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Elevation: 8,630 ft
GPS: 37.88397, -119.43086
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 17,194 total · 90/month
Shared By: john durr on Aug 7, 2008
Admins: Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes
Warning Access Issue: Latest updates on closures, permits, and regulations. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

The west face of Dark Side Dome is a nice place to find a wide variety of face climbs, mostly on nice feldspar knobs. The north end has plenty of easy face climbs on knobs with lots of bolts including Spaceballs 5.5, Dark Side of the Force 5.7, Pebble Beach 5.9R, and Imperial March 5.10. The south end has more face climbs like Voice of the Crags 5.10, Shot in the Dark 5.10, Batteries Not Included 5.11, Who's the Bosch 5.8.

Getting There Suggest change

Dark Side Dome is along Cathedral Creek, about 1 mile downstream from Daff Dome along the approach to Hammer Dome. Park at the lower Daff Dome parking area near the creek. Hike northwest down the short hill to the creek. Cross the creek and follow a very faint trail along the north side of the creek west to River Wall. You may need bug spray...

Once past the River Wall, continue about 10 minutes more on the faint trail through the woods to the start of a low angled golden slab that faces southeast (see beta photo). Hike up this low angle slab that seems to take a while, northish to the west face of Dark Side Dome. Approach time is about 30-45 minutes and very pretty. There is a small lake at the base. This is at GPS 11 S 286220 4195690 NAD 36 CONUS.

12 Total Climbs

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Location: Dark Side Dome Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Dark Side Dome

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 19
Spaceballs
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 12
Megacrystic
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 13
Dark Side of the Force
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
 6
Who's the Bosch
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 9
The Imperial March
Trad 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Spaceballs
 19
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
Megacrystic
 12
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Dark Side of the Force
 13
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Who's the Bosch
 6
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 Trad
The Imperial March
 9
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Dark Side Dome »

Sun & Shade Suggest change

Routes Mostly Face: Northwest
Sunny Roughly 2pm to 7pm during high season
6am
8pm

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