Rock climbing is all the rage these days. Since its debut in the Olympics in 2020, the sport has experienced a meteoric rise, with more than 600 climbing gyms now scattered across the US—eight of which call San Diego home. While climbing gyms provide a fantastic way to hone skills and find a community, outdoor climbing delivers a unique, exhilarating experience that can take your love of the sport to new heights.
Fortunately for us, San Diego boasts a wealth of rocks, crags, and mountains—all within an hour’s drive. Ready to get climbing? Here are six of the best outdoor climbing spots around San Diego:
One of the various beginner-friendly boulder routes found at Santee Boulders
Santee Boulders
Arguably the most accessible and beginner-friendly climbing spot in San Diego, Santee Boulders is located just 45 minutes from downtown with parking available at the West Hills Park.
This outdoor jungle gym is home to 151 climbing routes, including beginner boulder routes like The Knobs (V0) with its distinct jug holds indoor climbers will appreciate, fun slabs like The Face (5.9) where you can test your balance, and more advanced projects like Bullet Hole Face (5.10+), perfect for top roping or dicey high-ball bouldering. Santee Boulders is an excellent introduction for indoor climbers to the more abrasive realities of outdoor rock climbing.
A local climber ascends one of the many cracks Mount Woodson has to offer
Mount Woodson
Known for its iconic Potato Chip Rock, Mount Woodson offers far more than Instagram photo ops and casual switchback hiking. This Poway-adjacent climbing spot has 400 unique climbing routes making it a prime spot for lead, top rope, and crack climbing.
Originally popularized by climbing legends Royal Robbins and John Bachar in the 1950s, Mount Woodson is a granite playground with popular routes like Robin’s Crack (5.10a) a famous 20-foot crack wall; Jaws (5.11a), a cracked boulder with a name more ominous than than the climb itself; and Uncertainty Principle (5.11c), a sort of Pride Rock for Mount Woodson, testing your endurance and often attracting the attention of nearby hikers.
Photo Credit: Cole Novak
Mission Gorge
Only 20 minutes from downtown, Mission Gorge is a trad and top rope climber’s dream. The area is home to butter-like walls spanning three sections: the Main Wall, Limbo Area, and Middle Earth (although you won’t find any hobbits there). These west-facing walls provide much-needed shade during morning ascents, helping prevent sweaty palms on the park’s notoriously slick holds.
You’ll find more than 200 climbing routes, including The Tower (5.7), an enjoyable 50-foot route with bolts and a views of the San Diego River upon completion; Craig’s Crack (5.8), a Limbo area spot ideal for working on your hand jams; and Orange Sunshine (5.10d), a technical climb that demands precision footwork.
Photo Credit: Jorge Visser
El Cajon Mountain
Located 50 minutes from San Diego, El Cajon Mountain boasts 200-plus sport and traditional climbing routes. After accessing the area via the paved roads of Lake Jennings, climbers must embark on a strenuous two-mile, 1,800-foot hike in direct sun before choosing between the beautiful granite cliffs of the Main Wall (The Wedge), Fly Dog Buttress, or the Mountaineering Wall.
Popular routes include Lenoids (5.9), one of the most traveled multi-pitch sport routes in San Diego; Triton Tower (5.11a), a challenging 360-foot, three-pitch climb under a granite slab roof; and Sleeping Giant (5.10a), a 1,000-foot, 10-pitch climb on the lesser traveled Mountaineer Wall. Bring water, hiking boots, and binoculars for an incredible view of the ocean when you top out on this peak .
People’s Wall & Sunset Cliffs Pump Wall Traverses
Often overlooked, the People’s Wall and Pump Wall offer excellent traverse practice for climbers wanting to stay local. The People’s Wall located steps from the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla, provides climbers with a 200-foot-long stone wall traverse along the coastline.
The Pump Wall offers a more challenging climb with less-distinguished handholds along the exposed north side of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard above Claiborne Cove. After a few traverses, these seemingly simple walls will leave arms pumped and your hands barely capable of gripping a steering wheel—making the short car ride home a relief for city-bound climbers.
Drew Alldredge up in the clouds traversing Baby Face (5.11a) at Eagle Peak
Eagle Peak
Just over an hour’s drive from the city, Eagle Peak is a haven for sport climbers seeking challenging single- and multi-pitch climbs in San Diego County. With 65 routes spread across four 100-foot tall granite rock faces—Left Wall, Right Wall, Tan Man Tower—Eagle Peak rewards those who scale the Eagle Peak Trail’s switchbacks, brave the East County heat, and dodge dive-bombs by birds before on their approach to the climbing area.
Notable routes include Cruise Line (5.10c), a five-pitch ascent on the Left Wall that serves as a great intro to Eagle Peak; Baby Face (5.11a) a crimpy four-pitch climb to challenge your technique; and Irie Corner (5.10b/c), a 200-foot, two-pitch route featuring a panoramic view to share with the spot’s avian overseers.
