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Elevation: 5,528 ft
GPS: 38.78951, -120.1825
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Shared By: Justin Johnsen on Jan 20, 2015 · Updates
Admins: Aron Quiter, Lurk Er, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description Suggest change

If you can lead 5.9 trad, there's a lifetime of climbing along highway 50 (paraphrasing George Connor, who has done the same for many years). One can indeed find many varieties of destination, from wilderness to crowded roadsides, for all skill levels and in all styles.

U.S. Route 50 connects Sacramento to Ocean City, Maryland. The section described here winds from its western terminus, up the Sierra Nevada foothills through Folsom and Placerville, weaving alongside the historic Pony Express trail, into the Echo Summit area (after which it descends into the South Shore).

Between Placerville and South Lake Tahoe, the main climber's gear stop is Strawberry Station, in view of the heavily visited Lover's Leap. The Leap is bust for a reason, and a first time visitor should always go there if it's in season.

Read the Eldorado National Forest's brochure on the Highway 50 Corridor.

Getting There Suggest change

From the east, route 50 can be picked up from Carson City or South Lake Tahoe.

From all parts west, it is caught in Sacramento, and signed east to South Lake Tahoe.

Sub areas are lettered from a. at the Tahoe Rim, to the highest letters downhill near the central valley.

923 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Highway 50 Corridor Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Highway 50 Corridor

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 857
Bear's Reach
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1,224
Corrugation Corner
Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 661
The Line
Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
 184
Scimitar
Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 385
Traveler Buttress
Trad 4 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 185
Psychedelic Tree
Trad 3 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 180
Fear of Flying
Trad 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 431
Hospital Corner
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 374
Surrealistic Pillar Direct
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 125
Tombstone Terror
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 257
Candyland
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 169
The Fracture
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 82
Taurus
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 83
Boot Hill
Sport
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 10
Grand Illusion
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bear's Reach Lover's Leap > Main Formation > E Wall
 857
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Corrugation Corner Lover's Leap > Main Formation > Main Wall
 1,224
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
The Line Lover's Leap > Main Formation > E Wall
 661
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
Scimitar Lover's Leap > Main Formation > E Wall
 184
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R Trad 3 pitches
Traveler Buttress Lover's Leap > Main Formation > Main Wall
 385
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 4 pitches
Psychedelic Tree Lover's Leap > Main Formation > E Wall
 185
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
Fear of Flying Phantom Spires > Upper Spire
 180
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Hospital Corner Lover's Leap > Main Formation > W Wall
 431
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Surrealistic Pillar Direct Lover's Leap > Lower Buttress
 374
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Tombstone Terror Lover's Leap > Main Formation > Main Wall
 125
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Candyland Phantom Spires > Middle Spire
 257
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
The Fracture Sugarloaf Area > Sugarloaf > E Face
 169
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Taurus Sugarloaf Area > Sugarloaf > E Face
 82
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
Boot Hill Lover's Leap > Main Formation > Main Wall
 83
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Grand Illusion Sugarloaf Area > Sugarloaf > E Face
 10
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c Trad
More Classic Climbs in Highway 50 Corridor »

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