Owl Tor Rock Climbing
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: | 1,412 ft | 430 m |
GPS: |
35.11955, -120.10394 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
|
Page Views: | 60,941 total · 243/month | |
Shared By: | steve edwards on Jun 17, 2004 · Updates | |
Admins: | andy patterson, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Description
The sportsman's paradise of the central coast. Steep burly routes on a fairly blank but very overhanging wall. The most purely physical climbing on the West Coast, Owl Tor has about a dozen route from 5.12 to 5.14.
Weather? The area around Santa Maria is subject to some extremes: from freezing to sweltering, the Tor has it all, but expect it to almost always be relatively climbable. In heavy rain years, however, seepage eventually makes its way down the face of the crag, sliming pockets and jugs and creating a generally swampy environment. Still, you can often climb in a full-on downpour and have the smug satisfaction that you are probably the only person on the Central Coast climbing outside on dry rock.
The Tor has some high-quality variations/linkups. Trust me, they're good. Here's a spreadsheet for clarity:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MkiIMs6Sw9OsbyH3OcV4D0yvutZLd6-OThvyUdTR2xU/edit#gid=0
Weather? The area around Santa Maria is subject to some extremes: from freezing to sweltering, the Tor has it all, but expect it to almost always be relatively climbable. In heavy rain years, however, seepage eventually makes its way down the face of the crag, sliming pockets and jugs and creating a generally swampy environment. Still, you can often climb in a full-on downpour and have the smug satisfaction that you are probably the only person on the Central Coast climbing outside on dry rock.
The Tor has some high-quality variations/linkups. Trust me, they're good. Here's a spreadsheet for clarity:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MkiIMs6Sw9OsbyH3OcV4D0yvutZLd6-OThvyUdTR2xU/edit#gid=0
Getting There
From Santa Barbara, take the 101 North to Santa Maria, then exit the 166 and drive East. After about thirty minutes or so, take a left off of hwy 166 at Rock Front Ranch. Drive through a gate (usually open, unless it has rained a bunch) and go for about a quarter of a mile till the road suddenly shoots steeply up a hill. Park on the left. A small trail on the left will deposit you at the base of the crag after about 3 minutes.
Classic Climbing Routes at Owl Tor
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Weather Averages
High
|
Low
|
Precip
|
Days w Precip
|
Prime Climbing Season
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
All Photos Within Owl Tor
Most Popular · Newest · RandomMore About Owl Tor
Printer-FriendlyWhat's New
Guidebooks (2)
21 Comments