California · Rock climbing · Yosemite National Park

Upper Cathedral Lakes, South Shore Buttress

Upper Cathedral Lakes, South Shore Buttress has 6 routes in California.

Upper Cathedral Lakes, South Shore ButtressPhoto: Brandon.Levinger, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
6 routes
5.6 – 5.10
Alpine

Is Upper Cathedral Lakes, South Shore Buttress open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Yosemite National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Yosemite National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Upper Cathedral Lakes, South Shore Buttress

Best months: June–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° / 13°

  2. Feb

    38° / 12°

  3. Mar

    42° / 15°

  4. Apr

    45° / 22°

  5. May

    54° / 27°

  6. Jun

    65° / 33°

  7. Jul

    71° / 38°

  8. Aug

    70° / 36°

  9. Sep

    65° / 32°

  10. Oct

    57° / 26°

  11. Nov

    47° / 20°

  12. Dec

    40° / 12°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 4.9 mi away at 8,694 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.

Upper Cathedral Lakes, South Shore Buttress is a climbing area in Yosemite National Park's Yosemite Wilderness, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's designated wilderness, about 5 miles from Tuolumne Meadows. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tuolumne Meadows show July highs around 71°F and lows near 38°F, while winter highs there stay in the low 40s with lows below 15°F. A fee applies for visiting this area. The surrounding wilderness and park are also managed by the National Park Service, so check current park fees before you go. Cathedral Peak and the Lower Cathedral Lake Trail are both about a mile away, with Dozier Dome and Penny Royal Arches a little farther. Tuolumne Meadows Campground is about 4 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive