California · Rock climbing · Malibu

Tower of Zen

Tower of Zen is a California climbing area with 14 sport routes across 9 grades.

Photo: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

14 routes

5.10c – 5.12d

Sport

Is Tower of Zen open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

As of Oct 24, 6:30 pm PDT · Source: NPS · Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Tower of Zen

Best months: October–May. 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
70° / 43°
6 wet
Feb
70° / 44°
7 wet
Mar
74° / 46°
6 wet
Apr
78° / 48°
3 wet
May
82° / 53°
1 wet
Jun
89° / 57°
0 wet
Jul
95° / 61°
0 wet
Aug
97° / 61°
0 wet
Sep
94° / 59°
1 wet
Oct
85° / 53°
2 wet
Nov
76° / 46°
3 wet
Dec
69° / 42°
6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Woodland Hills Pierce College, CA, 20.7 mi away at 790 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Tower of Zen is a climbing area in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Zombie Wall, Pink Wall and Dream Street all about 0.1 mile away, and the Sandstone Peak Trail also within a tenth of a mile. The area is a sport climbing destination. Fourteen routes are listed, all rated between 5.10c and 5.12d on the YDS scale. Among them are Simplicity at 5.10c, Chi at 5.12d and Mantra at 5.12d, with first ascents by climbers including Doniel Drazin and Louie Anderson. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 78°F and October highs around 85°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. That station sits about 1,264 feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run cooler. For an overnight stay, Circle X Ranch Group Campground is about 0.6 mile away. The Backbone Trail passes within a third of a mile.