California · Rock climbing · Big Bear City

Pinnacles East

Pinnacles East in California has 3 sport climbing routes on 2 difficulty grades.

3 routes
5.10c – 5.11a
Sport

Is Pinnacles East open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Pinnacles East, 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 Pinnacles East

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, 4.9 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 700 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.

Pinnacles East 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 right beside the East Crags and Delancey Rock climbing areas, both about a tenth of a mile away. The climbing here is sport, with all three routes rated in the 5.10c to 5.11a range. The City Block and Harlem Shuffle are both 5.10c, and Turn and Face the Music is 5.11a. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Big Bear Lake weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 50°F. That station sits about 700 feet lower than the area, so temperatures on the crag run a bit cooler. For an overnight stay, Tanglewood Group Camp is about a mile away, and Holcomb Valley Ranch is about 2 miles out. Big Bear Lake Recreation Area is roughly 3 miles away for fishing.

Routes (3)