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Mount St. Helena Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 2,262 ft |
| GPS: |
38.65266, -122.59982 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 617,300 total · 2,419/month |
| Shared By: | Brian Quiter on Jun 17, 2002 · Updates |
| Admins: | Aron Quiter, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Description
WARNING: The St. Helena climbing area (excluding “the bubble” area) was severely affected by the Napa/Sonoma fires of October, 2017. Although many routes were cleaned and rebolted in 2018, it's possible that rock on some routes are unstable. Check the forum discussion for the latest on climbing impacts.
Overlooking Napa Valley, Mount St. Helena is about the most scenic climbing in the Bay Area. If you're willing to hike there's a ton of trad climbing in the area, but thus far, I've been too lazy to get anywhere but the three sport climbing areas. The rock is volcanic in origin, and ranges widely in forms, thus specific descriptions will be saved for each crag. Recently, Aron and I discovered that Forrest Shute has been hiding in the Los Angeles area. He mentioned that he had about half of all the first ascents on the Mountain, and that there's a lot more climbing past the Far Side than just that available in guidebooks. Hopefully, we'll be able to share a little more of his wisdom in the future.
See the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park website for more information.
Overlooking Napa Valley, Mount St. Helena is about the most scenic climbing in the Bay Area. If you're willing to hike there's a ton of trad climbing in the area, but thus far, I've been too lazy to get anywhere but the three sport climbing areas. The rock is volcanic in origin, and ranges widely in forms, thus specific descriptions will be saved for each crag. Recently, Aron and I discovered that Forrest Shute has been hiding in the Los Angeles area. He mentioned that he had about half of all the first ascents on the Mountain, and that there's a lot more climbing past the Far Side than just that available in guidebooks. Hopefully, we'll be able to share a little more of his wisdom in the future.
See the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park website for more information.
Getting There
From the majority of the Bay Area, it is quickest to take 80 East (though it goes mostly north) PAST highway 29, and take 12 west until it intersects 29 at a stop light.
Here, go right and drive through wine country (buy wine too).
In the town of Calistoga, 29 takes a right at a stop sign.
Continue on 29 out of Calistoga where it begins to get windy.
The road proceeds up the shoulder of Mount St. Helena.
At the top, there will be a pedestrians crossing sign promptly followed by parking areas on both the right and left sides of the road, they're pretty easy to fly by, but that's where you park.
You can park on either lot, and then which way to hike from there depends on your specific destination.
Here, go right and drive through wine country (buy wine too).
In the town of Calistoga, 29 takes a right at a stop sign.
Continue on 29 out of Calistoga where it begins to get windy.
The road proceeds up the shoulder of Mount St. Helena.
At the top, there will be a pedestrians crossing sign promptly followed by parking areas on both the right and left sides of the road, they're pretty easy to fly by, but that's where you park.
You can park on either lot, and then which way to hike from there depends on your specific destination.
Classic Climbing Routes at Mount St. Helena
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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