Hetch Hetchy Rock Climbing

Hetch Hetchy Valley has been named the "other Yosemite Valley". Situated inside Yosemite National Park, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was described by John Muir as "one of nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples". Initially protected by the establishment of Yosemite National Park, in 1913 the city of San Francisco won congressional approval to build the O’Shaughnessy dam on the Tuolumne River, which flowed along the valley floor. The dam buried the valley under 300 feet of water.

Today, the reservoir and dam dominate the character of Hetchy Hetchy Valley. Climbers seldom venture here, opting instead for the Mecca that is Yosemite Valley. Nonetheless, Hetch Hetchy is well worth a visit by you, your partner and your gear if you are looking for something different.

Hetch Hetchy offers a mix of climbs, from easy roadside topropes to long and hard aid routes on its tall walls. As you would expect from an area that has not had generations of climbers on its routes, the rock can be a tad dirty in places. Information does not abound on the routes. However, at Hetch Hetchy you will find a different face of Yosemite, solitude, adventure, fun climbs and a chance to leave the guidebook behind and put up new routes.

Last but not least, hopefully you will find inspiration among its sheer granite walls, and the opportunity to ponder the debate of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley first hand.