Elevation: 4,141 ft
GPS: 37.36119, -118.39539
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 5,930,143 total · 30,715/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

3,168 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.
V0 4
 568
Hero Roof
Boulder
V1 5 PG13
 633
Heavenly Path
Boulder
V4 6B
 488
Iron Man Traverse
Boulder
V4 6B
 566
Solarium
Boulder
V4 6B
 446
Ketron Classic
Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 342
Babushka
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 361
West Face
Trad 4 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 322
Gorgeous
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 342
Sheila
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 317
Hardly Wallbanger
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 218
Expressway
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 186
Grindrite
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 221
Coven (Seriously Though)
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 209
Flame Thrower
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 170
From Chocolate to Morphine
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Hero Roof Buttermilk Country > … > Iron Man Area > Hero Roof Boulder
 568
V0 4 Boulder
Heavenly Path Volcanic Tablel… > … > Central Happine… > Heavenly Path Boulder
 633
V1 5 PG13 Boulder
Iron Man Traverse Buttermilk Country > … > Iron Man Area > Iron Man Boulder
 488
V4 6B Boulder
Solarium Volcanic Tablel… > … > Central Happine… > Solarium Boulder
 566
V4 6B Boulder
Ketron Classic Volcanic Tablel… > … > Savannah Area > Savannah Boulder
 446
V4 6B Boulder
Babushka Owens River Gorge > Central Gorge > Warm Up Wall
 342
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
West Face Cardinal Pinnacle
 361
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 4 pitches
Gorgeous Owens River Gorge > Upper Gorge > Gorgeous Towers
 322
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Sheila Pine Creek Canyon > Scheelite Canyo… > Pratt's Crack / Dihed…
 342
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Hardly Wallbanger Owens River Gorge > Central Gorge > Pub Wall
 317
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Expressway Owens River Gorge > Central Gorge > Upper Crust
 218
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Grindrite Owens River Gorge > Upper Gorge > Gotham City
 186
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Coven (Seriously Though) Pine Creek Canyon > Scheelite Canyo… > Mustache Wall
 221
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Flame Thrower Pine Creek Canyon > Scheelite Canyo… > Mustache Wall
 209
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
From Chocolate to Morphine Owens River Gorge > Central Gorge > Faulty Tower
 170
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Bishop Area »

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