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Southern Sierra - The Needles, Kern River, Domelands, etc. Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Southern Sierra - The Needles, Kern River, Domelands, etc.

Bald Eagle Peak 5 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 9

Bat Rock 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 3

Bohna Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Boulder Gulch 0 / 0 / 0 / 25 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 25

Burnt Granola 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Crest, The 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Dome Rock 19 / 6 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 24

Domeland Wilderness 27 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 29 / 29

Dutch Treat 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Elephant Knob 21 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 21

Fortress, The 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Gleason Rock 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Hermit Spires 8 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 9

Kernville Rock (a.k.a. Kern Slabs) 14 / 15 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 28

Lamont Pinnacles 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 8 / 8

Lower Kern River Canyon 22 / 16 / 17 / 12 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 55

Neanderthal Wall 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Needles, The 94 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 102

New Directions 20 / 29 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 50

Parker Bluff 23 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 23 / 23

Prophet, The 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Sawmill Road 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Schaffer Buttress 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Scodie Spire 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 5

Sentinel Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Sherman Pass Road 21 / 23 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 47

Split Mountain 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Trilogy Rock 16 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 16

Valhalla 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Elevation:	4,117 ft
GPS:	36.02916, -118.46983 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,018,319 total · 4,997/month
Shared By:	Josh Janes on Jun 18, 2006
Admins:	Cory B, Matthew Fienup, Muscrat, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

Description

The upper Kern River Valley, in Sequoia National Forest, is a true outdoor paradise. The area is home to outstanding white water kayaking, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. Natural wonders include the "Grand Canyon of the Kern River" (a scenic waterway cut by the mighty Kern), the southern-most stand of old-growth Giant Sequoias and countless waterfalls, natural water slides, and plunge pools.

AND THEN THERE'S THE CLIMBING.

The area is home to the world famous Needles and several other truly outstanding formations, including Dome Rock and Elephant Knob. It has been said that the Needles themselves are home to the highest density of classic routes anywhere. This is not an overstatement. The overshadowed lesser formations are worthwhile destinations in their own right and should not be overlooked.

Getting There

The Kern River Valley is quite large, so for directions see the description for the specific sub-area you wish to visit

472 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Southern Sierra - The Needles, Kern River, Domelands, etc.

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 251 ● Tree Route Trad 4 pitches Dome Rock
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 58 ● The Lieback Trad 2 pitches Kernville Rock (a.k.a…
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c PG13 221 ● White Punks on Dope Trad 6 pitches Needles > Voodoo Dome
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c 79 ● Imaginary Voyage Trad 4 pitches Needles > Warlock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 171 ● Spooky Trad 2 pitches Needles > Charlatan
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 79 ● Innersanctum Trad 3 pitches Needles > Witch
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 388 ● Igor Unchained Trad 3 pitches Needles > Witch
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13 109 ● The Howling Trad, Sport 2 pitches Needles > Warlock
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 296 ● Airy Interlude Trad 3 pitches Needles > Witch
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 126 ● Anti-Jello Crack Trad 4 pitches Dome Rock
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 270 ● Thin Ice Trad 3 pitches Needles > Sorcerer
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 148 ● Fancy Free Trad 3 pitches Needles > Charlatan
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b R 57 ● Spook Book Trad 4 pitches Needles > Witch
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 107 ● The Don Juan Wall Trad 5 pitches Needles > Sorcerer
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a PG13 110 ● Atlantis Trad 4 pitches Needles > Sorcerer