Best time to visit Pinecrest Lake Buttress

Best months: May–June and September–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

    49° / 31°

    10 wet · 5 snow

  2. Feb

    51° / 31°

    10 wet · 5 snow

  3. Mar

    55° / 33°

    10 wet · 5 snow

  4. Apr

    61° / 37°

    8 wet · 2 snow

  5. May

    70° / 44°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  6. Jun

    80° / 51°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    89° / 58°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    89° / 57°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    82° / 53°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 44°

    4 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 36°

    7 wet · 2 snow

  12. Dec

    49° / 31°

    9 wet · 4 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cherry Valley Dam, CA, 15.4 mi away at 4,765 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Pinecrest Lake Buttress is a climbing area in the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the forest's boundaries and is the anchor of a cluster of destinations in the Pinecrest Lake area. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically May and October, when typical highs reach about 70°F and the weather is relatively dry, based on averages from a nearby weather station. That station sits well below the buttress, so temperatures up high run cooler. Summer is hot, with typical highs in the upper 80s. Pinecrest Lake N.R.T. lies about 0.3 miles away and Pinecrest Peak about 0.5 miles. Pinecrest campground is roughly 0.9 miles off, and the Pinecrest Lake climbing area is about a mile away.

Routes (6)