California · Rock climbing · Shaver Lake

West Face

West Face in California has 17 climbing routes with 10 difficulty grades.

17 routes

5.7 – 5.11a

Alpine

Is West Face open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name West Face, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

Safety Tips for Burned Areas: Garnet Fire Area
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-03 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Food and Refuse Storage
Agency closure covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-02 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Forest Order removes Fish Camp, Soda Springs, and Little Jackass from closure list
Agency alert covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-11 · USFS · Sierra National Forest
Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Sierra National Forest · Order 05-15-00-26-09 · USFS · Sierra National Forest

As of Oct 24, 7:50 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Sierra National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit West Face

Best months: May–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.

Jan
43° / 24°
11 wet
Feb
44° / 23°
11 wet
Mar
46° / 26°
10 wet
Apr
50° / 29°
8 wet
May
56° / 36°
6 wet
Jun
66° / 42°
3 wet
Jul
74° / 49°
2 wet
Aug
74° / 49°
1 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
58° / 37°
4 wet
Nov
49° / 31°
8 wet
Dec
44° / 25°
10 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 17.6 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 700 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.

West Face is an alpine climbing area in California's Sierra National Forest, within the High Sierra Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Tiger Wall and Tiger Cage each about 0.3 miles away. The climbing here is all alpine, with 17 routes spread across the area. Grades range from 5.7 to 5.11a. Several stand out: Tic-Tac-Toe is a 5.9, Helm's Deep is a 5.10c, and Powerline, the hardest at 5.11a, was first climbed by Rose and Frye in 1986. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Huntington Lake weather station, at 7,020 feet, run to highs around 74°F in July and August, with only one or two wet days a month. Winter is cold, with January highs near 43°F and lows around 24°F. For a change from the rock, Voyager Rock campground is about 2.5 miles away, and the Blackcap Trail is about 3.2 miles off. Paddlers can reach the North Fork Kings River, roughly 4.9 miles away.