Dome Rock  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  46,347. Good page?    Administrators:  Matthew Fienup, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Josh Janes on Jun 18, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 66° | 45° 68° | 46° 75° | 48° 77° | 50° 68° | 45°

Welcome to Dome Rock

Description 

Dome Rock is a fantastic crag that is in close proximity to the Needles themselves. For me, it served as my introduction to the area -- I spent two days climbing and lustily taking in the breathtaking views of the Needles themselves before climbing there. I highly recommend spending time at Dome Rock during any extended trip to the Needles.

Climbing at Dome Rock is quite varied but is generally vertical to sub-vertical routes of 1 to 3 pitches. There are crack systems and slabs, but one of the most amazing features of this rock are the incredible chickenheads and knobs. Classics include the Tree Route (5.6), Anti-Jello Crack (5.10a), Windjammer (5.10 R), Tobin's Dihedral (5.10+) and Between Nothingness and Eternity (5.11a).

Dome Rock has its own, ultra-convenient camping, and is often host to the annual Southern Sierra Climbers' meeting. Be warned that this is a popular destination for tourists as the summit (former site of a Forest Service Helipad) is an easy walk from the road, and there is the potential for rocks to be thrown or dislodged down the face from above.

Getting There 

From the junction of FS-21S05 (the access road into the Needles) and CR-107, head south 3 miles and turn east on FS-21S69. This road takes you past campsites and almost to the summit of Dome Rock itself. Most climbs are approached by scrambling down from a point near the summit to the (skier's) left. It is possible to rap in from the summit with double ropes.

The Classics

Featured Route For Dome Rock

Between Nothingness and Eternity 5.11a PG13  CA : The Needles / Kern River : Dome Rock

1st pitch: 8 bolts to belay. This pitch certainly has the most consistently hard climbing of all the pitches. I felt the harder moves were reasonably protected, but the pitch is definitely runout on the easier 5.10 sections. For me there were 3 crux sections. The first crux is at the start of the climb, with thin-edge pulling and high-step commitment. The second crux is the footwork needed to get by the high angle chickenhead-downslopers near the 2nd and 3rd bolts (not too much for hand...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Dome Rock Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: Overview of Dome Rock	Dome Rock (7,165 feet)	Rob Chaney climbs the stunning 2nd pitch of Tree R...
BETA PHOTO: Many of the bolts at Dome Rock are button-head com...	Near the base of Asteroid Belt (5.11) is the remai...	We ran into these very friendly Romanian tourists ...
Topping out on the Tree Route with the Needles in ...	Sunset at the Dome Rock parking lot. Taken Septem...