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Emerald Bay.
Photo by Blitzo.

Lake Tahoe and Vicinity 

Beautiful, Spacious, and often Daunting, The Sierras in the Tahoe Area contain some of the best summer climbing in California. The area is almost covered in climbable rock, and route setters will delight at the bounty of untouched rock.

Consisting mostly of Granite, with a few Baslitic Exceptions, you will find climbs off all type, like the long tradional or sport routes at Lover's Leap, to the pumpy tall bouldering found EVERYWHERE, but most notably Donner and Pack Saddle Passes.

Climbing is year round in some places, though most areas are covered in snow from the first snow (usually in October or November) until March - June depending on altitude and direction of the rock.

Places to stay are plentyful, from blm camping, organized campgrounds, cheap hotels, to even four star hotels in Reno or South Lake.

Getting There 

From the Bay Area, head up Highway 80 to Sacramento, where you will either head up into the hills either on 80, 50, or 89, depending on where you're going.

From Reno, head up Highway 80 to go to North Lake destinations, or down highway 395 , and then West on highway 89 into South Lake Tahoe.

The Classics

Featured Route For Tahoe Vicinity

Pillar of Society 5.12a  CA : Tahoe Vicinity : ... : Lower Buttress

Pillar of Society is the first route you come to, as it is right at the top of the trail from the campground to the Lower Buttress. Look for the giant 3' diameter cobble....[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Tahoe Vicinity Slideshow

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Lake Tahoe from East Shore. Photo by Blitzo.	Lake Tahoe from "The Cave", 1987. Cave Rock is now...	Geese. Photo by Blitzo.
Fanette Island, Emerald Bay. Photo by Blitzo.	Tahoe Beer conetop can, 1940s.	Tahoe Beer.
Tahoe Beer.	An Osprey perched high above Fallen leaf lake	Beginning the hike to Mt. Tallac with fallen leaf ...
Tahoe keys from the summit of Mt. Tallac	The Desolation wilderness from Mt. Tallac	Brett making friends with the locals on Mt. Tallac...
Busy day on the summit of Mt. Tallac	Tahoe Glass	Eldorado Beach-Spring. Photo by Blitzo.
Desolation Wilderness. Photo by Blitzo.	Tahoe Keys, Crystal Range and Mt. Tallac. Photo by...	Donner Lake on a balmy December day.
Shawn Watson's stunning photo of the fabulous Stee...	20 minute crag	Tahoe North Shore. Photo by Blitzo.
Speaks for itself January 2011	December sunset.	lovin tahoe