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Echo Cliffs

Submitted By: Dr. Evil on May 21, 2006
Administrators: Art Morimitsu, Jay Tanzman
Latitude: 34.1116  Longitude: -118.9264 
Aerial photo/map | Weather
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BETA PHOTO: Echo Cliffs, as seen from the Mishe Mokwa trail. T...


Description 

This is a good sport crag in a beautiful location. The crag includes over 100 bolted routes on volcanic tuff.

Guidebooks: Louie Anderson, "Sport Climbing in the Santa Monicas," 2003.

Steve Edwards, "Rock Climbing Santa Barbara and Ventura," 2000.


Getting There 

From Highway 101 take the Westlake Boulevard exit and head south on Westlake (California 23). After roughly 7 miles turn right (west) on Mulholland Highway. After half a mile turn right on Little Sycamore Canyon Road, which becomes Yerba Buena Road. After 4 miles park in dirt pullouts on either side of the road. The trail starts from parking lot on the right (west) side of road.

The hike in takes about 45 minutes. Take the Mishe Mokwa trail for about 30 minutes. The trail intersects dry stream bed on right; several logs are piled on the stream bed here to indicate that it is not the regular hiking train. Follow the stream bed down to the climbs.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Echo Cliffs:
Righteous Babe   5.8     Sport, 2 pitches, 180 feet   Easy Street
Mystic River   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   The Grotto
Head Wound   5.9     Sport, 2 pitches, 180 feet   Easy Street
Wet Bush   5.10a     Sport, 2 pitches, 60 feet   Left Flank
Blackjack   5.10b     Sport, 2 pitches, 300 feet   Easy Street
Casey at the Bat   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Easy Street
Caffeine   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Java Wall
Espresso   5.11-     Sport, 1 pitch   Java Wall
Americano   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Java Wall
Browse More Classics in Echo Cliffs

Photos of Echo Cliffs Slideshow Add Photo
Left end of Echo Cliffs, with some climbs on the Left Flank marked.

BETA PHOTO: Left end of Echo Cliffs, with some climbs on the L...

The Echo Cliffs

BETA PHOTO: The Echo Cliffs

A view of Echo Cliffs (with Balanced Rock looming overhead), as seen from the descent gully.

A view of Echo Cliffs (with Balanced Rock looming ...

Looking down Annihilator, 5.11d.  The chalked holds (left) are on Immaculate, 5.12a.  Both are just past the Kamikaze Cave on the next section of wall called Dream Street.  The sharpness of the holds on upper Annihilator made me think Immaculate looked a lot nicer.

Looking down Annihilator, 5.11d. The chalked hold...

It is a long way from The Grotto over to the Kamikaze Cave.  You're getting close when you reach the four rung downclimb.

It is a long way from The Grotto over to the Kamik...

After the ladder, go through a narrow tunnel to enter the Kamikaze Cave.  Once through the tunnel, I felt we had entered the real climbing of Echo.

After the ladder, go through a narrow tunnel to en...

The hanging draw garden of the Kamikaze Cave.

The hanging draw garden of the Kamikaze Cave.

Climbers at Echo Cliffs

Climbers at Echo Cliffs

Echo Cliffs, with climbers visible on Easy Street

Echo Cliffs, with climbers visible on Easy Street

After the ladder, the trail leading up to the tunnel.

BETA PHOTO: After the ladder, the trail leading up to the tunn...

Balanced Rock.  Just one more earthquake...

Balanced Rock. Just one more earthquake...

Looking down the valley to the northeast? from the trail.  Beautiful country.

Looking down the valley to the northeast? from the...

Views from the Wasteland

Views from the Wasteland

Looking down the ladder - now that's an approach!

Looking down the ladder - now that's an approach!

From the main trail, head down the steep gully.  Will be wet after the rains.

BETA PHOTO: From the main trail, head down the steep gully. W...

Humboldt Lily, photographed along the trail to Echo Cliffs (listed rare or endangered by CNPS)

Humboldt Lily, photographed along the trail to Ech...

Looking down the re-bar ladder, en route to Easy Street.

Looking down the re-bar ladder, en route to Easy S...

kamakazie cave 12d

kamakazie cave 12d


Comments on Echo Cliffs Add Comment
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By Mike Morley
Administrator
From: Oakland, CA
Dec 15, 2006

The trailhead is about a 30-minute drive from Westlake Village. Click on the "Aerial Photo" link above for directions.

Trail Map

By Lizzy Trower
From: Pasadena, CA
Sep 26, 2007

You can also reach the trailhead by driving west/north on the PCH from Santa Monica and turning right on Yerba Buena road (at Neptune's Net restaurant) and following that up to the trailhead.

By Ryan Kelly
From: the gym
Nov 4, 2007

I don't think the description gives fair mention of the amount of choss you'll find here. There's some fun climbing for sure, but there's enough bad rock to warrant mentioning while describing the place. Just something to keep in mind; you'll have more fun if you know what you're in for. Take your helmet, not so much for the actually climbing, but while hanging out at the base.

By Rob Chaney
Mar 1, 2009

The beta photo on this page of easy street and the far side dose not match the guide book Sport Climbing in the Santa Monicas. I climbed these climbs on 2/28/2009 and the guide book seems to be accurate. Climb #4 is not Golden Years, it is the Sperpent 10A and #5 is not Dirty Deeds it is Watermark 5.9.Golden Years and Dirty deeds are the next set of bolts to the left.

By ryan mattock
From: calabasas
Mar 2, 2009

nice place to go climbing for the afternoon. some anchor replacement has been happening (it's not me), but I 'm glad.

By Matthew Fienup
Administrator
From: Ventura, CA
Mar 3, 2009

Thanks for noting the problem with the beta photo, Rob. I made the same note on another part of the site back in September (see here). It would be REALLY nice to get this cleaned up.

By Tam
From: CA
Aug 18, 2009

go and climb those routes in question and have fun- then mark it in your guidebook...no more confusion! easy!
:)

By Adam Banzon
Sep 18, 2009

I've had friends new to Echo try to meet me at the wall and I made them this map to help them find me. If it helps you, great. If not, take it down so others don't get F'd. I think it's pretty accurate, but that's for the public to decide:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&ll=34>>>>>

By BGraham
From: White Plains, NY
Nov 16, 2009

why aren't glue-in bolts used more in areas like Echo and Gibraltar in SB?