California · Rock climbing · Lone Pine

Rock Candy Tower

Rock Candy Tower is a 7-route sport climbing area in California with routes spanning 6 difficulty grades.

Rock Candy TowerPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
7 routes
5.4 – 5.10d
Sport

Best time to visit Rock Candy Tower

Best months: February–May and October–November. 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

    58° / 30°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    61° / 33°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    69° / 39°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    76° / 44°

    1 wet

  5. May

    85° / 53°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    96° / 62°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    102° / 67°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    101° / 65°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    93° / 58°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    81° / 48°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    67° / 36°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    57° / 29°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Independence, CA, 15.7 mi away at 3,950 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.

Rock Candy Tower is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land in the Bishop Field Office of California, about 15 miles from Independence. It sits among a cluster of named climbing areas, with Tootsie Pop Tower and The Candy Store each about 0.1 mile away. The area is a sport climbing destination, with seven routes ranging from 5.4 to 5.10d. The easiest is Chiclets at 5.4, and the hardest is Ladyfinger at 5.10d. Kit Kat is 5.10a, and Rock Candy is also 5.10d. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Independence show April highs around 76°F and October highs around 81°F, while July highs average about 102°F. The closest trails are the Alabama Hills Trail, about 1.3 miles away, and the Arch Loop Trail, about 2.1 miles away. Tuttle Creek Campground, about 1.4 miles off, and Lone Pine, about 4.1 miles away, are the nearest campgrounds.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Tootsie Pop TowerPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tootsie Pop Tower

~0 min drive

Tootsie Pop Tower in California has 13 climbing routes across 8 grades.

The PenguinsPhoto: docentjoyce, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Penguins

~0 min drive

8 climbing routes in California, mixed and sport styles, 5 difficulty grades.

Southern BlondePhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Southern Blonde

~0 min drive

Southern Blonde in California has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

South ParkPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

South Park

~0 min drive

South Park in California has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Alabama DomePhoto: docentjoyce, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Alabama Dome

~0 min drive

Alabama Dome in California offers sport climbing on 5 routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Alabama Hills SouthPhoto: docentjoyce, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Alabama Hills South

~1 min drive

Alabama Hills South in California has 10 routes spanning 7 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

The Capricorn WallPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Capricorn Wall

~1 min drive

Capricorn Wall in California has 5 sport climbing routes.

Pu Pu PlatterPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pu Pu Platter

~1 min drive

Pu Pu Platter in California has 5 sport climbing routes across 4 grades.

Kearsarge Dome aka The Battle ShipPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kearsarge Dome aka The Battle Ship

~2 min drive

Kearsarge Dome (The Battle Ship) in California has 12 climbing routes across 8 grades in mixed, sport, and trad styles.

The Shark's FinPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Shark's Fin

~2 min drive

Shark's Fin, The is a climbing area in California with 7 routes.