Scenic easy sport (5.8 or below) or trad (5.7 or below) multi pitches in the winter?

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Red Rocks.

Jubilant song in RR is excellent, well protected, and you'll have it to yourself... It's sunny most of the day

Cochise Stronghold should be on your list.

Red Rocks - beware of crowds on the easier routes.

El Cajon Mountain - in San Diego, an excellent place for multi-pitch routes although I'm not sure if there are easy enough routes there for you.

Tahquitz is do-able if it's a mild winter. 

Sunshine Burnswrote:

Jubilant song in RR is excellent, well protected, and you'll have it to yourself... It's sunny most of the day

When I climbed it in January, it was swarming with people.

I love Red Rocks, but what's wrong with Joshua Tree folks?  Walk on the Wild Side, Dazed and Confused, Dappled Mare/Roan Way, Fote Hog, Overhand Bypass, Bish, Right On. 

'sport'

I live outside of JT. Great place to climb. Sport routes are hardly sport. 5.7 trad routes are more in line with RR 5.8/9. So pretty spicy. But, definitely worth the trip!

Matt Nwrote:

'sport'

‘Or trad (5.7 or below)’

Fat Dadwrote:

‘Or trad (5.7 or below)’

So basically The Swift,  or Overhang Bypass. Fote Hog is another option, tho I've seen it stymie many beginner trad leaders.
Unless, that is, we all collectively agree on sandbagging these folk into a terrifying experience on Right On?

William Leventhalwrote:

Tahquitz is do-able if it's a mild winter. 

Left Ski Track 5.6 is south-facing and tends to be nice in late and early season at Tahquitz. But in general I just wouldn't recommend mid-winter climbing at Tahquitz unless it's someone who is a serious alpinist. Even in a year with relatively little snow, you just don't know what you're going to find on belay ledges and inside cracks at the higher elevations.

Tyler Stockdalewrote:….

Unless, that is, we all collectively agree on sandbagging these folk into a terrifying experience on Right On?

Lol.   Quite the freaky old school 5.5.

We were on it for the umpteenth time last week and had great temps.  Still, most of it seems to be in the shade most of the day this time of year.  

Tiff Anywrote:

Would love recommendations for scenic 5.8 sport/5.7 trad or below routes in December, preferably multi pitch !

Your location says Albany NY and you are asking in the SoCal section so I'm going to guess you are going to be visiting SoCal specifically for some reason, and Red Rocks, where there is some great longer multipitch (5-6 pitch)  may be too far.

If you leave out the multi-pitch part there is plenty of 5.8 sport, 5.7 or below trad, all over in SoCal.  Part of the equation is, are you going to be based somewhere urban and driving for day trips or are you looking for a destination to stay/camp for a while.  You may want to be in the sun in December.  Joshua Tree is the most scenic option for December.  If you clarify your scenario you will get more useful answers.

ECHO Cliffs have sunny multi-pitch sport climbing.
Or The Tunnels 

Sometimes in December you can climb at Dome Rock or Bishop (Pine Creek, ORG)Depending on what sort of “winter” we are having.

Have a good time. 

Tyler Stockdalewrote:

So basically The Swift,  or Overhang Bypass. Fote Hog is another option, tho I've seen it stymie many beginner trad leaders.
Unless, that is, we all collectively agree on sandbagging these folk into a terrifying experience on Right On?

It also includes Mental Physics, which is one of the best easier routes in the park.  There are other options as well here and there depending on the OP's preference.  You make it sound like there's two routes in the entire area that she can climb.  Also, I don't believe Fote Hog is a sandbag.  If one inexperienced leader has a problem with it, it doesn't follow that others will.  Having said that, if the OP is not confident with her trad climbing chops, Josh might seems a little stiff and she can look elsewhere.  

Left ski track at tahquitz, 5.6, faces south, only 3-4 pitches, nobody up there these days, just be wary of a cold spell, plenty of other moderates there but stiff like jtree and cold in the shade

If the cold spell comes and it can by December, red rocks and jtree can also be very unpleasant, if that's the case head to new Jack City and clip bolts, all single pitch which is what you'll want in the cold

Also check wind forecast, nice temps at the suggested areas can be brutal with high winds and the camping is miserable

On the coldest of cold days in Idy, with a biting wind chill, I have had the best of best conditions from open book to upside down cake. It is a bit harder to get to if there is a bunch of snow on the ground.

Do ski tracks, then head over to the red rock route. 

On a side note, I've done many of those routes on the south face after ice climbing the trough. So Cal mountains are very very interesting...

William Leventhalwrote:

Cochise Stronghold should be on your list.

Red Rocks - beware of crowds on the easier routes.

El Cajon Mountain - in San Diego, an excellent place for multi-pitch routes although I'm not sure if there are easy enough routes there for you.

Tahquitz is do-able if it's a mild winter. 

Meteor at El Cajon Mountain is 400' of 4 star 5.7 slab & ends on a scenic tooth that stands apart from the wall. 

Robert Barneswrote:

Meteor at El Cajon Mountain is 400' of 4 star 5.7 slab & ends on a scenic tooth that stands apart from the wall. 

I'm not the OP - but thanks for point out this route. Hadn't heard of it before and that sounds quite appealing as something to climb on a trip with my girlfriend. A winter climbing trip to San Diego is starting to sound very appealing.

How's the hike though? Looks pretty rugged?

The hike is just under 2.5 miles and 2000 feet of gain. It takes up to 90 minutes as the incline and overgrowth can present a "cause for pause" the first few times. Bring at least a half gallon of water each, there is little shade and the air can burn off and get hot quickly on any day. In true SD fashion the wavy slab resembles surfing as much as climbing -SoCal 5.7- not harder just different. If you find yourself itching for more, Leonids 5.9 is immediately left of Meteor's start and just as quality. If that's too easy you can leave it to "Mañana" a .10b sharing the starting holds.