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Southern Sierra - The Needles, Kern River, Domelands, etc. Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Southern Sierra - The Needles, Kern River, Domelands, etc.

Bald Eagle Peak 5 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 9

Bat Rock 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 3

Bohna Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Boulder Gulch 0 / 0 / 0 / 25 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 25

Brewery, The 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Burnt Granola 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Camp 3 Campground Boulders 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Crest, The 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Dome Rock 20 / 5 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 24

Domeland Wilderness 33 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 41 / 41

Dutch Treat 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Elephant Knob 21 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 21

Fortress, The 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Gleason Rock 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Hermit Spires 8 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 9

Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs) 16 / 16 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 31

Keyesville 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Lamont Pinnacles 9 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 9 / 9

Lower Kern River Canyon 24 / 16 / 21 / 24 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 72

Neanderthal Wall 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Needles, The 95 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 103

New Directions 21 / 29 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 52

Parker Bluff 23 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 24 / 24

Prophet, The 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Rincon, The 28 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 31

Roadkill Crag 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Sawmill Road 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Schaffer Buttress (aka the Wall of Silence) 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Scodie Spire 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 5

Sentinel Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Sherman Pass Road 35 / 51 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 18 / 89

Split Mountain 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Trilogy Rock 16 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 16

Valhalla 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

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:	4,117 ft	1,255 m
GPS:	36.02916, -118.46983 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,025,510 total · 4,347/month
Shared By:	Josh Janes on Jun 18, 2006
Admins:	Cory B, Matthew Fienup, Muscrat, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

The upper Kern River Valley, in Sequoia National Forest, is a true outdoor paradise. The area is home to outstanding white water kayaking, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. Natural wonders include the "Grand Canyon of the Kern River" (a scenic waterway cut by the mighty Kern), the southern-most stand of old-growth Giant Sequoias and countless waterfalls, natural water slides, and plunge pools.

AND THEN THERE'S THE CLIMBING.

The area is home to the world famous Needles and several other truly outstanding formations, including Dome Rock and Elephant Knob. It has been said that the Needles themselves are home to the highest density of classic routes anywhere. This is not an overstatement. The overshadowed lesser formations are worthwhile destinations in their own right and should not be overlooked.

Getting There

The Kern River Valley is quite large, so for directions see the description for the specific sub-area you wish to visit

591 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

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Classic Climbing Routes at Southern Sierra - The Needles, Kern River, Domelands, etc.

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

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 284 ● Tree Route Trad 4 pitches Dome Rock
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 64 ● The Lieback Trad 2 pitches Kernville Rock (a.k.a…
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c PG13 238 ● White Punks on Dope Trad 6 pitches Needles > Voodoo Dome
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 185 ● Spooky Trad 2 pitches Needles > Charlatan
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 421 ● Igor Unchained Trad 3 pitches Needles > Witch
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 313 ● Airy Interlude Trad 3 pitches Needles > Witch
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 136 ● Anti-Jello Crack Trad 4 pitches Dome Rock
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 292 ● Thin Ice Trad 3 pitches Needles > Sorcerer
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 153 ● Fancy Free Trad 3 pitches Needles > Charlatan
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b R 59 ● Spook Book Trad 4 pitches Needles > Witch
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 113 ● The Don Juan Wall Trad 5 pitches Needles > Sorcerer
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a PG13 116 ● Atlantis Trad 4 pitches Needles > Sorcerer
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a PG13 48 ● Ankles Away Trad 2 pitches Needles > Witch
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 33 ● Scirocco Sport Needles > Sorcerer
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 42 ● Romantic Warrior Trad 9 pitches Needles > Warlock