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All Locations > California > Sierra Eastside > Bishop Area > Owens River Gorge

Lower Gorge Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Lower Gorge

Big Tower 2 / 12 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14
Blocky Top Area 1 / 13 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14
Dead Crow Buttress 1 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Diamond Face 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5
Diamondback Area 0 / 10 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11
Grey Wall 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Oh Face, The 0 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4
Penstock Rock 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5
Pink Face 3 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14
Pitstop 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Powerhouse Wall 0 / 6 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 6
Road Wave Crag 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2
Warning Signs 4 / 26 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 29
Elevation: 5,353 ft
GPS: 37.49, -118.567 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 54,395 total · 370/month
Shared By: Tom Helvie on Jul 20, 2006
Admins: Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, AWinters, M. Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer suchoski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes
Getting weather forecast...
Access Issue: Protect Access in Owens River Gorge! Details

Description

One of the lesser crowded areas despite having great routes in all grades. Penstock and Warning Signs are the most popular areas in the Lower gorge. The power plant does detract from the atmosphere. All of the cliffs are located off of the power plant road.

Getting There

Either approach from the central gully, taking a right at the bottom of the gully, or by the South gorge approach (middle power plant road).

The page location shows the south parking area.

110 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Lower Gorge

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 43
● Warning: Laser Beam
Sport
Warning Signs
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 28
● Watch For Rocks
Sport
Warning Signs
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 37
● Coming Attractions
Sport
Big Tower
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 16
● Elmo
Sport
Warning Signs
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 41
● Valley 5.8
Sport
Powerhouse Wall
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 26
● Director's Cut
Sport
Big Tower
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 10
● Exit Stage Left
Sport
Big Tower
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 26
● Results May Vary
Sport
Warning Signs
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 48
● Warning Signs
Sport
Warning Signs
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 26
● Timeless
Sport
Warning Signs
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 7
● Dusk 'til Dawn
Sport
Diamondback Area
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 4
● Steel Reserve/ No Reserves
Sport
Oh Face
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 18
● D.W.P.
Sport
Penstock Rock
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 22
● Pumping Groundwater
Sport
Penstock Rock
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 33
● Flashflood
Sport
Penstock Rock
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Warning: Laser Beam Warning Signs
 43
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Watch For Rocks Warning Signs
 28
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Coming Attractions Big Tower
 37
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Elmo Warning Signs
 16
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Valley 5.8 Powerhouse Wall
 41
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Director's Cut Big Tower
 26
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Exit Stage Left Big Tower
 10
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Results May Vary Warning Signs
 26
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Warning Signs Warning Signs
 48
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Timeless Warning Signs
 26
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Dusk 'til Dawn Diamondback Area
 7
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Steel Reserve/ No Reserves Oh Face
 4
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● D.W.P. Penstock Rock
 18
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Pumping Groundwater Penstock Rock
 22
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Flashflood Penstock Rock
 33
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Lower Gorge »

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Photos

Crossing battle! Lower Owens River Gorge.
Crossing battle! Lower Owens River Gorge.
 1
Busy day at the Lower Gorge
Busy day at the Lower Gorge
 1
The casual Lower Gorge approach. <br> <br> Then the Gulag Death March out - Beware!
The casual Lower Gorge approach. Then the G…
 1
The confusing sign that says Middle Gorge, but is the LOWER GORGE & LG PARKING for climbers.
The confusing sign that says Middle Gorge, but…
 0

6 Comments

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grizz Burton
grizz Burton  
Does anyone know anything about the three new lines in the lower gorge that you encounter on your left, just as the road flattens? I know that they have brand new gold colored hangers, mussy anchors and are probably in the 5.7 to 5.9 range. They use up all of a 60m rope to lower. Because of the blocky nature of the top, there is a lot of rope drag to toprope. Oct 18, 2008
Bruce Willey
Bishop, CA
Bruce Willey   Bishop, CA
Did them yesterday, well two of them (far left and far right) before we ran out of daylight. More like mountaineering routes (respectfully) thann the usual sporty ORG experience. They were good, though. Reckon they come in at 5.6 or so. Feb 4, 2010
rex parker
las vegas n.v
rex parker   las vegas n.v
yeah i seen people climbing that yesterday.. they left their gear on the pavement....woah be carefull water and power come screaming around their in their trucks... also before these climbs up the road on the white pumice rock a crazy new slab climb with six bolts to shunt anchor looks sweet right nof the pavement after the second bend coming down the hill... who dunnit? rex Dec 22, 2011
Howie Stern
Mammoth Lakes, Ca
Howie Stern   Mammoth Lakes, Ca
That new route just down from the parking lot was put up by myself, Michael Forkash, and Kent Barton back in December of 2009. It is called Road Wave (10c). Very fun! Dec 22, 2011
MisterE Wolfe
Bishop, CA
MisterE Wolfe   Bishop, CA
The GPS coordinates for the Lower Gorge Turn-off are: 37 29.375'N, 118 34.044' W Mar 6, 2017
MisterE Wolfe
Bishop, CA
MisterE Wolfe   Bishop, CA
2023 steps: Big Tower bridge to gate - just for reference. :) Jul 4, 2018

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