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: 3,000 ft 914 m
GPS: 32.98227, -116.70788
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 148,758 total · 885/month
Shared By: SCherry on Jan 11, 2011 · Updates
Admins: Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description Suggest change

High quality single, and multi-pitch, sport climbing on beautiful orange and white granite in the San Diego County backcountry. Routes are up to 500’, 80% of approximately 250 pitches are in the 5.11 - 5.12 range, nearly all bolted, all with stainless hardware. There are maybe 15 all gear protected pitches, with Soul Terrain, Scylla and Charybdis being the outstanding opportunities. 

These crags are surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest and stand high over Boulder Creek, a major tributary to the San Diego River, and one of a few backcountry watercourses that runs nearly year round on wet years. The summit of Eagle Peak is considered to have one of San Diego County’s best backcountry views - all the way north to Mount San Gorgonio and Mount San Jacinto, with a glimpse of the Pacific on a clear day.

Weather conditions, particularly temperatures, vary widely through the seasons here, and a locally savvy climber can find climbable temps on almost any day of the year. Generally, from November thru May, most days are pleasant conditions all day. Summer months are typically too hot for most of the routes during midday, with exceptional odd days, but when the sun is high, and the days are long, the steep section of the Right Wall goes into shade before 3:00, leaving 5 or 6 hours of climbing time in the shade for motivated climbers. Tan Man Tower has similar exposure. You can park at 2:00, bear the heat hiking in, and it can be well worth it. The hike back to the car is especially beautiful on a full moon. The summit area, and the Southwest Face area also are shaded until 11 am during the longest days of the year.

The surrounding area is National Forest, particularly around the parking lot, you can camp legally anywhere you want, no fees, a fact the USFS doesn’t advertise. The parking is surrounded by mostly flat, brush covered terrain and a short hike brings a nice level of privacy for a bivi. A short drive opens more aesthetic opportunities, but there is some private land to avoid. The parking in the lot is mostly sloping, so bring some leveling blocks if you want to sleep in your rig. Boulder Creek is the nearest water source for most of the year, a two mile drive South. Nearest restaurant is at Lake Cuyamaca, or in Descanso, both around 12 miles, or a half hour.

Getting There Suggest change

Head out the 8 East from San Diego to the 79. Take 79 North for 1 mile and turn left on Riverside Drive. In 1 mile turn left on Viejas Grade Rd and immediately right on Oak Grove Drive. In 1.5 miles turn right on Boulder Creek Rd. After 5 miles of pavement and 5 miles of graded dirt, the road crosses Boulder Creek. 2 miles further is the trailhead at a hairpin turn with a gated road and a kiosk. The left hand road leading west on a level ridge is the start of the approach. This is also the start of the hike to the popular Three Sisters Waterfalls.

Pass the gate and follow the ridge for .5 mile, then down to a saddle where the junction with the Three Sisters Waterfall trail branches to the left. Continue straight ahead to the west and uphill for .5 mile, then down hill for less than .5 mile. The trail leaves the drainage and hooks to the left (south) climbing slightly and traversing around a small ridge. Just after crossing a gully with a dried up stream bed, the trail becomes steep and switchbacks right. Within 100 feet you'll come to a trail exiting left at a small rock outcrop, this is the trail to the pass and the Main Wall. Continue straight to approach the "summit" area and the true Summit of Eagle Peak. 

Parking to pass is about 30 minutes. The overall hike to the pass rolls and averages level. From the pass to the highest point of the Main Wall is 150 vertical feet, from there  to the base of the Right Wall is 350 vertical feet, to the base of the Direct Route, down another 150 vertical feet. The Summit area, and Eagle Peak proper, with its 400 ft wall, is 300 vertical feet higher than the pass.

The initial descent from the pass is steep and rocky with tight switchbacks. As soon as you reach the more moderate slope, below a big rock outcrop, either follow a switchbacking trail down directly to the base, or exit right and traverse the slope on a mostly level trail which passes just below Tan Man Tower on the way to the edge of the Main Wall. From the pass to top of the wall is about 10 minutes, pass to Lunch Rock at the base is about 15 minutes.

Note: the best way to enjoy your day at Eagle Peak, is to stash your packs at the top of the cliff (there is a large boulder at the cliff edge that is in front of the obvious Tan Man Tower. You can see it from the pass before descending), rack up, and walk down (5 min) to the base and climb out. Not only does this save you the extra steep slog on the way out, but also helps you avoid hanging out at the base for too long. As with most of the San Diego backcountry cliffs, the base can be brutally hot in the sun. Once you're up a pitch there is almost always a nice breeze making the temperatures more enjoyable.

65 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Eagle Peak Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Eagle Peak

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 114
Cruise Line
Sport 5 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 20
Up Stream
Sport 2 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 69
Baby Face
Sport 4 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 18
Blue Moon Arete
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 23
Southwest Face
Sport 5 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 39
Soy Chango
Sport 3 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 17
Bush Doctor
Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 18
The Direct Route
Sport 4 pitches
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 4
Falcon's Rib
Sport 5 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 8
Fly Away Roof
Sport 2 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 10
Tail Tucker Arete
Sport 4 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 5
Crazy Horse
Sport 3 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 5
Scylla
Trad
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 6
Prime Rib
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
Boots On The Ground
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Cruise Line Left Wall
 114
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport 5 pitches
Up Stream Right Wall
 20
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
Baby Face Left Wall
 69
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport 4 pitches
Blue Moon Arete Tan Man Tower
 18
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Southwest Face Left Wall
 23
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport 5 pitches
Soy Chango Right Wall
 39
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport 3 pitches
Bush Doctor Tan Man Tower
 17
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
The Direct Route Left Wall
 18
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport 4 pitches
Falcon's Rib Left Wall
 4
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport 5 pitches
Fly Away Roof Right Wall
 8
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport 2 pitches
Tail Tucker Arete Left Wall
 10
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport 4 pitches
Crazy Horse Right Wall
 5
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport 3 pitches
Scylla Left Wall
 5
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
Prime Rib Left Wall
 6
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Boots On The Ground Right Wall
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Eagle Peak »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading