Elevation: 8,533 ft
GPS: 36.01391, -118.34698
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Shared By: Dave Daly on Aug 2, 2019
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Description

The Sherman Pass area is situated north/northeast of The Domelands Wilderness in the Sequoia National Forest, sporting a handful of domes, several short walls and craggy granite formations, all surrounded by majestic sugar and yellow pine forest growth. Climbing area range from 5000' to 8800' in elevation, Sherman Pass is a great place to climb when it's too hot down in the Kern River Valley during the summer and great during the winter months at places like Kenu Wall with south facing walls. Most of the climbing is found along Sherman Pass Rd (Forest Rd 22S05), mainly near the Trout Creek drainage, are easily accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicles. The granite at Sherman Pass is well textured and provides for engaging climbing. From steep patina walls to cracks to slab, Sherman Pass area has something for everyone. One will find that most of the routes developed here are bolted in the traditional style and most are one to three pitches in length. In addition to the crag climbing, there are plenty of great bouldering spots scattered along Sherman Pass Rd, some already established by the old guard dads like Bill Leventhal, Scott Loomis, Herb Laeger, Mark Krebs, Randy DeWeese and John Newman, just to name a few. However, there are places yet to be discovered, if you're an ambitious explorer and don't mind white thorn brush and manzanita.

Camping is pretty much free and there are several scattered locations along the road where one can just plunk down and establish a base. Be sure to check for fire restrictions at the Kernville Ranger Station or Black Rock Ranger Station. Be sure to snatch up a fire permit before torching up a campfire. Rangers will ask for them.

Getting There

There are two possible ways to approach the area. Ideally, the best route is coming in from the Kern River Valley. The other requires coming in from east, at the intersection of Hwy 395 and Nine Mile Canyon Rd. 

From the town of Kernville, drive approximately 19.2 miles on Mountain Hwy 99 to Sherman Pass Rd (Forest Road 22S05). Just before you reach Sherman Pass Road, you'll pass Brush Creek Campground on the left. This is a good landmark to reference before making a right semi-hairpin turn onto Sherman Pass Road. Sherman Pass Road is a narrow gauge "two-lane" road, which winds its way up to gain 5000' elevation to Sherman Pass (9155'). Drive 15.3 miles to the pass, which is signatured by a vista area with a forest service outhouse on the right. Be sure to check out Kenu Wall and The Grandfathers on the left, a fairly new formation in development (Mile 4.7, along Sherman Pass Rd). Information on this formation is found here on MP. From the pass, drive an additional 3.2 miles to Trout Rock, one of the first formations encountered in the Sherman Pass area. Trout Rock is located just off the road on the left side and somewhat obscured by yellow pine. There is a subtle spot on the left, just off the road to park for at least three vehicle. Other formations along Sherman Pass include: Beech Rocks, Boone Rocks, Jackass Rock and Fish Creek Rock to name a few.

The alternate "dreaded" way is to take Nine Mile Canyon Rd, just off of Hwy 395, a mile north of Pearsonville. Drive approximately 24 miles up Nine Mile Canyon and into the Kennedy Meadows area. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 22S05, passing the Kennedy Meadows Store on the right corner. Drive 12.8 miles to the three way intersection near Black Rock Ranger Station (on the right). Continue on 22S05 an additional 13 miles before reaching Trout Rock and Beech Rocks areas.

47 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Sherman Pass Road

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
● Lichen it
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
● fishing for holds
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
● Kingfisher
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 8
● One Hundred Feet Of Feet
Sport
Trout Rock
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
● Filet Of Sole
Sport
Trout Rock
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 6
● Slippery fish
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 7
● Green New Deal
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 5
● El Pescador
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 3
● Slenderman
Sport
Trout Rock
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 3
● Orange Roughy
Trad
Fish Creek Rock
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 5
● Fish Ladder
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 6
● Overflow
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 4
● Go Fish
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 4
● Sherman Tank
Trad
Trout Rock
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 3
● Flying Fish
Sport
Fish Creek Rock
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Lichen it Fish Creek Rock
 5
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● fishing for holds Fish Creek Rock
 5
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Kingfisher Fish Creek Rock
 5
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● One Hundred Feet Of Feet Trout Rock
 8
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Filet Of Sole Trout Rock
 4
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Slippery fish Fish Creek Rock
 6
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Green New Deal Fish Creek Rock
 7
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● El Pescador Fish Creek Rock
 5
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Slenderman Trout Rock
 3
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Orange Roughy Fish Creek Rock
 3
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
● Fish Ladder Fish Creek Rock
 5
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Overflow Fish Creek Rock
 6
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Go Fish Fish Creek Rock
 4
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
● Sherman Tank Trout Rock
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
● Flying Fish Fish Creek Rock
 3
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Sherman Pass Road »

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This is the mysterious Ghost Rock, north side, across the road from Spirit Rock!
This is the mysterious Ghost Rock, north side,…
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