California · Rock climbing · Bishop

Volcanic Tablelands (Happy/Sad Boulders)

3-boulder climbing area in California with volcanic rock.

3 routes
5.10d – 5.11a
Mixed

Best time to visit Volcanic Tablelands (Happy/Sad Boulders)

Best months: April–May and October. 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

    56° / 24°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    59° / 26°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    67° / 31°

    3 wet

  4. Apr

    74° / 37°

    2 wet

  5. May

    83° / 44°

    2 wet

  6. Jun

    94° / 51°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    100° / 57°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    98° / 54°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    90° / 47°

    1 wet

  10. Oct

    78° / 37°

    1 wet

  11. Nov

    64° / 27°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 22°

    3 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bishop Ap, CA, 7.1 mi away at 4,102 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Volcanic Tablelands (Happy/Sad Boulders) is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land within the Bishop Field Office in California, about 7 miles from Bishop. The Happy and Sad Boulders are the names of the boulders here, and the area is managed by the BLM. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bishop show April highs around 74°F and October highs around 78°F, while July averages about 100°F and winter lows dip into the mid-20s. Top Gun Boulders and More Smack Boulders are both about 1.3 miles away, and the Happy Boulders Trail is about 1.6 miles off. For an overnight stay, Pleasant Valley Pit Campground is about 2 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive