All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley N Side > H. Royal Arches Area

Royal Arches Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Royal Arches

Central Royal Arches 25 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 29

Eastern Royal Arches 13 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 13

Western Royal Arches 16 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 18

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Elevation:	5,357 ft	1,633 m
GPS:	37.74959, -119.57051 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	400,310 total · 1,689/month
Shared By:	Josh Janes on Jun 15, 2006 · Updates
Admins:	Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Latest updates on closures, permits, and regulations. Details

Please visit climbingyosemite.com/ and nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the latest information on visiting Yosemite, including permits, regulations, and closure information.

Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15. Always check the NPS website at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the most current details and park alerts, and to learn more about the peregrine falcon, and how closures help it survive. This page also shares closures and warnings due to current fires, smoke, etc.

Description

Royal Arches is a tremendous arched wall found on the north side of the Valley, just west of Washington Column. The wall is formed of white granite with cool black streaks running down it and it looms impressively over the Valley's Ahwahnee Hotel. Easily the most popular route on this wall is the moderate Royal Arches (5.10- or 5.7 A0) (5.10a or 5.7 A0), amazingly first climbed in 1936 by Ken Adam, Morgan Harris, and W. Kenneth Davis. This is a really cool experience for many first time Valley visitors, as the route takes you from floor to rim and is easily climbed in a day by most parties.

Getting There

As with Washington Column, it used to be you could park at the Ahwahnee and hoof over to the Column on the bike path, but I've heard recently that you can't park there anymore (permit req'd?). Maybe someone can post up the current beta...

60 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Royal Arches

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 149 ● Trial By Fire Trad Western Royal Arches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 598 ● Super Slide Trad 5 pitches Western Royal Arches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 184 ● Peruvian Flake Trad Western Royal Arches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a A0 1,365 ● Royal Arches (5.10- or 5.7 A0) Trad, Aid 15 pitches Central Royal Arches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 829 ● Sons of Yesterday Trad 6 pitches Western Royal Arches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 4 ● Super Natural Trad 4 pitches Western Royal Arches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 15 ● Mid-Life Crisis Trad 4 pitches Eastern Royal Arches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b PG13 18 ● Tenaya's Tears Trad 7 pitches Western Royal Arches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13 1,084 ● Serenity Crack Trad 3 pitches Western Royal Arches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 17 ● 1096 Trad Eastern Royal Arches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R 4 ● The Rambler Trad 5 pitches Eastern Royal Arches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R 5 ● Shaky Flakes Trad 8 pitches Eastern Royal Arches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 49 ● Arches Terrace Direct Trad 6 pitches Eastern Royal Arches
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a R 8 ● Firefingers Trad 2 pitches Western Royal Arches
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 12 ● Hang Dog Flyer Trad Eastern Royal Arches