All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley N Side > B. El Capitan

Base Routes Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Base Routes

Southeast Base 7 / 2 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 10

Southwest Base 38 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 39

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Elevation:	4,100 ft	1,250 m
GPS:	37.72809, -119.63686 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	321,902 total · 1,330/month
Shared By:	Sketchy Sam on Jul 13, 2006
Admins:	Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Latest updates on closures, permits, and regulations. Details

Please visit nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… for the latest information on visiting Yosemite, including permits, regulations, and closure information.

Yosemite National Park has yearly closures for Peregrine Falcon Protection March 1- July 15. Always check the NPS website 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 warnings due to current fires, smoke, etc.

Description

The base of El Capitan is home to numerous dreamy classic climbs to cut your teeth on while gazing up at the Big Stone.

Getting There

Park in El Cap Meadows area and hike the trail up to the base. Figure on about 10 minutes for the approach.

49 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Base Routes

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

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 592 ● Pine Line Trad Southwest Base > Moby Dick & Pterodact…
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 234 ● La Cosita, Left Trad Southwest Base > Little John & La Cosita
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 198 ● Little John, Right Trad 3 pitches Southwest Base > Little John & La Cosita
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 288 ● La Cosita, Right Trad Southwest Base > Little John & La Cosita
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 11 ● Peter Pan Trad 3 pitches Southwest Base > Slack to W Buttress
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 572 ● Moby Dick Center Trad Southwest Base > Moby Dick & Pterodact…
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 345 ● Sacherer Cracker Trad Southwest Base > Slack to W Buttress
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 8 ● West Buttress (pitch 1&2) Trad 2 pitches Southwest Base > Slack to W Buttress
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 99 ● Ahab Trad Southwest Base > Moby Dick & Pterodact…
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 5 ● The Slack, Left Trad 3 pitches Southwest Base > Slack to W Buttress
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 6 ● Party Mix Trad Southeast Base
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 297 ● Salathe (pitch 1) Trad Southwest Base > Moby Dick & Pterodact…
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 28 ● Hardly Pinnacle Trad Southwest Base > Little John & La Cosita
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 40 ● Mark of Art Trad Southwest Base > Slack to W Buttress
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c PG13 5 ● TRON Sport Southeast Base