The Yaks
5-route climbing area in California with sport and trad options.
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 5 routes
- 5.6 – 5.10a
- Sport · Trad
Is Yaks, The 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 The Yaks
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.
Jan
63° / 34°
12 wet
Feb
64° / 36°
11 wet
Mar
68° / 38°
10 wet
Apr
72° / 39°
6 wet
May
80° / 43°
3 wet
Jun
89° / 47°
1 wet
Jul
96° / 50°
0 wet
Aug
96° / 50°
0 wet
Sep
92° / 48°
1 wet
Oct
82° / 43°
3 wet
Nov
70° / 37°
7 wet
Dec
62° / 33°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pinnacles Nm, CA, 0.8 mi away at 1,307 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Yaks is a climbing area in California's Pinnacles National Park, within the Hain Wilderness, on land managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Yaks Wall just 0.1 mile away, Upper Crust and The Sisters both about 0.3 mile off, and Moses Spring Trail close by for a walk. The area's climbing runs from about 5.6 to 5.10a, with sport routes dominating over the one trad option, West Face at 5.7. Beast of Burden and Northwest Face are the hardest at 5.10a, while Bruce's Escape and Clint's Escape are both 5.6. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. 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. A fee is charged for park entry.
Routes (5)
Behind the Yaks(3)
North Yak(1)
South Yak(1)
Facts about this crag
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Yaks Wall
~0 min drive
Yaks Wall in California has 6 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad styles.
Photo: btwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Upper Crust
~0 min drive
Upper Crust in California has 12 climbing routes across 10 grades.
Photo: Effeietsanders, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)The Sisters
~1 min drive
Sisters, The in California has 10 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad styles.
Photo: btwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)East Face
~1 min drive
East Face in California has 18 climbing routes across 14 grades, featuring sport and trad options.
Photo: btwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Monolith
~1 min drive
Monolith in California has 6 sport climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)North Face
~1 min drive
North Face in California has 5 sport climbing routes across 4 grades.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)East Side
~1 min drive
East Side in California has 32 climbing routes with 15 difficulty grades.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Teaching Rock
~1 min drive
Teaching Rock in California has 5 sport climbing routes ranging from 5.7 to 5.11a.
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Discovery Wall
~1 min drive
Discovery Wall is a climbing crag in California with 37 routes.
Photo: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Tourist Trap
~1 min drive
Tourist Trap is a climbing crag in California with 11 routes.
