Elevation: 4,141 ft
GPS: 37.36119, -118.39539
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 5,926,825 total · 31,339/month
Shared By: Euan Cameron on Nov 18, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description

Bishop is blessed with perfect climbing conditions. Not only is the climate perfect for climbing with only 6" average annual rainfall, and over 300 days of sunshine, the crags and boulders that surround the town are world-class.

The Owens River Gorge (ORG) has hundreds of top quality sport routes, and the Happy and Buttermilks bouldering venues both have world class problems. Each of the areas have distinct characteristics, the ORG has long pumpy routes, the Happy Boulders have fun boulders that suit strong fingers and flexibility, while the Buttermilks offer fine technical challenges that reward good technique and hard callouses in one of the most scenic settings in the country.

There are many more areas than these mentioned to go climb at - just as well the weather won't let you down - 'cause you'll be busy.

In the summer months when the valley is hot there are always the higher elevations of the Mammoth and June areas no further than 1 hour away, or you can cool off with a float down the Owens River, just east of Bishop.

Need a guidebook? See here mountainproject.com/books/1…

Tape? Chalk? Check out Wilson's Eastside Sports on Main St., downtown Bishop for all your outdoorsy needs.

 

Unknown climber getting to grips with the last hold before the throw on Stained Glass

Photo by Micah Bryan Humphrey

Getting There

Bishop is located on US 395, about 4 hours North of Los Angeles and about 4 hours South of Reno.

Fly into the Bishop Airport and be climbing in no time! United Express began service to BIH in December 2021.  Currently flights are available seasonally - daily direct flights from Denver and San Francisco from mid-December through March and six day/week flights to San Francisco from mid-June through Labor Day.  Service will likely expand to year round flights in the coming years.

It is a trek no matter where you come from, but one well worth making.

Camping out at The Pit. Can't say I've been to many campgrounds with better scenery than this one.

Buttermilks afternoon

3,142 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Bishop Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V4 6B PG13
 169
Jedi Mind Tricks
Boulder
V5 6C
 169
Strength in Numbers (Original SIN)
Boulder
V6 7A
 118
Saigon
Boulder
V6 7A
 281
The Ruckus (aka Seven Spanish An…
Boulder
V7 7A+
 254
High Plains Drifter
Boulder
V8 7B
 100
Flyboy SDS
Boulder
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 137
Southwest Arete
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 174
Pratt's Crack
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 339
West Face
Trad 4 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 328
Sheila
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 95
V8 Crack
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 161
O.R.G.asm
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 184
Grindrite
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 98
Queen of the Heartbreaks
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 92
Darshan (aka Ripoff)
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Jedi Mind Tricks Buttermilk Country > Pollen Grains /… > Jedi Boulder
 169
V4 6B PG13 Boulder
Strength in Numbers (Origin… Volcanic Tablel… > … > Strength in Num… > Strength in Numbers
 169
V5 6C Boulder
Saigon Buttermilk Country > Buttermilks Main > Saigon Boulder
 118
V6 7A Boulder
The Ruckus (aka Seven Spani… Buttermilk Country > Get Carter Boulder
 281
V6 7A Boulder
High Plains Drifter Buttermilk Country > Buttermilks Main > Drifter/Smoking Boulder
 254
V7 7A+ Boulder
Flyboy SDS Buttermilk Country > Buttermilks Main > Stained Glass/Flyboy…
 100
V8 7B Boulder
Southwest Arete Buttermilk Country > … > Peabody Boulders > Grandma Peabody Boulder
 137
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Pratt's Crack Pine Creek Canyon > Scheelite Canyo… > Pratt's Crack / Dihed…
 174
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
West Face Cardinal Pinnacle
 339
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 4 pitches
Sheila Pine Creek Canyon > Scheelite Canyo… > Pratt's Crack / Dihed…
 328
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
V8 Crack Cardinal Pinnacle
 95
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad
O.R.G.asm Owens River Gorge > Upper Gorge > Dihedrals
 161
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Grindrite Owens River Gorge > Upper Gorge > Gotham City
 184
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Queen of the Heartbreaks Pine Creek Canyon > Scheelite Canyo… > Pratt's Crack / Dihed…
 98
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Darshan (aka Ripoff) Owens River Gorge > Central Gorge > Upper Crust
 92
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Bishop Area »

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