North Face

BETA PHOTO: Tahquitz Rock overview.

Description 

This is the lowest angle face of Tahquitz Rock. It offers a mix of routes up to about six pitches in length. There are easy routes that follow long crack systems, and are mostly quite well protected. Some newer routes follow the slabs between crack systems. The rock on the lower part of this face is fairly good, but the upper part is rather loose. It’s best to avoid climbing below another party on this face. The longer routes finish on the Northeast shoulder of the rock. Climb up from there on third class rock until you reach hiking terrain at a saddle southeast of the summit. From here, the shortest way back to the base of the face is the North Gully (3rd class). You can also take the trail from the saddle, going clockwise to Lunch Rock, and then continuing along the base of the rock to the North Face.

During the summer, this face gets sun much of the day. In the Spring and Summer, it gets a lot of shade.

Getting There 

Take the North Face trail to the base, or take the main trail to Lunch Rock and traverse left along the base of the rock.

The Classics