California · Rock climbing · Groveland

West Face

West Face in California has 17 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering sport and trad options.

West FacePhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
17 routes
5.7 – 5.12b
Trad · Sport

Is West Face 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 West Face

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, 3.8 mi away at 8,694 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

West Face is a climbing area in Yosemite National Park, California, within the Yosemite Wilderness. The National Park Service manages the land, and the area sits within the park's wilderness boundary. It is a cluster of traditional and sport routes that sits among several other climbing areas, so it works as a base for exploring the surrounding rock. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb here. Typical July averages from the nearby Tuolumne Meadows weather station run around 71°F for highs and 38°F for lows, with winter highs in the low 40s. The station sits at about 8,700 feet, so expect temperatures on the face to run slightly cooler. The area has 17 routes, with 14 in traditional style and 3 in sport. The YDS grades range from 5.7 to 5.12+. Among the named routes are El Condor (5.7), West Crack (5.9), Plagiarism (5.10a) and Bombs Over Tokyo (Full) (5.12+). The closest climbing areas are South Flank, Western Front and Wind Tunnel, each within about a quarter mile. The Tenaya Lake Trail is about a mile away for hikers, and Tuolumne Meadows Campground is about 3 miles off for an overnight stay.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

South FlankPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

South Flank

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Western FrontPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Western Front

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Wind TunnelPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wind Tunnel

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Central Cottage DomePhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Central Cottage Dome

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Cottage DomesPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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West FacePhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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East Cottage Dome (aka Erratic Dome)Photo: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Daff AreaPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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North FacePhoto: pom'., CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Face

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North Face of the LambPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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