CLOSED FOR SAFETY* Ahwahnee Boulders Climbing

Please do not climb as of August 23, 2023. Per the Yosemite Climbing Rangers, "A new crack system appeared overnight and there is concern that a major rockfall could happen. The park Geologist will be assessing the scene and we will keep you updated on any further changes." See here for closure.

The Ahwahnee Boulders is one of the most densely concentrated and thoroughly developed boulder fields in Yosemite Valley, perhaps second only to the Camp 4 circuit. Here you will find a great variety of problems at all levels of difficulty. This area encompasses everything from the east end of Church Bowl on down past the Ahwahnee. Great White (V1) and problems further east are typically organized under the "Horse Trail Boulders".

The Ahwahnee Boulders lie at the base of an enormous talus field spreading below the Rhombus Wall and the left end of Royal Arches. The best boulders, or rather the boulders with the best landings, lie out away from the talus and line both sides of the Horse Trail near the road. As you explore further north you will quickly encounter a jumbled mess of blocks with horrid landings and pitfalls not suitable for bouldering.

Although located on the sunny side of the Valley, the Ahwahnee features some cold pockets of air. These are fed by tunnels and crevasses in the monstrous talus which breath out cool air from deep underground. It makes bouldering there on warm days a bit more reasonable than other north side locations. The area is also known for having a number of great problems that are close to the ground with good landings. If you find yourself in the Valley without a crashpad this is a good area to get a lot of stuff done without breaking your ankles. This is a very high-profile area, visited by many non-climbers, so try to not overdue it with the chalk and tick marks if you're within clear view of the trail or road.