All Locations > California > Lake Tahoe > I-80 Corridor > Bowman/Emeralds > Emeralds

The Gorge Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in The Gorge

Lower Gorge 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Middle Gorge 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Upper Gorge 0 / 13 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 13

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:	4,783 ft	1,458 m
GPS:	39.33083, -120.64481 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	24,175 total · 188/month
Shared By:	Justin Johnsen on May 23, 2014
Admins:	Ky Bishop, Aron Quiter, Lurk Er, Colby Wangler, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: No overnight camping on PG&E property Details

Noticed several tents while walking into the emeralds climbing area this last weekend ( 5/20/17 ). PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric) has posted several signs at the gate and other areas that state camping is NOT allowed. Please respect this so that access does not become an issue! Thanks in advance, Colby W.

Access Issue: Flood Danger Details

WARNING! As the sign posted at the parking lot reminds you, this area is subject to sudden and severe flooding, especially in run off times (spring and winter). Most of the climbing routes in the gorge are in the potential flooding areas, as walls of the gorge sit below several LARGE floodgates from Lake Spaulding. These gates may open at any time, and as the sign in the parking area states, there may or may not be warning. Being in the gorge when the gates open would probably mean death, and being in the other climbing areas will mean that your exit is blocked until flood waters reside. Read all posted signs in the parking area, and also beware that these may not be updated.

Description

WARNING (this only applies to the Gorge Section and not the Benches section)! As the sign posted at the parking lot reminds you, this area is subject to sudden and severe flooding, especially in run off times (spring and winter). Most of the climbing routes in the gorge are in the potential flooding areas, as walls of the gorge sit below several LARGE floodgates from lake Spaulding. These gates may open at any time, and as the sign in the parking area states, there may or may not be warning. Being in the gorge when the gates open would probably mean death, and being in the other climbing areas will mean that your exit is blocked until flood waters reside. Read all posted signs in the parking area, and also beware that these may not be updated.

Josh Horniak's 2017 North Tahoe Guide has the last published information.

The Gorge and the Wishing Well are located below the outlet gates of Spaulding Reservoir and in the spring and winter can be subject to flooding if the gates are opened or if water is going over the gates. Once the lake level is below the bottom of the gates, which usually occurs in the spring, there is no possibility of flooding. It is easy to determine the level of the lake by hiking to the gates and looking. This potential flooding only refers to the Gorge and the Wishing Well.

This page is being recycled from Aron Quiter's original main page describing the Emeralds.

Getting There

Head east past Kudos/Fast Food Cliff then another 15 minutes to Gorge - follow trail/cairns left at fork - gentle down hill. Enter middle Gorge to access Wishing Well. About 30 minutes from parking area. - mike carville