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

Lower Gorge Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Lower Gorge

Epitaph, The 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Lower Main 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

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:	4,798 ft	1,462 m
GPS:	39.33112, -120.64413 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	2,095 total · 21/month
Shared By:	Justin Johnsen on Jan 10, 2018 · Updates
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: 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.

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.

Description

The Lower Gorge contains an impressive cliff of steep, highly-featured, and heavily water-streaked granite. The area is in a state of constant change due to flooding and storm damage. Most recently, Ethan Pringle spent time in the summer and fall of 2019 rebolting some older lines and developing new lines. Josh Horniak's guide also has some information prior to this update, but anything that wasn't rebolted recently may be suspect, so exercise caution while climbing here and don't rely too heavily on the guidebook.

Thanks to Ethan's efforts, this area currently holds some of the hardest sport climbs in the region, with more than one 14- line. The easiest line starts at mid-11 and most of the climbing is in the 12+ to 14- range, at least of the recently rebolted lines.

Getting There

Though possible to reach the wall from the upper and middle gorge, it is much easier to approach via the creek bed. Follow directions to Steel Monkey Wall, then keep going in the same direction until you are deposited out onto the rocky creek bed. Stay on the right side of this creek bed for a half a mile and you'll find the entrance to the lower gorge on your right by passing over some large boulders. This approach should take around 25 minutes from the parking, but it could be longer if you approach from the lower gorge or miss the Steel Monkey Wall fork.

If you end up at the middle or upper gorge, you can follow a small, seasonal creek bed on the hill opposite the main lower gorge wall to get down (or up). It is also possible to scramble between the areas, but this most likely will require a few unprotected 5th class slab moves.