All Locations > California > Northeast Calif… > Lost Sierra

Crystal Lake Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Crystal Lake

L › R R › L A › Z

	Crystal Balls S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Crystal Corner S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Crystal Light S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Crystal Meth S 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Dark Crystal, The S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

Explore this area in 3D

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:	6,701 ft	2,042 m
GPS:	40.0467, -120.88407 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	6,310 total · 64/month
Shared By:	Lurk Er on Oct 14, 2016
Admins:	Aron Quiter, Lurk Er, Muscrat, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Description

Crystal Lake offers decent climbing in an amazing setting. The rock is well-featured with cool pockets, big edges, and seams. The crag itself is pretty small (5 routes), but sits right on the south shore of Crystal Lake, and is a great place to spend the day. Go climbing, take a break for a swim, and check out the cliff jumping!

This area is recently developed, and the rock is covered with lichen, but is generally quite solid. Bring a brush or be prepared for a little dirt; the routes should clean up well with time and traffic.

The season here is generally spring-fall, with summer being by far the best time. The wall faces due north and is at just below 7000' in elevation, so even on the hottest days of summer, it's perfectly climbable. And if it's too hot, jump in the lake.

Excellent camping can be found on the lake itself, on the lower saddle just before the descent to the lake, or on the upper saddle just before the sign that says "Crystal Lake Access".

Getting There

From Quincy, head out of town on Quincy Junction Rd., taking a left onto Mt. Hough Rd. after a few miles. Follow the main drag all the way to Mt. Hough, roughly 10 miles from the turnoff.

From Highway 89 to the north, take a left on Arlington Rd., and just before the small town of Taylorsville, take a right on China Grade Rd. Approximately 8 miles from the turnoff.

Whichever way you come from, you can drive all the way down to the shore of Crystal Lake, but NOT RECOMMENDED unless you have 4WD and high clearance. If you do, the climbing is a flat 5 minute hike around the lake. The formation is on the opposite side of the lake from the parking, at the toe of a large buttress of rock.

If you don't, I would recommend parking at the upper saddle (just before the "Crystal Lake Access" sign) for passenger/2WD vehicles, or at the lower saddle for Subaru/AWD vehicles. Either one will add a few minutes to the approach but will save you from destroying your car.