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Elevation: 2,054 ft
GPS: 34.1116, -118.9264
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 527,937 total · 2,595/month
Shared By: Meredith DB on May 21, 2006 · Updates
Admins: jt512, Nicole Wiesenthal, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes
Page Updates (admin only)
Access Issue: Echo Cliffs - closures still in effect in the Grotto section. Details

Description

Echo Cliffs has become one of the premier sport climbing venues in Southern California and hosts nearly 200 routes. Echo Cliff offers many faces that feature pockets and blocky holds on vertical to overhanging rock in a beautiful, typically sunny setting. Many of the routes found at Echo Cliffs are long and require a 60-meter rope to lower off or toprope, so it's a good idea to always climb with a 60-meter rope and be mindful of the route descriptions and where the end of the rope is. All routes at Echo Cliffs are bolt protected and have fixed anchors at the top. While the temperatures are most enjoyable during the fall, winter, and spring, climbing is still possible in the summer.

Guidebooks: Louie Anderson and Todd Fertig, "Sport Climbing in the Santa Monicas," 2018.

Steve Edwards, "Rock Climbing Santa Barbara and Ventura," 2000.

Getting There

From the 101 Freeway take the Westlake Boulevard exit and head south on Westlake (California 23). After roughly 7 miles turn right (west) on Mulholland Highway. After half a mile turn right on Little Sycamore Canyon Road, which becomes Yerba Buena Road. After 4 miles park in dirt pullouts on either side of the road. The trail starts from parking lot on the right (west) side of road.

The hike in takes about 25 minutes. Take the Mishe Mokwa trail for about 20 minutes. The trail intersects a dry stream bed on right at the bottom of a significant downhill section of the trail. There's a brown sign post in the wash marking the climbers trail. If you find yourself at the overlook you've gone 30 yards to far. Follow the stream bed down to the climbs making every effort to stay on durable surfaces (rock, not soil or vegetation). 

191 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Echo Cliffs

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 108
● Intellitoys
Sport
Test Site
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 119
● Black Tide
Sport
Left Flank
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 122
● B-Line
Sport
Left Flank
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 208
● The Guillotine
Sport
Alcove
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 125
● Casey at the Bat
Sport
Easy Street
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 83
● Blackjack
Sport 2 pitches
Easy Street
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 153
● Espresso
Sport
Java Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 71
● Americano
Sport
Java Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 63
● Windfall
Sport
Treasure Towers
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 80
● Death by Chocolate
Sport
Chocolate Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 100
● Caffeine
Sport
Java Wall
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 65
● Restrain This
Sport
Pink Wall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 71
● Java
Sport
Java Wall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 80
● Geezer
Sport
Alcove
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 52
● Choptop
Sport
White Wall
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Intellitoys Test Site
 108
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Black Tide Left Flank
 119
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● B-Line Left Flank
 122
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● The Guillotine Alcove
 208
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
● Casey at the Bat Easy Street
 125
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Blackjack Easy Street
 83
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
● Espresso Java Wall
 153
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Americano Java Wall
 71
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Windfall Treasure Towers
 63
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Death by Chocolate Chocolate Wall
 80
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Caffeine Java Wall
 100
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Restrain This Pink Wall
 65
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
● Java Java Wall
 71
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Geezer Alcove
 80
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Choptop White Wall
 52
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Echo Cliffs »

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Photos

Map of Echo Cliffs and its climbing areas. April 2017
Map of Echo Cliffs and its climbing areas. Apri…
 36
Nearing the end of another fine day of climbing at Echo Cliffs.
Nearing the end of another fine day of climbing…
 8
Sunrise on the Mishe Mokwa trail. Hiking in early to beat the heat.
Sunrise on the Mishe Mokwa trail. Hiking in ea…
 8
Photo of Echo Cliffs without the map, April 2017
Photo of Echo Cliffs without the map, April 2017
 5
Climbers at Echo Cliffs
Climbers at Echo Cliffs
 5
Joe Wysznski keeping cool on Crash and Burn, 5.12d
Joe Wysznski keeping cool on Crash and Burn, 5.12d
 4
Almost to the bottom of the creek bed
Almost to the bottom of the creek bed
 1
Echo Cliffs, as seen from the Mishe Mokwa trail. The approach trail reaches the Grotto first. The other walls are approached by hiking right (south) along the base of the cliff.
Echo Cliffs, as seen from the Mishe Mokwa trail…
 1
Dudleya pulverulenta, or chalk lettuce, photographed in The Grotto area.
Dudleya pulverulenta, or chalk lettuce, photogr…
 1
Expect to find this rope/rebar ladder after Treasure Towers. After the ladder, you'll find The Alcove, Kamikaze Cave, Dream Street, and Easy Street.
Expect to find this rope/rebar ladder after Tre…
 4
Humboldt Lily, photographed along the trail to Echo Cliffs (listed rare or endangered by CNPS)
Humboldt Lily, photographed along the trail to…
 1
Charles & Echo Cliffs
Charles & Echo Cliffs
 2

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