California · Rock climbing · Big Bear Lake

Sleepy Bear and Nightmare Towers

Sleepy Bear and Nightmare Towers in California has 2 routes with alpine no fixed protection.

2 routes
5.10d – 5.11b
Alpine

Is Sleepy Bear and Nightmare Towers open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mountaintop Ranger District. It doesn't name Sleepy Bear and Nightmare Towers, 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 Sleepy Bear and Nightmare Towers

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, 2.3 mi away at 6,753 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Sleepy Bear and Nightmare Towers is a climbing area in the Mountaintop Ranger District of San Bernardino National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the forest's eastern high country, about 2.3 miles from the Big Bear Lake weather station, which sits roughly 830 feet lower than the climbing area. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Big Bear Lake station show July highs around 80°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs hover around 46°F with lows in the mid-20s. Several other destinations lie close by. Boulder Group Camp and the Nightmare Tower climbing area are each about 0.3 miles away, and the Plantation hike is a similar distance. Bluff Mesa Group Camp is about 1.3 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

(e) Castle Rock - East FacePhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

(e) Castle Rock - East Face

~2 min drive

Castle Rock - East Face in California has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades.

(b) Castle Rock - South FacePhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

(b) Castle Rock - South Face

~2 min drive

(b) Castle Rock - South Face in California has 7 climbing routes on the south face.

(c) Castle Rock - Southeast FacePhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

(c) Castle Rock - Southeast Face

~2 min drive

Castle Rock - Southeast Face in California has 10 routes (moderate to hard) in sport and trad styles.

(a) Castle Rock - Southwest FacePhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

(a) Castle Rock - Southwest Face

~2 min drive

Castle Rock - Southwest Face in California has 6 routes across 5 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

Castle Rock AreaPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Castle Rock Area

~2 min drive

Castle Rock Area in California has 11 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering bouldering pads, sport, and trad.

Castle Rock SlabPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Castle Rock Slab

~2 min drive

Castle Rock Slab in California has 3 climbing routes ranging from easy to hard, offering sport and trad options.

Fisherman’s BouldersPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fisherman’s Boulders

~3 min drive

Fisherman’s Boulders in California has 19 routes across 12 difficulty grades, offering bouldering pads, sport, and trad.

Forest Road 2N86Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Forest Road 2N86

~3 min drive

Forest Road 2N86 in California has 2 climbing routes with alpine no fixed protection.

MinilandPhoto: Moo.The.Cow, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Miniland

~7 min drive

Miniland is a California climbing crag with 6 routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Upper Kid Power TowerPhoto: Moo.The.Cow, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Kid Power Tower

~7 min drive

Upper Kid Power Tower in California has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering bouldering and sport climbing.