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Clark Canyon
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Area 13 
Main Island 
Parking Lot Rock 
Potato Patch 

Clark Canyon 


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Elevation: 7,200'
Lat, Long: 37.7891, -118.9135 Map
Page Views: 62,187. Good page? (2 likes)   
Administrators: Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Adam Winters, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Errett Allen on Mar 3, 2006

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Partly Cloudy
70° | 36°
Partly Cloudy
64° | 28°
Partly Cloudy
57° | 34°
Clear
64° | 32°
Mostly Cloudy
66° | 32°

Climbing at Area 13.
Photo by Blitzo.


Description 

Short steep bolted sport climbs in Bishops Tuff (volcanic rock with multitudes of holes and pockets). Climbs are 40 to 200 feet and face all directions so its easy to find sun or shade and shelter from the wind.


Getting There 

About 7 miles north of the Mammoth Lakes turnoff on Rt. 395 you pass a signed rest area on the left(west). Shortly after that turn right on the Owens River Road. Drive appox. 2 miles and turn left at Big Springs Campground (Road 2S04). At just over 2 miles turn right at a fork (Road 2S06). Drive a mile to a cattle gate (please close the gates behind you), another half mile and turn right at a "T", then left through another cattle gate shortly after that. Drive another 1.7 miles to a four-way intersection, turn right and follow that to where it ends at a parking circle. The main crags are 1/4 mile up a faint trail that leads NE from the circle.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Clark Canyon:
Bodhisattva   5.7     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Ugly, Fat, Mean, Come to Mammoth, Be a Queen   5.7     Sport, 1 pitch   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Drop Zone   5.8     Sport   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Chupacabras   5.8     Sport   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Rock Candy   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Area 13 : Area 13 - Center
Wild Will's Arete   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 115 feet   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Peanut Brittle   5.9     Sport, 85 feet   Main Island : The Alcove
Digit Delight   5.9     Sport   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Cholito   5.10a     Sport   Area 13 : Area 13 - Center
Ruffles   5.10a PG13     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Potato Patch : Potato 3
Pull My Finger   5.10a     Sport, 3 pitches, 190 feet   Main Island : Stoned Wheat Thin Cliff
This Ain't No Weenie Roast   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Borrowing From Tradition   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Area 13 : Area 13 - Left Side
Driller Instinct   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 120 feet   Main Island : Stoned Wheat Thin Cliff
King Spud   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Potato Patch : Potato 2
Spud Boy   5.11c     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Potato Patch : Potato 2
Jihad   5.11c     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   Main Island : Holy Wars Cliff
Thunderball   5.11c     Sport, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Potato Patch : Potato 4
Maltese Falcon   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Main Island : Maltese Falcon Cliff
Dirty Dancing   5.12b     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Main Island : Holy Wars Cliff
Browse More Classics in Clark Canyon

Featured Route For Clark Canyon
Maltese Falcon (5.12a), Clark Canyon

Maltese Falcon 5.12a  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Maltese Falcon Cliff
A long chossy slab leads up to the first bolt. At this point the route becomes steep with long moves between really good holds until a small overlap/undercling. The crux follows with hard technical moves off of sidepulls and crimps. The crux is relatively short but tricky. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA


Photos of Clark Canyon Slideshow Add Photo
Michael McKay enjoys the stunning views of the Eastern Sierra from within Clark Canyon.

Michael McKay enjoys the stunning views of the Eas...

Joan Bertini rapping Area 13

Joan Bertini rapping Area 13

Looking back towards the parking area from The Island, Clark Canyon

Looking back towards the parking area from The Isl...

Mammoth Mountain and the Sierra Crest from the parking area, Clark Canyon

Mammoth Mountain and the Sierra Crest from the par...

The last bit of the drive, Clark Canyon

The last bit of the drive, Clark Canyon

Storm clouds over Mammoth, Clark Canyon

Storm clouds over Mammoth, Clark Canyon

The trail to Area 13 breaks off just uphill from this boulder, Clark Canyon

The trail to Area 13 breaks off just uphill from t...


Comments on Clark Canyon Add Comment
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By Matt N
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Nov 17, 2010

High(er) ground clearance vehicle recommended. You can make it in a car, but you will scrape your paint along the bushes to avoid bottoming out along the last section of road because of a high center hump. A couple other rocks had to be negotiated carefully too.

By skitch
From: Heaven
Jun 18, 2012

The bugs were absolutely horrible on 6/16/12, mostly horseflies and 'no-see-ums', or biting gnats. DEET didn't do any good. If you're dying to climb here go early (88 degrees in the afternoon) and wear long pants and shirts. Hopefully this is a short lived thing, cause 3 days later I look like I have chicken pox and still itch like a mo-fo despite a thick layer of benadryl cream.

Hope this helps people decide which crag to hit up. I can't wait till it cools off a bit so I can get back on some of the fine lines here.

Also there is no longer a downed tree on 2S04!

By Paisley Close
Jul 7, 2012

Bugs are still bad! Climbed at the Potato Patch on 6/30/12 for only a few hours in the morning. Temps were perfect but I got eaten alive. The mosquitos could get through thin long sleeves, but not the no-see-ums. The no-see-ums got me before I put the long sleeves on and 3 days later I was covered in bumps that itched like crazy. Otherwise we had a great time! And there is no tree blocking the road...