California · Rock climbing · Big Sur

Wagon Caves

Wagon Caves in California has 14 climbing routes across 9 grades.

Photo: Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

14 routes

5.0 – 5.12a

Sport · Trad

Is Wagon Caves open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Monterey Ranger District. It doesn't name Wagon Caves, so check the source for the area it covers.

Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Order with Exceptions
Agency closure covering Monterey Ranger District · Order 05-07-51-26-11 · USFS · Monterey Ranger District
Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-00-26-05 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
San Carpoforo Beach Prohibition of Overnight Camping and Campfires
Agency alert covering Monterey Ranger District · Order 05-07-51-26-03 · USFS · Monterey Ranger District
Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-5406-01 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest

As of Oct 24, 10:06 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Monterey Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Wagon Caves

Best months: Year-round. 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
63° / 38°
9 wet
Feb
65° / 40°
9 wet
Mar
70° / 42°
8 wet
Apr
74° / 44°
5 wet
May
78° / 48°
2 wet
Jun
83° / 51°
1 wet
Jul
85° / 54°
0 wet
Aug
85° / 54°
0 wet
Sep
85° / 51°
1 wet
Oct
80° / 46°
2 wet
Nov
70° / 41°
5 wet
Dec
62° / 37°
8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at King City, CA, 17.1 mi away at 320 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Wagon Caves is a climbing area in the Ventana Wilderness, part of the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the caves sit within designated wilderness. The climbing here is sport-oriented, with 13 sport routes and one trad route. Grades run from 5.0 up to 5.12a, so the range is broad enough to suit climbers of different abilities. Original Solo is the lone trad route at 5.0, and Lost and The Lizard Conspiracy are both sport routes at 5.8. The hardest route listed is Hutch crux at 5.12a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Typical averages from the King City weather station, about 17 miles away, show May highs near 78°F and October highs around 80°F, while midsummer highs reach about 85°F and winter nights dip into the upper 30s. The Beach climbing area is just 0.2 miles away. Carrizo is a hike 1.4 miles off, and the Adobe-Santa Lucia Connector Trail is about 2.5 miles away. Memorial Park campground, at 4.4 miles, is the closest place to camp.