Williamson Rock Rock Climbing

Williamson Rock was Southern California's premier sport climbing area until its closure in December 2005. The area features nearly 300 quality routes of all grades from beginner to expert level on highly featured granite. Located in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains, an hours drive from the city of La Canada, north of Los Angeles, on Highway 2, or 1/2 hour from Wrightwood, if driving from the east.

Prior to its closure in December 2005, in order to protect the dwindling population of the Mountain Yellow Legged Frog (MYLF), Williamson Rock was Southern California's most popular sport crag, and there is a new USFS proposal to reopen the crag in August 2016, from August 1st through November 15, under a Visitor Use Permit system. Williamson Rock is a summer climbing destination, offering quality routes from 5.6 - 5.13, in a beautiful mountain setting, located at 7,000 feet elevation.

The climbing at Williamson Rock can be characterized by technical, often strenuous movements requiring good core strength, body english, creative technique, and endurance to succeed. One should be a competent leader, as there are few opportunities to setup top-ropes without leading. As evidenced by the occasional old rusted bolt and hanger, climbing took place at Williamson Rock following its discovery by members of the Sierra Club Rock Climbing Section (RCS) in 1946, but the development of modern sport climbing began in 1987, and Williamson Rock realized its true potential in the mid-90s with route development by Troy Mayr, Sam Owings, Kevin Mokracek, Jack Marshall, and others. For most routes 8 - 12 quickdraws is sufficient to enjoy the often steep, exciting, and exposed climbing at Williamson Rock.