California · Rock climbing · North Fork

Stairway to Heaven

The easiest climb at the Tombstone.

5.10a
grade
Sport Bolted
style

Is Stairway to Heaven 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 Stairway to Heaven

Best months: May–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° / 17°

  2. Feb

    41° / 18°

  3. Mar

    45° / 22°

  4. Apr

    51° / 27°

  5. May

    60° / 35°

  6. Jun

    70° / 42°

  7. Jul

    78° / 49°

  8. Aug

    77° / 47°

  9. Sep

    71° / 40°

  10. Oct

    61° / 30°

  11. Nov

    49° / 23°

  12. Dec

    41° / 17°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 8.6 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 500 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.

This is the easiest route catalogued at the Tombstone, sitting at the bottom of a grade span that extends to 5.12d.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Mammoth CrestPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mammoth Crest

~6 min drive

Mammoth Crest in California offers 18 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades with alpine no fixed protection.

Labor WallPhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Labor Wall

~6 min drive

Labor Wall in California has 5 sport routes on 4 difficulty grades.

Spring WallPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spring Wall

~7 min drive

13 routes at Spring Wall in California range across 10 difficulty grades.

Horseshoe SlabsPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Horseshoe Slabs

~7 min drive

16-route climbing area in California with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Horseshoe Slabs BoulderPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Horseshoe Slabs Boulder

~7 min drive

Horseshoe Slabs Boulder has 8 bouldering routes in California.

T J LakePhoto: mjhbower, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

T J Lake

~7 min drive

T J Lake is a California climbing area with 4 routes across 4 grades.

T J SlabsPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

T J Slabs

~8 min drive

T J Slabs in California has 6 bouldering routes with 5 difficulty grades.

Sister BoulderPhoto: inkknife_2000 (14 million views), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sister Boulder

~8 min drive

8 bouldering routes at Sister Boulder in California, grades 5.10a to 5.12c.

Crystal Lake Wall

~6 min drive

Crystal Lake Wall in California has 5 climbing routes with 4 difficulty grades.

Dog Wall

~7 min drive

Dog Wall in California has 8 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades.