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El Cajon Mountain Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in El Cajon Mountain

ECM Trail Crags 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Fly Dog Buttress 7 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11

Goofy 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Mountaineer Walls 53 / 92 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 6 / 145

Quarry Wall 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 4

Title Boulder, The 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Wedge, The 24 / 52 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 64

Explore this area in 3D

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:	2,345 ft	715 m
GPS:	32.9041, -116.818 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	449,454 total · 1,861/month
Shared By:	Marc Kajut on Feb 1, 2006 · Updates
Admins:	Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Raptor Nesting Advisory Details

Please avoid raptor nests. El Cajon Mountain- Golden Eagles nested successfully at this site in 2009, after relocating twice between alternate nest sites. The Golden Eagle nest at El Cajon Mountain was not successful in Spring 2010. This nest was successful and fledged young in 2011 - 2021. Details from USFS posted here: fs.usda.gov/detail/clevelan…

The El Cajon Mountain climbing area is in close proximity to the San Diego River Park Foundation property. This property's purpose is to protect and conserve San Diego's threatened habitat and wildlife in perpetuity. Specifically, the San Diego River Park Foundation are protecting golden eagles that nest in the area and ceanothus, a California lilac that is an endemic sensitive plant species. Please avoid and limit recreational activities at the San Diego River Park Foundation property to promote San Diego's threatened habitat and wildlife. Thank you!

Description

El Cajon Mountain is located in East San Diego County. The area is primarily a sport climbing destination, but hiking out with a few cams won't disappoint the discerning trad climber. Although most will brave the long approach to have at the classics on the Main Wall aka The Wedge. An abundance of amazing single to three pitch routes exists on the surrounding mountainside.

Getting There

Take Hwy 67 or Interstate 8 to Lake Jennings Rd then continue heading east on El Monte Rd. Continue about 5.6 miles to an area along the north side of the road beside several 8' high telephone poles. If you reached the gate to El Capitan Reservoir you've gone too far. From the parking area on the north side, walk east a few hundred feet and you should see the wood plank foot bridge heading across the San Diego River. Follow the trail north. The first trail leaving the road leads to the Main Wall aka The Wedge, the second leads to The Mountaineers Wall.

228 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	El Cajon Mountain Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at El Cajon Mountain

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 196 ● Meteor Sport 4 pitches Wedge > Left Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 317 ● Leonids Sport 3 pitches Wedge > Left Wall
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 36 ● The Swiftness Trad Wedge > Triton Tower
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 18 ● Black Castle Sport Wedge > Center/Headwall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 101 ● Triton Tower Sport 3 pitches Wedge > Triton Tower
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 33 ● Crackamite Trad Wedge > Right Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 23 ● Line of Fire Sport Wedge > Right Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 23 ● Swiftness Direct Trad, Sport Wedge > Triton Tower
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 49 ● Tears of Envy Sport Wedge > Center/Headwall
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 6 ● River of Life Trad Fly Dog Buttress
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 14 ● Diamond of San Diego Sport 5 pitches Wedge > Center/Headwall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 30 ● The Commander Sport 5 pitches Wedge > Center/Headwall
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 20 ● Pockets of Resistance Sport Wedge > Triton Tower
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c 4 ● Here's My Number Sport 2 pitches Wedge > Madness Wall
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c 6 ● I'm Your Huckleberry Trad Wedge > Right Wall