Mountain Project: Climbing Los Angeles County

Crystal Lake Crag is a craggy outcropping of granite near the western shore of Crystal Lake up in the San Gabriel Mountains. The rock quality on the routes is mostly good, though as with any new area in the mountains some cleaning may be necessary. Expect loose rock everywhere, as this is the San Gabes.

Adam S.'s Crystal Lake Cafe and General Store is in the area and very easy to find. He makes EXCELLENT chili, and practically everything else is awesome. He's a very nice guy. The closest place to buy beer would be the liquor store at the corner of Azusa and Sierra Madre.

A forest adventure pass is required for parking in the area. Please note that Route 39 is closed from time to time for one reason or another.

This place is a part of my home and my heart, so please keep it clean.

Getting There

Take the 210 and exit Azusa/Route 39. Head north on R39 (which becomes San Gabriel Canyon Road) and follow it up into the mountains to Crystal Lake. Make a right into the Crystal Lake area, and a left at the road to the lake. There are two parking lots for the lake. The second parking lot is preferable, as it is closer to the lake and has shade.

Go down to the lake and you will see the crag on the opposite bank. Looking at the crag, you'll notice a large scree slope partially hidden in the trees on the right side of the crag. That's the primary way to access the crag. You'll start up that slope in the trees, and then it will open up. Check the MS Paint topo I've drawn up for more info on accessing individual routes.

The Classics

Featured Route For Crystal Lake Crag

Flake of Eternal Peril 5.8 X CA : Los Angeles County : ... : Crystal Lake Crag

This is the line I took on what I can only assume is the FA of the South Tower at Crystal Lake Crag. The rock is bad, worse than most CLC stuff, but it's cool if you solo it, since you won't be killing anyone but yourself if you bring stuff down.I suggest TR soloing it, and the 'protection' section reflects the gear I used.The route starts on the left side of the base of the tower. I went left onto the face where the rock got better, and then stemmed across the face onto a small hold (removed mo...[more] Browse More Classics in CA

Comments on Crystal Lake Crag

Add Comment

Show which comments —

By agd
May 2, 2012

Any beta for the approach time from the car? Moving to Pasadena soon and looking for some new spots.

By Eric O'Rafferty
From: Altadena, CA
May 27, 2012

It will take your 15 to 20 minutes to drive from Pasadena to the 39 in Azusa. I've not been up there yet, but it will probably take at least that much longer to get to Crystal Lake. I've lived here for years and just found out about this area recently. Will check it out soon.

By Benjamin Chapman
From: CA
Aug 5, 2012

Indeed, the drive time is 15 - 20 minutes from Pasadena to Azusa, but with the winding mountain road and all the congestion at the turnouts for swimmers/picnickers the drive up San Gabriel Canyon Road to Crystal Lake will take at least another 45 minutes. So you're looking at 1 hr to Crystal Lake from Pasadena.

By Benjamin Chapman
From: CA
Aug 5, 2012

Agd......the approach time from the car (2nd/higher parking lot) is likely 20 - 30 minutes, provided one can locate the best access up the scree slope and you can navigate efficiently to the base of your desired route. There isn't a well defined trail up the scree slope beyond the lake.

By Benjamin Chapman
From: CA
Aug 5, 2012

Many many kudos and the upmost admiration for Keith Leaman, Gary Cifra, and Dale Leaman for their vision and for pioneering many of the routes at Crystal Lake Crag in the 1960s!!!

By Jeff Edge
Mar 13, 2013

Anyone ever tried to climb those discontinuous and probably chossy cracks running up the much higher (compared to Ace Dick area) walls on the walk down from Conveniently Sexy towards Ace Dick?
I realize this is a very non-specific question, and really I'm just trying to ask if anyone's tried climbing anything between the two routes before. Was out there this past weekend for the first time and didn't do much exploring due to it being very cold in the shade! (About 4in of snow on the ground still by the base of the walls) So I thought I'd ask about exploring here first instead.

By TacoDelRio
From: Yosemite/Los Angeles
Mar 20, 2013

Jeff, not yet. Was thinking of it but haven't tried it yet.

Home - Destinations - iPhone/Android - Gyms - Partners - Forum - Photos - Deals - What's New
	ADVANCED

Crystal Lake Crag

Description

Getting There

The Classics