Nevada · Rock climbing · Las Vegas

California 12a

California 12a in Nevada has 6 sport climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.

California 12aPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6 routes
5.8 – 5.12c
Sport

Best time to visit California 12a

Best months: February–May and October–November. 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

    53° / 32°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    56° / 35°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    64° / 41°

    4 wet

  4. Apr

    70° / 47°

    2 wet

  5. May

    80° / 56°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    90° / 66°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    95° / 73°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    94° / 72°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    87° / 62°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    75° / 50°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    62° / 38°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    52° / 31°

    3 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Red Rock Canyon - Spg Mt Rch S, NV, 6 mi away at 3,780 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

California 12a is a sport climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land within the Red Rock/Sloan Field Office in Nevada. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with The Sandbox, Magic Bus and Trundle Wall all about 0.1 mile away. The area is managed by the BLM, and its name is drawn from the route California 12a, a 5.12c sport climb. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 70°F and October highs around 75°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. The climbing here is all sport, with six routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.12c. California 12a is the hardest of them, and Going to California is the most common starting point at 5.10b. The Calico Basin Trail and Calico Hills Trail are both within half a mile, and Red Rock Canyon Campground is about 3 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The SandboxPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Sandbox

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The Sandbox in Nevada has 11 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Magic BusPhoto: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Magic Bus

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Magic Bus is a Nevada climbing crag with 7 routes across 3 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Trundle WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Trundle Wall

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Tsunami WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tsunami Wall

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The Great Red Book AreaPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Great Red Book Area

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Cut Your Teeth CragPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cut Your Teeth Crag

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Iron Man WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Iron Man Wall

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Lower Level - RightPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Level - Right

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Second Pullout BouldersPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Second Pullout Boulders

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b. Red Book PointPhoto: Jon Gudorf Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

b. Red Book Point

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