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Silver Lake Rock Climbing
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| Elevation: | 7,400 ft |
| GPS: |
37.7727, -119.1279 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 74,620 total · 822/month |
| Shared By: | kenr on Nov 3, 2016 |
| Admins: | Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Description
Mostly easy+moderate routes from 70 to 200 feet long. The quartzite rock is mostly very sound and compact, and has lots of positive features for fun climbing.
Wonderful view over mountain lake surrounded by homes and cliffs and rocky hills.
- - > See this Photo
Short easy walk to the bottom of the sectors from the June Lake Loop road, a well-maintained asphalt state route, with a nice parking lot right underneath the climbing.
Concentrated convenient easy area at one end . . . sectors 7+8+9 have 44 pitches of climbing, with many possible multi-pitch link-ups. 18 of those pitches bolted for sport Leading, 26 with two-bolt top anchors for Top-Roping. Total of 43 two-bolt anchors, all but three with lower-off hardware attached.
. . . (12 pitches at 5.4 or less // 15 at .5-.6 // 12 at .7-.8 // 7 at 5.8+ or harder).
Normally good mobile phone connection strength, likely because nearly in view of cell tower at top of June Mountain ski resort.
Overall faces East (actually ENE), nice for early morning sunshine on cool days, or late afternoon shade on hot days.
Only part of what you see: When looking up west from the Parking lot over above the road to the cliffs, there is a higher tier of bigger cliffs which you can see both top and bottom. Those are not the cliffs with the climbing routes of this "Silver Lake" area on MountainProject - (pink label in the overview of sectors photo ). Those higher cliffs are above the marked maintained hiking trail which traverses high south-north between Rush Creek and Agnew Creek. There is also a lower tier of cliffs which you can see only the top and upper section from the Parking, not the base of the cliffs. These lower cliffs are the ones with routes covered in this "Silver Lake" area on MountainProject.
- - > See overview of sectors Photo
- - > Photos of access + anchors + routes - South side - | - North side - |
There are ten sectors (left to right) (south to north):
0 - Bachar
1 - Croft
2 - Robinson
3 - Talsky
4 - Search And Rescue
5 - Erb
6 - Franosch
7 - Lewis
8 - Moynier
9 - Secor
Names of sectors: The names are for persons who live or lived in the Eastside Sierra or Southern California, and made a significant contribution to southern Eastside climbing or backcountry ski mountaineering.
FA - Naming of routes + First Ascent style: The listing of a Top-Rope first ascent does not imply that top-roping is the "appropriate" style for this route. If some party bolts this route and leads it and supplies a careful description of the size and metal-composition of the bolts and hangers - (by posting an Improve This Page or a Comment on the route page) -- they wlll be given first-rank FA First Ascent credit on this page. Also they can supply their own new name for this climb (which will replace the termporary "generic" location/feature name given to most of the so-far-only-top-roped routes.
Top-Roping? Several opportunities to reach the top of the first pitches with easier climbing or scrambling.
warning: The rock in this area has not been climbed much yet, and some of the rock is still breakable and loose -- so the belayer and other people should stand far away from underneath the climber.
Wonderful view over mountain lake surrounded by homes and cliffs and rocky hills.
- - > See this Photo
Short easy walk to the bottom of the sectors from the June Lake Loop road, a well-maintained asphalt state route, with a nice parking lot right underneath the climbing.
Concentrated convenient easy area at one end . . . sectors 7+8+9 have 44 pitches of climbing, with many possible multi-pitch link-ups. 18 of those pitches bolted for sport Leading, 26 with two-bolt top anchors for Top-Roping. Total of 43 two-bolt anchors, all but three with lower-off hardware attached.
. . . (12 pitches at 5.4 or less // 15 at .5-.6 // 12 at .7-.8 // 7 at 5.8+ or harder).
Normally good mobile phone connection strength, likely because nearly in view of cell tower at top of June Mountain ski resort.
Overall faces East (actually ENE), nice for early morning sunshine on cool days, or late afternoon shade on hot days.
Only part of what you see: When looking up west from the Parking lot over above the road to the cliffs, there is a higher tier of bigger cliffs which you can see both top and bottom. Those are not the cliffs with the climbing routes of this "Silver Lake" area on MountainProject - (pink label in the overview of sectors photo ). Those higher cliffs are above the marked maintained hiking trail which traverses high south-north between Rush Creek and Agnew Creek. There is also a lower tier of cliffs which you can see only the top and upper section from the Parking, not the base of the cliffs. These lower cliffs are the ones with routes covered in this "Silver Lake" area on MountainProject.
- - > See overview of sectors Photo
- - > Photos of access + anchors + routes - South side - | - North side - |
There are ten sectors (left to right) (south to north):
0 - Bachar
1 - Croft
2 - Robinson
3 - Talsky
4 - Search And Rescue
5 - Erb
6 - Franosch
7 - Lewis
8 - Moynier
9 - Secor
Names of sectors: The names are for persons who live or lived in the Eastside Sierra or Southern California, and made a significant contribution to southern Eastside climbing or backcountry ski mountaineering.
FA - Naming of routes + First Ascent style: The listing of a Top-Rope first ascent does not imply that top-roping is the "appropriate" style for this route. If some party bolts this route and leads it and supplies a careful description of the size and metal-composition of the bolts and hangers - (by posting an Improve This Page or a Comment on the route page) -- they wlll be given first-rank FA First Ascent credit on this page. Also they can supply their own new name for this climb (which will replace the termporary "generic" location/feature name given to most of the so-far-only-top-roped routes.
Top-Roping? Several opportunities to reach the top of the first pitches with easier climbing or scrambling.
warning: The rock in this area has not been climbed much yet, and some of the rock is still breakable and loose -- so the belayer and other people should stand far away from underneath the climber.
Getting There
. . (note that this section of the June Lake Loop road / SR 158 is often closed
. . . during winter and early spring. So if you're not sure, check before you drive.
. . . But it's a flat non-long walk from the southern closure gate to the trailheads).
Driving from South: rt 395 North 14.7 miles from Mammoth Lakes exit (or 54 miles N from Bishop). At June Lake junction (gas / convenience store), turn Left (SW) onto rt 158 June Lake Loop and go 6.3 miles (later curving NW). Along the way pass by June Lake (swimming beach) and through village above Gull Lake with shops, then many curves downhill.
. . (to avoid village traffic and see more climbing opps, after 1 mile turn R for Oh Ridge and swimming onto North Shore Rd).
A short ways after the small electric power plant on the left (west) side of the road, reach the Silver Lake parking lot on the right (east) side of the road, at GPS latitude longitude (N37.7728 W119.1262). If going to one of the lower-number left-hand (southerly) sectors, take a nearer parking space, otherwise continue toward the farther end of the lot. See the climbing rock sectors up the hill above the left (west) side of the road.
Time driving about half hour 24 miles from Mammoth town main traffic light (or a bit more than an hour 60 miles from Bishop).
Driving from North: rt 396 South 4.3 miles from rt 120 Tioga junction by Lee Vining and Mono Lake. At sign for June Lake loop, turn Right (SW) onto rt 158 and go 9.8 miles, passing by Grant Lake and Aerie Crag and the horse-riding and store and bridge at the NW corner of Silver Lake.
After crossing the bridge and seeing the lake, continue a short ways beside the lake to the Silver Lake parking lot on the left (east) side of the road, at GPS latitude longitude (N37.7735 W119.1266). If going to one of the higher-number right-hand (northerly) sectors, take a nearer parking space, otherwise continue toward the farther end of the lot. See the climbing rock sectors up the hill above the right (west) side of the road.
Time driving about 18 minutes for 14 miles from Tioga junction.
Closed road winter + early spring: The section of the June Lake Road by this climbing area is normally closed with locked gates during winter and early spring - (so of not sure if the full Loop is open, check in advance). If the Silver Lake section of the road is closed, drive first to the southern junction of rt 158 with rt 395, at GPS latitude longitude (N37.8127 W119.0535). Turn onto rt 158 and go 6 miles, first SouthWest, later curving NW to reach the southern closure gate (N37.7677 W119.1230). Find legal parking nearby. Then walk NNW 0.4 mile (flat) on the main loop road to the Silver Lake parking.
Hiking approach
- - > GPS tracks on this Map
For the lower-number left-hand southerly sectors: From the south end of the Silver Lake parking lot, walk south on the main loop road about 250 feet, looking into the woods on the right (west) side of the road to see a beaten path (or perhaps a marker flag?). The trail leaves the road at GPS lat long (N37.7721 W119.1262), about 15 feet south from the second reflector along the east (left) side of road, and about five feet left from underneath a mature pine tree with trunk about two feet wide on the west (right) side of the road.
Turn right off the road into the woods and hike roughly West gently uphill toward a gully coming down steeply in between the rock cliffs. If going to sector 1 or 2, just go up W roughly 325 feet (gets steeper) to the base of the gully. If going to sector 3, after about 150 feet, turn a bit right and go up WNW about 160 feet toward the left side of the wall of sector 3.
Hiking approach - for the higher-number right-hand northerly sectors: From the north end of the Silver Lake parking lot, walk north on the main loop road about 150 feet, watching the hillside on the left (west) side of the road to see a beaten path going diagonal steep right up the steep embankment into the woods. The trail leaves the road at GPS lat long (N37.7740 W119.1270) and goes about 350 feet moderately uphill roughly West (first WNW then WSW) to reach a junction at GPS latitude longitude (N37.7738 W119.1283).
To reach sectors 4 or 5 or 6 (or to set a top anchor on sector 7), turn Left and go steep uphill a short ways, then find your desired sector. To reach the bottom of sector 7, turn Right go down a tiny bit, the bear Left and go up steeply to base of cliff. To reach sectors 8 or 9, turn Right go down a tiny bit, the bear Left and go up steeply to base of cliff, then diagonal up Right (NW).
GPS tracks for hiking/scrambling approaches or descents -- view (or download) on
- - > this Map of the Silver Lake crag
. . . during winter and early spring. So if you're not sure, check before you drive.
. . . But it's a flat non-long walk from the southern closure gate to the trailheads).
Driving from South: rt 395 North 14.7 miles from Mammoth Lakes exit (or 54 miles N from Bishop). At June Lake junction (gas / convenience store), turn Left (SW) onto rt 158 June Lake Loop and go 6.3 miles (later curving NW). Along the way pass by June Lake (swimming beach) and through village above Gull Lake with shops, then many curves downhill.
. . (to avoid village traffic and see more climbing opps, after 1 mile turn R for Oh Ridge and swimming onto North Shore Rd).
A short ways after the small electric power plant on the left (west) side of the road, reach the Silver Lake parking lot on the right (east) side of the road, at GPS latitude longitude (N37.7728 W119.1262). If going to one of the lower-number left-hand (southerly) sectors, take a nearer parking space, otherwise continue toward the farther end of the lot. See the climbing rock sectors up the hill above the left (west) side of the road.
Time driving about half hour 24 miles from Mammoth town main traffic light (or a bit more than an hour 60 miles from Bishop).
Driving from North: rt 396 South 4.3 miles from rt 120 Tioga junction by Lee Vining and Mono Lake. At sign for June Lake loop, turn Right (SW) onto rt 158 and go 9.8 miles, passing by Grant Lake and Aerie Crag and the horse-riding and store and bridge at the NW corner of Silver Lake.
After crossing the bridge and seeing the lake, continue a short ways beside the lake to the Silver Lake parking lot on the left (east) side of the road, at GPS latitude longitude (N37.7735 W119.1266). If going to one of the higher-number right-hand (northerly) sectors, take a nearer parking space, otherwise continue toward the farther end of the lot. See the climbing rock sectors up the hill above the right (west) side of the road.
Time driving about 18 minutes for 14 miles from Tioga junction.
Closed road winter + early spring: The section of the June Lake Road by this climbing area is normally closed with locked gates during winter and early spring - (so of not sure if the full Loop is open, check in advance). If the Silver Lake section of the road is closed, drive first to the southern junction of rt 158 with rt 395, at GPS latitude longitude (N37.8127 W119.0535). Turn onto rt 158 and go 6 miles, first SouthWest, later curving NW to reach the southern closure gate (N37.7677 W119.1230). Find legal parking nearby. Then walk NNW 0.4 mile (flat) on the main loop road to the Silver Lake parking.
Hiking approach
- - > GPS tracks on this Map
For the lower-number left-hand southerly sectors: From the south end of the Silver Lake parking lot, walk south on the main loop road about 250 feet, looking into the woods on the right (west) side of the road to see a beaten path (or perhaps a marker flag?). The trail leaves the road at GPS lat long (N37.7721 W119.1262), about 15 feet south from the second reflector along the east (left) side of road, and about five feet left from underneath a mature pine tree with trunk about two feet wide on the west (right) side of the road.
Turn right off the road into the woods and hike roughly West gently uphill toward a gully coming down steeply in between the rock cliffs. If going to sector 1 or 2, just go up W roughly 325 feet (gets steeper) to the base of the gully. If going to sector 3, after about 150 feet, turn a bit right and go up WNW about 160 feet toward the left side of the wall of sector 3.
Hiking approach - for the higher-number right-hand northerly sectors: From the north end of the Silver Lake parking lot, walk north on the main loop road about 150 feet, watching the hillside on the left (west) side of the road to see a beaten path going diagonal steep right up the steep embankment into the woods. The trail leaves the road at GPS lat long (N37.7740 W119.1270) and goes about 350 feet moderately uphill roughly West (first WNW then WSW) to reach a junction at GPS latitude longitude (N37.7738 W119.1283).
To reach sectors 4 or 5 or 6 (or to set a top anchor on sector 7), turn Left and go steep uphill a short ways, then find your desired sector. To reach the bottom of sector 7, turn Right go down a tiny bit, the bear Left and go up steeply to base of cliff. To reach sectors 8 or 9, turn Right go down a tiny bit, the bear Left and go up steeply to base of cliff, then diagonal up Right (NW).
GPS tracks for hiking/scrambling approaches or descents -- view (or download) on
- - > this Map of the Silver Lake crag
Classic Climbing Routes at Silver Lake
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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