California · Rock climbing · Paicines

Upper Crust

Upper Crust in California has 12 climbing routes across 10 grades.

Upper CrustPhoto: btwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
12 routes
5.5 – 5.12b
Sport · Trad · Mixed

Is Upper Crust open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists an alert for Pinnacles National Park.

  • Fire Danger HIGH

    Park alert covering Pinnacles National Park · NPS · Pinnacles National Park

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

Best time to visit Upper Crust

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.

  1. Jan

    63° / 34°

    12 wet

  2. Feb

    64° / 36°

    11 wet

  3. Mar

    68° / 38°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    72° / 39°

    6 wet

  5. May

    80° / 43°

    3 wet

  6. Jun

    89° / 47°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    96° / 50°

    0 wet

  8. Aug

    96° / 50°

    0 wet

  9. Sep

    92° / 48°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    82° / 43°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    70° / 37°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    62° / 33°

    11 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pinnacles Nm, CA, 0.7 mi away at 1,307 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Upper Crust is a climbing area in Pinnacles National Park, within the Hain Wilderness in California, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among several other climbing areas and trails, so it works well as a base for exploring the surrounding rock and hiking routes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 80°F and October highs around 82°F, while July and August average about 96°F. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run a little cooler. A fee is charged for entry. The closest neighbors include the East Face, Monolith and North Face climbing areas, along with the Moses Spring Trail.

Routes (12)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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