Patterson Right Rock Climbing

The section of Patterson Bluffs to the right of the waterfall. This area is accessible all year long from the Black Rock Road, so it can be climbed in the cool months of fall, winter and spring. Access often involves nasty bushwacking. Even when trails get cut, bushes grow back within a few years.

Areas near the waterfall are accessed by hiking the creek bed to the base of the waterfall or near there before bushwacking left or right. The base of the waterfall is a nice destination in its own right.

The Balch Camp Flake area has had a few alternate approach routes. An old access road went up the back side past the square reflector. Look for rappel routes to the base. Martzen put one in to the top of the highest buttress, to the right of the Flake. Leversee put in a route directly behind the flake. Scott Jett and Adam Shepard cut a traversing trail from the road to the Flake in 2013. It comes in from the far right and follows some power poles for a ways.

The Garnet Fire burned through here in 2025, leaving several access options.  

There is a relatively open route almost straight up from the road to the Balch Camp Flake.  The distance is about 1/3 of a mile, but climbs 900 - 1000 feet.  As of January 2026, the undergrowth and poison oak is just sprouting and is not yet an obstacle.  Areas on either side of the most open route are less burned and harder to get through.  

A longer but easier route follows an old road from the backside to the south.  This road was completely overgrown but the bushes are burned and the route is now mostly clear.  Once the road gains the ridge and the cliff is visible, proceed a short distance further before hiking diagonally downhill to the side of the bluffs.  Pink flagging marks the way.  This route gradually climbs about 600 feet, then drops about 300 feet to the base of the bluff.