South Pile
South Pile in California has 5 sport climbing routes across 3 difficulty grades.
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 5 routes
- 5.6 – 5.10a
- Sport
Best time to visit South Pile
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.
Jan
58° / 30°
4 wet
Feb
61° / 33°
4 wet
Mar
69° / 39°
3 wet
Apr
76° / 44°
1 wet
May
85° / 53°
1 wet
Jun
96° / 62°
1 wet
Jul
102° / 67°
1 wet
Aug
101° / 65°
1 wet
Sep
93° / 58°
1 wet
Oct
81° / 48°
1 wet
Nov
67° / 36°
2 wet
Dec
57° / 29°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Independence, CA, 14.6 mi away at 3,950 ft. The station sits about 600 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.
South Pile is a climbing area in eastern California on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Bishop Field Office. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb here. Typical averages from the nearby Independence weather station run to highs around 76°F with lows near 44°F in April, and highs near 81°F in October, while summer highs there top 100°F in July and August. Other climbing sits very close by. Kearsarge Dome aka The Battle Ship and the Entrance Piles are each about 0.1 mile away, and Alabama Hills is about 0.2 mile off. For camping, Tuttle Creek Campground is roughly 2.4 miles away.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Choss Not Proud Enough To Name aka Entrance Piles
~0 min drive
3-route crag in California with mixed protection and moderate to hard grades.
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Kearsarge Dome aka The Battle Ship
~0 min drive
Kearsarge Dome (The Battle Ship) in California has 12 climbing routes across 8 grades in mixed, sport, and trad styles.
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Alabama Hills
~0 min drive
4 bouldering routes in California, grades range from 4.
Photo: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)The Shark's Fin
~0 min drive
Shark's Fin, The is a climbing area in California with 7 routes.
Eastern Choss Proving Grounds
~1 min drive
Eastern Choss Proving Grounds in California has 4 sport routes on 3 difficulty grades.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Hillbilly Pillar
~1 min drive
Hillbilly Pillar in California has 5 sport climbing routes ranging across 5 difficulty grades.
Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)The Hideout
~1 min drive
The Hideout in California offers 2 sport climbing routes with distinct difficulty grades.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Paul's Backyard
~1 min drive
Paul's Backyard in California has 19 climbing routes ranging across 9 difficulty grades.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Paul's Paradise
~1 min drive
Paul's Paradise in California has 3 climbing routes ranging over 2 difficulty grades.
Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Moonshine Pillar
~1 min drive
Moonshine Pillar in California has 6 climbing routes across 3 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Also worth it near here
Photo: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Alabama Hills Trail
~1 min drive
Mobius Arch
~2 min drive
Photo: jfdervin — CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Diaz Lake Campground
~7 min drive
Lone Pine Peak
~11 min drive