California · Rock climbing · Ojai

Sespe Gorge (Black Wall)

Near Ojai

18 routes
5.5 – 5.11b/c
Trad · Sport · Bouldering

Is Sespe Gorge (Black Wall) open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Los Padres National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Sespe Gorge (Black Wall)

Best months: March–June and September–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

    52° / 39°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    53° / 38°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    57° / 41°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    62° / 43°

    5 wet

  5. May

    70° / 49°

    3 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 58°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    88° / 65°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    88° / 65°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    83° / 61°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    71° / 52°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    60° / 44°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    52° / 38°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sandberg, CA, 32.5 mi away at 4,510 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Sespe Gorge (Black Wall) is a climbing area in the Ojai Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The area sits in the Sespe Gorge, with the Black Wall as its defining feature. The climbing is mostly trad, with 16 trad routes and one sport route. The grades range from 5.5 to 5.11b/c, with the hardest route, Glory Days, a sport climb at 5.11b/c. Among the trad options, Bee Line is a 5.7, and Mrs. Murphy's Rusty Old Packard is a 5.5 with an early 1970s first ascent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sandberg show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 71°F, while July and August average highs near 88°F. The station sits about 950 feet lower than the gorge, so temperatures up high run cooler. Other climbing areas lie close by: Potrero John is 0.4 miles away, and Right Side Gully is 0.5 miles away. The Potrero John Creek Trail is 0.8 miles off, and Holiday Group Campground is about 4 miles away for an overnight stay.

Routes (18)