New Jack City Rock Climbing
Elevation: | 3,700 ft |
GPS: |
34.66539, -116.97834 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 967,365 total · 4,539/month |
Shared By: | Francis Baker (fran) on Sep 26, 2006 · Updates |
Admins: | C Miller, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Description
New Jack City (NJC), also known as Sawtooth Canyon, is a sport climbing destination in the high desert near Barstow, CA. With more than 450 sport climbs ranging from 5.6 - 5.13 scattered across the high desert, New Jack City offers something for climbers of all abilities. The rock is an unusual form of metamorphic rock of volcanic origin, offering often tricky and thought-provoking sequences and moves on huecos, pockets, edges, jugs, underclings, and crimps. The climbing is typically steep and diverse, requiring both strength and technique. The Sawtooth Canyon Campground has fourteen first-come first-served campsites each complete with a picnic table and a fire pit. If where you choose to park and spend the night doesn't have these amenities you're camping illegally and are subject to citation and fines. In the absence of a campground host the posted campground rules have been grossly ignored by many visitors. Located in the high desert the climbing season at New Jack City runs from October through May.
Getting There
Heading south from Barstow on Hwy 247 (Barstow Rd.), turn right on the dirt road at mile marker 63.0. Follow this washboard road for 0.9 miles, where the road forks at a BLM kiosk. Bear left at the kiosk, and follow the road more-or-less straight ahead for 0.6 miles, passing the group campsite, until the road dead ends at the main parking area. The maintained trail from this parking area crosses the fence and leads directly to Raven Rocks.
Camping
Campsites at New Jack City are first-come first-served and there is no fee to camp. Each campsite has a picnic table, shade structure, and a fire ring and outhouses are not too far away. No water is available so come prepared - this is the desert. Average annual precipitation is 6 inches.
Over the last few years, in the absence of a campground host, it has become common to camp in dispersed areas in and around the official campsites. As of Nov. 2020 BLM rangers are patrolling these illegal campsites and asking campers to leave. If you are not in a site with a shade structure, fire ring, and a picnic table you'll likely be kicked out. There are only 14 sites considered official/legal.
https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/274437/1
Classic Climbing Routes at New Jack City
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