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Luther Rock

California > Lake Tahoe > S Shore

Description

Located on the southern side of Lake Tahoe, Luther Rock sits high above HWY 89.  The rock is severely weathered featured granite and makes for fun climbing.  Luther Rock is west facing and sits in the sun most of day.  Making a great place for spring or fall climbing. The approach takes about 30 to 50 minutes get to the Detox wall.

Getting There

From HWY 50 east bound towards Lake Tahoe. Before you reach South Lake Tahoe, take a right on Highway 89 (to Kirkwood).

From Lake Tahoe, take HWY 50 heading west and go left on HWY 89 (to Kirkwood).

The pull-out for Luther Rock (the Distillery and Detox wall) is on the west side of the road approx 3.4 miles  from point you turn on HWY 89 from HWY 50 or .9 miles from portal road (located on HWY 89).  The trail is on of the east side of the road. There are visible cairns from the pull-out where you should park. The pull out has space for  about 3 cars and is half pavement, half dirt.

The location coordinates and map location are for the parking area!  -   38.804400, -120.009850

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Luther Rock Overview Map
[Hide Photo] Luther Rock Overview Map
looking down on the scree pile approach from Distillery Wall
[Hide Photo] looking down on the scree pile approach from Distillery Wall
Topo of approach via GPS watch
[Hide Photo] Topo of approach via GPS watch
Ryan on the approach
[Hide Photo] Ryan on the approach

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Aron Quiter
Oakland, CA
[Hide Comment] Rented a house in Christmas Valley last winter and got to spend some time wandering around, but not doing much climbing.

There's a boulder on Blitzen, which is the road that is one block west of highway 89 about 1/4 mile south of 50, which (I think) is called The Blitzen Boulder. I was told of 100+ problems, but I only think there are about 15 on a 12' boulder. Maybe the boulder, which is located in between 3 houses between colusa and shakori (and probably on private property), isn't the blitzen Boulder.

I'd ask one of the neighbors before climbing to respect their privacy, and probably one of the two that doesn't have the huge growling rottweiler fenced up in their yard.

There's also additional bolted and TRAD climbing in the cliffs directly east of 89 if you head straight up hill from 89 and Elf ave. It's a 15 minute steep walk to the first bolts, and there are many other cliffs up above the first band. Oct 11, 2007
RJ Ward
Gardnerville, NV
[Hide Comment] Bolting is very weird and intimidating here. Jul 1, 2024