All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side

Cathedral Area Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Cathedral Area

1. Phantom Pinnacle 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

2. Church Tower 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

3. Higher Cathedral Spire 6 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 6

4. Lower Cathedral Spire 6 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 6

5. Higher Cathedral Rock 17 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 17

6. Middle Cathedral Rock 47 / 5 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 53

7. Lower Cathedral Area 23 / 24 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 45

Elevation:	3,991 ft
GPS:	37.72048, -119.62954 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	461,174 total · 2,320/month
Shared By:	Blitzo on Nov 29, 2006
Admins:	Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: Latest updates on Covid and falcon closures. Details

Please visit climbingyosemite.com/ for the latest information on visiting Yosemite.

Ongoing Issues:
Yosemite National Park climbing closures and conditions.

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

These beautiful twin spires lie to the east of Higher Cathedral Rock. They offer exciting climbing in a spectacular location. The views of El Cap and the Valley are awesome! Other surrounding rocks usually approached from the same starting point include 6. Middle Cathedral Rock, 5. Higher Cathedral Rock, 2. Church Tower and 1. Phantom Pinnacle.

Getting There

Park at Cathedral Rocks pullout, a turnout just before the short loop intersects with Southside Drive. This page's GPS show the pullout on the map.

Hike a trail through the woods east (left) from the south side of the road from the pullout. This hits the big trail running parallel to Cathedral Rocks, go left here then after a short hike pass a left branch, and you'll come to a junction with the fainter of the two trails heading right.

Lower Cathedral Spire is approached by going left around the spires and Upper Cathedral Spire is approached by going right and up the "Spires Gully", which is the same approach for Braille Book and Upper Cathedral Rock.

130 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Cathedral Area

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

5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 262 ● Braille Book Trad 6 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 970 ● Central Pillar of Frenzy Trad 5 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 158 ● Kor-Beck Trad 13 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 382 ● Regular Route (Higher Cathedral… Trad 4 pitches 3. Higher Cathedral S…
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 71 ● Something Good [Kung Fu Panda in… Trad 7. Lower Cathed… > Lower Cathedral Rock
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a PG13 279 ● Northeast Buttress Trad 11 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 118 ● Pee Pee Pillar Trad 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 36 ● Book of Job Trad 6 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R 57 ● Stoner's Highway Trad 10 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 61 ● End of The Line Trad 7. Lower Cathed… > Lower Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 62 ● Unnamed but Beautiful Trad 7. Lower Cathed… > Lower Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 65 ● 76 Degrees in the Shade Trad, Sport 7. Lower Cathed… > Lower Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b A0 808 ● East Buttress Trad, Aid 11 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 109 ● South by Southwest Trad 5 pitches 4. Lower Cathedral Spire
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 86 ● Mac Daddy Sport 7. Lower Cathed… > Lower Cathedral Rock