California · Rock climbing · Lee Vining

Quaking Aspen Wall

Quaking Aspen Wall in California has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades.

Quaking Aspen WallPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
7 routes
5.9 – 5.11c
Sport · Trad

Is Quaking Aspen Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Quaking Aspen Wall

Best months: June–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

    41° / 13°

  2. Feb

    38° / 12°

  3. Mar

    42° / 15°

  4. Apr

    45° / 22°

  5. May

    54° / 27°

  6. Jun

    65° / 33°

  7. Jul

    71° / 38°

  8. Aug

    70° / 36°

  9. Sep

    65° / 32°

  10. Oct

    57° / 26°

  11. Nov

    47° / 20°

  12. Dec

    40° / 12°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 7.8 mi away at 8,694 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Quaking Aspen Wall is a climbing area in California's Inyo National Forest, within the Mono Lake Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the wall sits among several other climbing spots in this corner of the forest. The climbing here runs from about 5.9 up to 5.11c, with sport routes making up the bulk of the options. Quaking Aspen is a trad route at 5.9, and the hardest is Double Cream, Double Sugar at 5.11c. Other routes include Hummingbird and Makayla's Fantastic Climb, both 5.10b, and Butterfly at 5.11a. The Gold Wall and Tioga Wall are also about a tenth of a mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows, at a similar elevation, run from highs around 71°F in July to about 65°F in September, with lows in the mid-30s. The closest neighbors are the Tioga Cliff Area (also called Private Property) and Tioga Wall, each about 0.1 mile away. Warren Fork Trail is about 0.7 mile off, and Ellery Campground is roughly a mile away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Tioga Cliff Area (aka Private Property)Photo: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tioga Cliff Area (aka Private Property)

~0 min drive

Tioga Cliff Area (aka Private Property) is a sport climbing crag in California with 1 route.

The Gold WallPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Gold Wall

~0 min drive

Gold Wall in California has 9 climbing routes ranging from moderate to hard difficulty.

Tioga WallPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tioga Wall

~0 min drive

Tioga Wall in California has 17 climbing routes across 11 grades.

The SphinxPhoto: Allie_Caulfield, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Sphinx

~1 min drive

Sphinx, The in California has 7 climbing routes with 5 difficulty grades.

Dinosaur CragPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dinosaur Crag

~1 min drive

Dinosaur Crag in California has 9 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Demonology Cliff BandPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Demonology Cliff Band

~1 min drive

13-route climbing crag in California with mixed and trad climbing.

Ellery Dam Spillway CragPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ellery Dam Spillway Crag

~1 min drive

Ellery Dam Spillway Crag in California has 12 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

Just Another Social Distancing CragPhoto: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Just Another Social Distancing Crag

~1 min drive

5 climbing routes in California, 4 difficulty grades, alpine no fixed protection.

Lee Vining Canyon / Tioga RoadPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lee Vining Canyon / Tioga Road

~1 min drive

Lee Vining Canyon / Tioga Road in California has 19 climbing routes across 10 grades in alpine no fixed, mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Transpire WallPhoto: zoxcleb, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Transpire Wall

~2 min drive

Transpire Wall in California has 11 climbing routes across 8 grades.