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 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 6

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

6. Middle Cathedral Rock 53 / 6 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 60

7. Lower Cathedral Area 25 / 24 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 47

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:	3,991 ft	1,216 m
GPS:	37.72048, -119.62954 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	465,352 total · 2,011/month
Shared By:	Salamanizer Ski on Nov 29, 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 climbingyosemite.com/ and 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

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.

139 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 325 ● Braille Book Trad 6 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 1,274 ● Central Pillar of Frenzy Trad 5 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 469 ● Regular Route (Higher Cathedral… Trad 4 pitches 3. Higher Cathedral S…
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a PG13 330 ● Northeast Buttress Trad 11 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 46 ● Book of Job Trad 6 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R 68 ● Stoner's Highway Trad 10 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b A0 989 ● East Buttress Trad, Aid 11 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 123 ● Mac Daddy Sport 7. Lower Cathed… > N Buttress Base Routes
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 41 ● Bircheff-Williams Trad 5 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 37 ● King for a Day Sport 7. Lower Cathed… > Mecca
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 34 ● The Crucifix Trad 5 pitches 5. Higher Cathedral Rock
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b R 31 ● Border Country Trad 12 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 7 ● Gaia (1st 7 pitches) Trad 7 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 10 ● Empire Sport 7. Lower Cathed… > Mecca
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c PG13 12 ● Father Time Trad 20 pitches 6. Middle Cathedral Rock