California · Rock climbing · Soda Springs

Psycho Killer

The hardest climb catalogued at Cuckoo's Nest.

5.12c
grade
Sport Bolted
style

Is Psycho Killer open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Tahoe National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Psycho Killer

Best months: June–August. 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

    40° / 15°

  2. Feb

    41° / 15°

  3. Mar

    48° / 19°

  4. Apr

    53° / 22°

  5. May

    62° / 28°

  6. Jun

    72° / 32°

  7. Jul

    80° / 37°

  8. Aug

    79° / 35°

  9. Sep

    73° / 31°

  10. Oct

    61° / 24°

  11. Nov

    49° / 20°

  12. Dec

    39° / 14°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sagehen Creek, CA, 8.3 mi away at 6,337 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.

This route represents the upper limit of difficulty at Cuckoo's Nest, where eight climbs have been catalogued across a range from 5.9 to 5.12c.

Photo of the crag

Cuckoo's Nest — the crag this route is on
Cuckoo's Nest, California — this photo shows the crag, not this individual route.Photo: donner summit historical society, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The PerchPhoto: Dana L. Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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East FacePhoto: Jonathan Fox, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Local businesses nearby

Outfitters and businesses near Soda Springs. They haven’t set up their Roamze page yet.

Alpenglow Expeditions

Rock Climbing business nearby (~10 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet

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