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El Capitan Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in El Capitan

Base Routes 36 / 5 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 39

Southeast Face of El Cap 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 16

Southwest Face of El Cap 10 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 12

West Face of El Cap 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 4

Elevation:	7,514 ft
GPS:	37.734, -119.638 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	553,251 total · 3,730/month
Shared By:	Josh Janes on Jun 15, 2006
Admins:	M. Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer suchoski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Access Issue: Yosemite National Park climbing closures and conditions Details

Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15.
Always check the Yosemite website Peregrine Closure page at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the most current details and park alerts, and to learn more about the peregrine falcon, and how closures help it survive. This page also shares closures and warning due to current fires, smoke, etc.

Description

The Captain. How can you properly describe 3000 feet of beautiful granite loaded with awesome routes? El Cap is probably the most recognized chunk of rock in the world to rock climbers. Climbers come from across the globe to challenge themselves on the 3000 foot walls of El Capitan. It's an awe-inspiring thing that first time you go to the Valley and stand at the base of El Cap, looking up. So much rock, so little time...

Note: When climbing El Cap, parties should come prepared for harsh weather with little notice. Rescues and even deaths have occurred over the years due to unprepared climbers that were hit by unexpected storms.

Getting There

El Capitan is found on the north side of the Valley, just east of where highway 120 meets highway 140 coming in from El Portal. Can't miss it...

71 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at El Capitan

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

C3 90 ● Zodiac Aid 16 pitches Southeast Face of El Cap
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 143 ● La Cosita, Left Trad Base Routes
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 294 ● Pine Line Trad Base Routes
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b C2 88 ● Lurking Fear Trad, Aid 19 pitches W Face of El Cap
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 122 ● Little John, Right Trad 3 pitches Base Routes
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 72 ● Little John, Left Trad Base Routes
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 171 ● La Cosita, Right Trad Base Routes
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a C2 295 ● The Nose Trad, Aid 31 pitches Southwest Face of El Cap
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a C2 101 ● Salathe Wall Trad, Aid 35 pitches Southwest Face of El Cap
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 328 ● Moby Dick Trad Base Routes
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 186 ● Sacherer Cracker Trad Base Routes
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 301 ● East Buttress Trad 9 pitches Southeast Face of El Cap
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 57 ● Ahab Trad Base Routes
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 155 ● Salathe (pitch 1) Trad Base Routes
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 110 ● Freeblast Trad 10 pitches Base Routes