PRINT: Bouldering in Bald Rock Picnic Area, Northeast California

Bald Rock Picnic Area

California > Northeast Calif… > Lost Sierra > Bald Rock

Description

This area is named for the summit in its midst, Big Bald Rock. Together with Bald Rock Dome, it is part of the Bald Rock areas.

This is an area of rolling granite slabs covered with boulders and some some short cliffs with enough features to do as trad leads or topropes. Problems and routes of a variety of difficulties may be had here. Some of the granite is sharp to the tune of Joshua Tree rock.

A natural year round playground for Chico area climbers.

Getting There

Highway 162 east from Oroville, which may be your last stop for grub. Turn right at Bald Rock Road. Turn left on to a short dirt road at a Plumas National Forest sign for Big Bald Rock Trailhead. Park in the dirt lot with an outhouse and follow the signed trail for half a mile to the rolling slabs of Bald Rock.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Muscle Butt - Picnic Area

Bald Rock Picnic Area Overview Map

Picnic Area

Arete problem at the picnic area

Hacky Sack Crack

Bouldering - Picnic Area

The rolling granite landscape.

A nice moderate trad crack on one of the taller walls near the summit marker of Big Bald Rock.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

John Jackson
Homewood, CA

This area is typically referred to as "Bald Rock Picnic Area". Not to be confused with the nearby (though hard to find without specific approach directions) impressive, Bald Rock Dome area. Bald Rock Dome is comparable to the domes in Tuolumne Meadows, with the upper section of the dome featuring sustained, unbroken steep granite slab climbing up to 700+ feet*. (*Much longer routes than 700' possible if you go all the way to the bottom to start, below the standard upper dome start, and link the wall that drops into the canyon with the upper dome)
Check out the Camp 4 Press website for photos of Bald Rock Dome and to preview the guidebook (Rock Climbs of Northeast California) for that area. camp4press.com Sep 15, 2014

Justin Johnsen
Sacramento, CA

Thanks John, I added a link to the guide, and updated the page using your feedback. Sep 15, 2014

splitclimber

This area should be included with the Bald Rock Dome section instead of Lost Sierra IMO.

There are several really fun arête problems on these boulders and a worthwhile location to boulder.

also, does anyone know the rating of the 30 foot overhanging splitter crack near the summit area? Jul 21, 2015