Nevada · Rock climbing · Mount Charleston

South Central

South Central in Nevada has 7 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

7 routes

5.6 – 5.12c

Sport

Is South Central open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name South Central, so check the source for the area it covers.

Elephant Fire Closure
Agency closure covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-26-01-04 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Agency alert covering Spring Mountains National Recreation Area · Order 04-17-05-26-02 · USFS · Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Area, Road, and Trail Closures (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)
Agency alert covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-25-04 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Year-Round Fire Restrictions (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)
Agency alert covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-24-01 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Vehicle Snow Chain Requirements during Inclement Weather (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)
Agency alert covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-23-01 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

As of Oct 25, 7:35 pm PDT · Source: USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit South Central

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
44° / 22°
6 wet
Feb
44° / 22°
6 wet
Mar
49° / 26°
6 wet
Apr
55° / 30°
4 wet
May
63° / 37°
4 wet
Jun
74° / 46°
2 wet
Jul
79° / 52°
5 wet
Aug
78° / 52°
6 wet
Sep
72° / 44°
4 wet
Oct
62° / 35°
3 wet
Nov
51° / 27°
4 wet
Dec
44° / 21°
5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Charleston Fire Stn, NV, 1.2 mi away at 7,460 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

South Central is a climbing area in Nevada's Mt. Charleston Wilderness, within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the area sits within a cluster of climbing spots, with The Hood and The Souls Cave just 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is all sport, and the routes run from 5.6 up to 5.12c. The median grade is 5.12a. Some of the named routes are Blue Man at 5.6, Bloodline at 5.12b and Deluge at 5.12c. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 79°F in July with lows near 52°F, while winter highs sit in the mid-40s. Mary Jane Falls is about half a mile away, and the Charleston Peak Trail South Loop and Cathedral Rock Picnic Area are both roughly 1.4 miles off.