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Climbs

Climbing Destinations

Crags listed here focus on bouldering, sport, and traditional climbing. Scrambling and mountaineering climbs to be added.

Drive 0-2 Hours

Stoney Point
Horse Flats
Bouldering at Horse Flats
Bouldering at Horse Flats
  • Map: Here
  • Season: Fall, Winter, Spring
  • Styles: Boulder, trad, scrambling, mountain biking
  • Experience: Beginner to expert
  • Description: Horse Flats is a campground in the Angeles National Forest off Hwy 2 in the San Gabriel Mountains. The climbing area is located about a quarter-mile from the campground, and consists of a loosely-connected boulder field stretching over several foothill peaks. Most of the climbing at Horse Flats is developed bouldering, but there is some trad climbing to be found and plenty of rockpiles for practicing scrambling.
  • Recommendations/Logistics: Parking inside the campground is first-come, first-served for day use. A parks pass parking permit is required to park on the road outside the campground entrance.
JPL Boulders
Malibu Creek
Malibu Tunnels/Purple Boulders
Santa Barbara
Holcomb Valley
Riverside Quarry

Drive 2-5 Hours

Black Mountain (Idyllwild)
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Area
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree bouldering (Nicole Overhang, V6)
Joshua Tree bouldering (Nicole Overhang, V6)
  • Map: Here
  • Season: Fall, Winter
  • Styles: Boulder, trad, limited sport, scrambling
  • Experience: Beginner to expert
  • Description: One of the premiere climbing destinations in the country, JTNP is a desert climber's paradise. Influential early sport climbers and boulderers like John Bachar, Lynn Hill, Fred Nicole, and many others have stamped climbing history into the epic landscape. Climbing ethic in the region has resolved away from fixed protection (mostly, though there is sport climbing), toward trad and bouldering. The park has something for everyone, and there is no upper limit to the adventurousness or intensity of the climbs you'll find there. Beginners will find endless rockpiles for a fun day of scrambling and plenty of lower-level climbs with good features to learn the ropes (though the sharp granite/monzonite is ruthless on soft skin). We recommend bringing a guide book or someone familiar with the climbing areas on a first trip to the park, as navigating to more approachable climbs can be tricky. JTNP is the traditional site of the CAC-hosted rock rescue course with Stone Adventures.
  • Recommendations/Logistics: Camping inside the park is in high-demand. Most sites are first-come, first-served and difficult to secure on weekends (though not impossible). Reserved campsites are limited. Backcountry camping is possible but limited. JTNP is a great day-trip destination from Caltech.
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Bishop - Buttermilks
  • Map: Here
  • Season: Fall, Spring
  • Styles: Boulder
  • Experience: Middling to expert
  • Description: Bishop's Buttermilk Boulders area is perhaps the most iconic bouldering destination in the Americas, and one of the most historic hillsides in the climbing world. Bishop is located about a 4-4.5 hour drive north of Pasadena, along the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway. The main climbing area is a massive boulder field with difficulties ranging from low to the absolute height of technical difficulty, and beyond (many projects remain unclimbed). The boulders are enormous, the footholds are slippery, and the psych is high. If you visit the buttermilks, please be respectful of local ordinances for leashing dogs, preserving brush, and leaving no waste.
  • Recommendations/Logistics:
Bishop - Happy & Sad Boulders
Bishop - Sherwin Plateau
Alabama Hills
Pine Mountain
Kern River Valley
San Diego Mt Woodson

Drive 5-8 Hours

Yosemite National Park
Lake Tahoe
Sonora Pass
Pinnacles National Park
Flagstaff, AZ
Red Rocks, NV
Moe's Valley, UT

Indoor Climbing Gyms

Sponsored

  • The Stronghold Climbing Gym
    • Stronghold is a locally-owned fixture of the Los Angeles climbing scene with historic connections to JPL and Caltech. They have graciously partnered with CAC for numerous events over many years, and they offer membership discounts for current students. The gym offers lead climbing, bouldering, a fully-equipped weight room and cardio training facility, MoonBoard, TensionBoard, yoga classes, and more.
    • During normal operations (non-pandemic), Stronghold hosts our bi-weekly climbing gym trips Tues (7-9am) and Thurs (6-9pm). Revision to the weekly climbing schedule is continuous, please contact Greg (gsmaccabe@gmail.com) to give feedback.
  • Campus Cave

Non-Sponsored Options

  • Touchstone
  • Factory
  • Hangar 18
  • SenderOne

Quarantine Training/At-Home Resources

Some gear useful for home workouts excluding dumbbells and barbells:
Video resources for more ideas on how to train for climbing without gym or crag access:

Guidebook Resources

Under Construction.

Courses

Under Construction.