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

Sub Gorge Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Sub Gorge

Inyo Mono Line Tower 0 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 9

Mental Ward 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Neptuna Area 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Silent Pillar Wall 0 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 7

Slander Crag 0 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 9

Splashdown Area 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Truck Tire Graveyard Tower 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

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:	4,942 ft	1,506 m
GPS:	37.49687, -118.56447 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	28,284 total · 117/month
Shared By:	david goldstein on Aug 6, 2006 · Updates
Admins:	Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Details

Please continue to be good land stewards and mindful of LADWP.

1) Never park or camp overnight at the access points.
2) Always park off the pavement, taking great care to avoid blocking the gates.
3) Clean up after your dogs. (Local climbers are finding abandoned doggie poop bags.)
4) Pack out all trash and TP, including picking up after others.
5) Use the outhouses if at all possible.

Description

The Sub Gorge is a great area for demophobes and atephobes -- if you choose to visit, you'll almost certainly have the place to yourself. Quality cliffs include Inyo Mono Line Tower, Slander Crag, Splashdown, and Silent Pillar Wall. Slander gets great morning sun and other cliffs are predominantly shady. Almost all the crags are quite close to the river and have a wild feel.

New development and retrofitting in the area has made the sub gorge a worthy climbing area.

Getting There

Park at the southern parking area, as of for Lower Gorge.

The Sub Gorge regular approach is not too bad and takes less time than say, approaching the Great Wall of China via Central Gully. Take the trail heading down from the notch above Slander Crag. When you hit the river, Slander will be just to your left. Head downstream to Inyo Mono Tower and Splashdown area.

Silent Pillar has a separate approach. Head down the scree ridge above Inyo Mono Line Tower and take the trail leading downstream that traverses another loose slope. Wading upstream to other Sub Gorge crags is an adventurous but worthwhile experience if you're prepared for it.

33 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Sub Gorge

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

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 4 ● When You Fish Upon A Star Sport Inyo Mono Line Tower
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 10 ● Scratch 'n Sniff Sport Inyo Mono Line Tower
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 9 ● Basstronaut Sport Slander Crag
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 9 ● Three Stooges Sport Inyo Mono Line Tower
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 9 ● Life in Electric Larvae Land Sport Silent Pillar Wall
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 5 ● Nicely Displayed But Wrappers We… Sport Silent Pillar Wall
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 7 ● Praying Mantle Sport Inyo Mono Line Tower
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 5 ● Spocktopus Sport Slander Crag
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 10 ● Trouterspace Sport Slander Crag
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 8 ● Buried Treasure Sport Silent Pillar Wall
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 5 ● Pull My Finger Sport Inyo Mono Line Tower
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 4 ● Lunarwhal Sport Inyo Mono Line Tower
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 4 ● Left for Dead Sport Silent Pillar Wall
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 7 ● Astronautilus Sport Slander Crag
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 6 ● Rock Lobstar Sport Slander Crag