Rock Climbing

The Reno-Tahoe area has some of the best rock climbing in the country. World class areas like Lover's Leap are within 15 miles of South Lake Tahoe; Donner Summit and Big Chief are located less than an hour from Reno. The Reno-Tahoe area is a destination for climbers from around the world.

Big Chief

Big Chief has a limited number of short and usually well bolted sport climbs. The cliffs are not easy to find: From Reno drive west on I80 to Truckee; in Truckee make a sharp right on road SR267, drive 2.0 mile and turn right on Palisades, drive 0.8 miles and turn right on Silverfir, drive 0.4 miles and turn left on Thelin, just after the turn on Thelin (less then 0.1 mile) turn right on forest service road #6 through gate, drive 5.0 miles staying on the main dirt road, turn right on an unobvious and unmarked forest road at N 39o 15' 0.5'' - W 120o 11' 24.5'' and park. Walk 0.7 miles along a small trail near an old logging road to the unremarkable old parking area. From the old parking area take a relatively good climbers trail uphill (heading west) to a break in the cliffs at N 39o 14' 44.3'' - W 120o 12' 1.1''. From break in the cliffs walk down to the bottom of the cliffs, the West Face of the North wall is to your left.

Cave Rock

Due to a Forest Service moratorium (based on the archeoligical significance of the site), Cave Rock on the South Shore, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, is no longer open to rock climbers, although siteseers can enjoy the surrounding trail.

Donner Summit

Donner Summit offers traditional and sport climbing on excellent granite in the scenic Sierra. The climbs are on a set of disparate short walls around old highway 40. The climbing is varied: slabs, cracks, faces and even radical overhangs. The number of sport climbs is limited and you will usually only find one or two sport climbs at your level in a given area. The quality and spacing of the bolts varies. The altitude is around 7,000 feet.

From Reno to Truckee (I80 West), take old highway 40 westbound to Donner Summit. The climbs are along the highway, before the summit, before the Alpine Skills Institute building.

• Peanut Gallery Pullout:The popular Peanut Gallery (short bolted slabs) is just north of the pullout. Park here for Space Wall.
• Snow Shed Wall Parking:A popular larger area with many climbs.
• Space Wall:Space Wall is not very easy to find and the climber's trail vanishes at times. Park at the Peanut Gallery (see above), head west for about 50 meters (165 ft) at first its a hard scramble, then head up direction NNW to Space Wall, the last 50 meters is a scramble down to the base of the wall.
• ASI Parking:The ASI (Alpine Skills Institute) parking is used to access the short Goldilocks Wall. The bolted wall is to the SW and bellow the ASI building, down climb some easy slabs to the base.

Eagle Creek Canyon

Small granite crags along the south-west shore of lake Tahoe. Take highway 89 and park at Emerald Bay at the Eagle Lake Parking area.

• Mayhem Cove: To reach these overhanging sport routes go behind the parking bathroom and take a good trail heading in the direction of the wall (do not take Eagle Lake trail at all). Make a hard to find left and scramble up a steep and loose faint trail that leads directly to the left side of the wall.
• Ninety Foot Wall:(far right of wall) A popular top rope and beginner area. It is reached by following Eagle Lake trail that starts in the back of the parking. As you get very near the wall, leave the trail before a small bridge and walk along the right side of the creek to the wall (no real trail).

Lovers Leap

Lovers Leap offers mainly easy to moderate traditional routes and some bolted lines on granite. The routes are up to three pitches. Easy and moderate routes abound. The cliffs are easy to find.
From the city of Reno, drive through South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 toward Placerville. Turn right in the small community of Strawberry at Strawberry Lodge. Drive to the nearby campground located near the cliffs and park. Walk toward the cliffs on an obvious path.

Tours & Lessons

Alpine Skills International

530-426-9108, alpineskills.com
Climb at Donner Pass or Lover's Leap with California's most experienced climbing guide service. Our personable guides provide fun and share a wealth of climbing knowledge.

Husky Express/Sierra Ski Touring

775-782-3047,
email: huskyx@nanosecond.com,
www.highsierra.com/sst
Wilderness survival, avalanche awareness courses, dog sled rides, backcountry ski lessons, and snowshoeing -- at the Meiss Meadow Ski Hut/Carson Pass.

Sierra Adventures

Reno, 775-323-8928,
email: info@wildsierra.com,
www.wildsierra.com
Hanging from a sheer wall 2,000 feet above beautiful Donner Lake, your guide watches as you muster all your energy to climb even higher. Located on Donner Summit, ASI Institute is one of the best teaching schools in the world for mountain climbing.

Tahoe Adventure Company

North Shore,(530) 913-9212 or Toll Free (866) 830-6125, http://www.tahoeadventurecompany.com/rockclimb.shtml
The mountains and crags in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin offer a great opportunity for rock climbing. The beautiful settings of the local climbing sites provide participants with a picturesque venue to learn the ins and outs of this exciting sport.

All guides are AMGA (American Mountain Guide Association) affiliated with extensive experience in the field. Your Tahoe Adventure Company climbing guide will take care of all the details of your trip and offer complete instruction for all levels of climbers. Courses available at Donner Summit near North Lake Tahoe and Lover's Leap, Phantom Spires and Sugarloaf near South Lake Tahoe.

Indoor Climbing

Headwall Climbing Wall

Cable Car Building, Squaw Valley
www.squawadventure.com,
530-583-7673  

Northstar at Tahoe

530-562-2285 or 800-GO-NORTH,
email: northstar@boothcreek.com,
www.northstarattahoe.com
Northstar offers a mecca of outdoor adventure activities in both summer and winter:
Climbing Wall- Enjoy our very own 25'-high climbing outdoor wall. Test your skills and try to make it to the top!
Challenge Ropes Course / Junior Ropes Course- Ropes, cables, and tall fir trees challenge children and adults with fun and exhilarating activities. High elements to choose from include jumping from trapeze or riding down the 450' long zip line.

RockSport Indoor Climbing Center

Reno (at the corner of Silverada Blvd. and Oddie),
775-352-7673,
http://www.rocksportreno.com/

Sports Exchange

10095 West River Street, Truckee, CA 96161
www.truckeesportsexchange.com,
530-582-4510