Happy Boulders

Looking down-canyon from the 'Top Gun Area'. The ...

Description 

The increasingly popular Happy Boulders offer highly concentrated world-class bouldering with hundreds of worthy problems ranging from simple to impossible.

Long shadowed by it's more well-known and publicized brother the Buttermilks, more and more climbers are realizing the potential inside the canyon. Most first-time visitors will be overwhelmed by the amount of projects they just gathered and will find themselves making time to return to the canyon. Some say at the Happy Boulders your muscles will fail first, whereas in the Buttermilks its your skin that will be your reason for leaving. Regardless, it's nice to have the option. Visitors experiencing Bishop in the colder months can find shelter and warmer temps here rather than the exposed and wind-swept Buttermilks.

The rock, which looks brittle and crumbly with a quick glance is surprisingly bomber volcanic Bishop Tuff. Just be weary on high top-outs that may not see much traffic. The boulders found here offer faces that test every technique - most notably is the abundance of finger pockets which are found everywhere. You'll also find steep, gymnastic juggy overhangs and crimpy faces, as well as low traverses and unlimited eliminates and link-ups. Cracks of wide ranges can be found on the rim along with easy and scary highballing... it's all here. The landings are flat, the boulders are jam-packed, and everyone in your posse will find what they're looking for.

Getting There 

From US 395 in Bishop, take US 6 north out of town towards Benton/Chalfant/Tonopah. After 1.3 miles, turn left on Five Bridges Rd. Follow this down the straightaway around the left-hand curve, past the Aggregate Plant to a 4-way intersection where the pavement turns to dirt. Take a left on Chalk Bluff Rd. Follow for 2.3 miles and park on the left side of the road. The canyon can easily be seen to your right, up the hill.

The Classics

Featured Route For Happy Boulders

Rave V6-7  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Slow Dance Cave

A tuff bouldering classic: powerful, yet technical, and immensely satisfying. Grab the pumice banana and a small right crimp and pull a couple steep moves to the big sloper. Keep it tight for a radical sequence through the large dish to a gaston, and finally, a baseball-sized pocket and the huge shelf. Beautiful.(Word has it the starting pinch and a crucial foot have been steadily disintegrating over time, so step lightly and/or get this done qui...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Happy Boulders Slideshow

Add Photo

BETA PHOTO: Area locations at the Happy Boulders	Happy Boulders. Photo by Blitzo.	Playing at The Happy Boulders. Photo by Blitzo.
Bouldering at The Happies. Photo by Blitzo.	Bouldering at the Happies. Photo by Blitzo.	Leon, warming up in the Happys
Blitzo is everywhere! Here Robbie is sticking the...	having fun at the Happies	Happy bouldering
Katrina having fun	Aaron onsites a high ball in the happy boulders. F...	Bleached Bones
Hike out from the Happys on a cool December aftern...	Perfect afternoon conditions at the Happy Boulders...	Boulders everywhere
The main trail on the approach into the canyon.	Hand from a good day at the Happy Boulders	Top of the 'T-Crack Left', deep in the Upper Canyo...