Guided year-round
Chatsworth · Top-rope
Stoney Point
The historic sandstone playground where LA climbers have learned the ropes for generations.
- Rock
- Sandstone
- Grades
- 5.4–5.12
- Drive
- 40 min
Close to home
Close to home
Our everyday crags, 40 min to 1 hr 15 min from downtown. They're at their best from October through spring; Big Rock is a winter crag, and in summer we start early at the others to beat the heat.
Guided year-round
Guided year-round
Calabasas / Malibu Canyon · Top-rope, Sport
Malibu Creek State Park
Steep, pocketed volcanic walls above a creek-carved gorge. The classic LA crag.
- Rock
- Volcanic breccia
- Grades
- 5.5–5.14
- Drive
- 45 min
Guided year-round
Santa Clarita · Top-rope, Sport, Multi-pitch
Texas Canyon
A high-desert maze of bolted corridors with one of the best concentrations of easy sport routes near LA.
- Rock
- Pocketed conglomerate
- Grades
- 5.2–5.13
- Drive
- 55 min
Seasonal
Perris · Top-rope, Trad, Multi-pitch
Big Rock, Lake Perris
A huge, friendly granite slab above Lake Perris. The best beginner granite in the Inland Empire.
- Rock
- Granite slab
- Grades
- 5.5–5.12
- Drive
- 1 hr 15 min
Into the mountains
Summer and multi-pitch
When the lowland rock bakes, we head for granite in the pines. These crags are a longer drive, so most trips are full days, and multi-pitch on Tahquitz is planned by request.
Seasonal
Idyllwild · Top-rope, Trad, Multi-pitch
Suicide Rock
Silver granite slabs in the pines above Idyllwild. A cool summer escape and a classic SoCal classroom.
- Rock
- Granite
- Grades
- 5.1–5.13
- Drive
- 2 hr 15 min
By request
Idyllwild · Trad, Multi-pitch
Tahquitz Rock
The 1,000-foot granite tower where the American climbing grade system was born.
- Rock
- Granite
- Grades
- 5.4–5.12
- Drive
- 2 hr 15 min
Seasonal
Big Bear Lake · Top-rope, Sport, Trad
Holcomb Valley Pinnacles
Hundreds of short, featured granite pinnacles in the pines north of Big Bear Lake.
- Rock
- Featured granite
- Grades
- 5.5–5.12
- Drive
- 2 hr 45 min
Seasonal
Angeles Crest · Top-rope, Trad
Horse Flats
Pine-shaded granite high in the San Gabriels. A summer escape from Valley heat.
- Rock
- Granite
- Grades
- 5.5–5.12
- Drive
- 1 hr 15 min
Paused for now
Temporarily on hold
Crags we'd love to take you to, but where access is closed for now.
Point Dume
Beach lot and road closed for erosion since August 2026.
Point Dume's volcanic headland drops straight onto the sand at the west end of Westward Beach, and its low-angle west face has a handful of friendly top-ropes from 5.6 to 5.8. When it's open, climbing to the sound of the surf is about as Malibu as it gets.
We're not running trips here until there's practical, legal access to the rock again.
At a glance
Compare crags
Drive times are approximate from downtown LA, so leave extra time for traffic. Each crag name links to its full page.
| Crag | Status | Drive | Rock | Styles | Grades | Season | Beginner friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoney Point Chatsworth | Guided year-round | 40 min | Sandstone | Top-rope | 5.4–5.12 | October–May (early mornings in summer) | Yes |
| Malibu Creek State Park Calabasas / Malibu Canyon | Guided year-round | 45 min | Volcanic breccia | Top-rope, Sport | 5.5–5.14 | October–May | Yes |
| Texas Canyon Santa Clarita | Guided year-round | 55 min | Pocketed conglomerate | Top-rope, Sport, Multi-pitch | 5.2–5.13 | October–May (shady corridors on warm days) | Yes |
| Point Dume Malibu | Temporarily on hold | 55 min | Volcanic bluff | Top-rope | 5.6–5.11 | Year-round (when open) | Yes |
| Big Rock, Lake Perris Perris | Seasonal | 1 hr 15 min | Granite slab | Top-rope, Trad, Multi-pitch | 5.5–5.12 | October–April | Yes |
| Horse Flats Angeles Crest | Seasonal | 1 hr 15 min | Granite | Top-rope, Trad | 5.5–5.12 | May–October | Yes |
| Suicide Rock Idyllwild | Seasonal | 2 hr 15 min | Granite | Top-rope, Trad, Multi-pitch | 5.1–5.13 | April–November | Yes |
| Tahquitz Rock Idyllwild | By request | 2 hr 15 min | Granite | Trad, Multi-pitch | 5.4–5.12 | May–October | No |
| Holcomb Valley Pinnacles Big Bear Lake | Seasonal | 2 hr 45 min | Featured granite | Top-rope, Sport, Trad | 5.5–5.12 | May–early November | Yes |
The honest list
Crags we don't guide, and why
You'll see these spots in guidebooks and on Instagram. We only guide where land managers authorize commercial use and where roped climbing is allowed, so here's the straight story.
Circle X Ranch, Malibu · Santa Monica Mountains
Echo Cliffs
Not guided Guided climbing is not an authorized commercial use here.
Echo Cliffs is a stunning band of volcanic rock below Sandstone Peak, with nearly 200 bolted routes and a great cluster of easy climbs on the Easy Street wall. If you climb independently, it is one of the best days out in the Santa Monica Mountains.
- Access
- Open to the public, but part of the Grotto is closed by the NPS to protect sensitive plants. Stay on the designated climbers’ trail.
- Permits
- NPS Commercial Use Authorizations at Santa Monica Mountains NRA do not currently cover guided rock climbing.
Angeles Crest · San Gabriel Mountains
Williamson Rock
Not guided Closed to protect the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog.
Once LA’s premier summer sport crag, Williamson Rock has been closed under successive Forest Service orders since the mid-2000s to protect the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog. Highway 2 east of Newcomb’s Ranch has also been closed since the December 2025 storms.
- Access
- Closed by Forest Service order (currently through at least December 31, 2026).
- Permits
- No climbing of any kind is allowed while the closure order is in effect.
Agua Dulce · North LA County
Vasquez Rocks
Not guided Roped climbing is not allowed.
Vasquez Rocks looks like a climber’s dream (and a Star Trek set), but roped climbing and fixed anchors aren’t allowed in the natural area and the sandstone is soft. Enjoy it for hiking and scrambling instead.
- Access
- Open for hiking and scrambling; roped climbing and fixed anchors are not permitted.
- Permits
- Not applicable: no roped climbing.
Looking for a guided day with a similar feel? Malibu Creek is the same volcanic breccia as Echo Cliffs, and Texas Canyon has one of the best concentrations of easy sport routes near LA. Want to climb places like Echo Cliffs on your own one day? A full day focused on lead skills at either crag is a great place to start.
Stewardship
Climb gently, so the crags stay open
These crags are shared with hikers, neighbors, wildlife and fragile plants. We teach low-impact habits on every trip, and we ask the same of everyone who visits.
The seven Leave No Trace principles (opens in a new tab)-
Leave No Trace
Pack out everything you bring, including tape, food scraps and fruit peels. Keep groups tight and voices down at busy walls.
-
Stay on trails
Use established trails and climbers’ paths, and respect closures like the Grotto at Echo Cliffs, which protects a sensitive plant.
-
No wet sandstone
Sandstone and conglomerate are fragile when damp. Holds snap and the damage is permanent, so give the rock several dry days after rain.
-
Check closures and Red Flag days
Parks and forests can close on Red Flag fire-weather days, after storms or to protect wildlife. Check the land manager’s alerts the night before.