El Cariso  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  3,000' Page Views:  5,812. Good page?    Administrators:  M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Ronnie St. Jean on Aug 23, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 81° | 50° 75° | 48° 77° | 52° 79° | 52° 75° | 52°

Access Sensitive MORE INFO >>> Private property in the area and no established trail. The climbing area is behind a fire station and a forest ranger lives in that community as well. be quiet and do not disturb or be rude. I have talked to many of the fire fighters and home owners, they are easy going so far but lets not ruin it. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

BETA PHOTO: parking and first hill beta

Description 

This is the most secluded climbing i have come across in orange county. I have heard it is written about in an old school climbing guide and it appears in the "Southern California Bouldering Guide" written by Craig Fry. El Cariso seems to be almost forgotten about. When my friend Jeff Mumaugh and I first started climbing there it was completely covered in chaparral growth. Slowly but surely the climbs started to appear and now it is my favorite bouldering spot in the O.C. The Climbing sits on top of three main hills. Numerous Granite boulders make for seemingly endless bouldering. The first two hills have a lot of previous burn so access is easy. The third hill has the largest boulders but a lot of bushes stand in the way of some classic climbs. There are a few really fun sport climbs which I'm guessing Craig Fry put up. Also There is the Aid Boulder which is covered with old pitons and a bolt ladder for aid climbing. The surrounding hills to the west have even more bouldering and potential for sport, top rope, and maybe trad but, be quiet as you go that way because you will be going right next to private property. NOTE: you cannot enter through the neighborhood. The first hill on that side is worth it but it's not really worth going to the far hill yet...

Getting There 

If driving from O.C. you pass the Ortega waterfall and make your first left on forest route 3S04. drive past mystic oaks and park at the top of the hill. The parking spot is right before your next left turn that goes to the fire station (vehicles must display forest pass). the approach is a 30 min walk from car to the aid boulder. The first bouldering area is less than a 5 min. walk toward the fire station and head up the dirt road hill that goes to some electrical boxes. pass them and stay on the trail to the boulders on the left.
I have sorted the routes left to right, the left most route are nearest the car and the first problems you will encounter. The right most climbs are toward the end of the trail. The unsorted routes are the routes on the other hill to the west again the first climbs are closer to the car.

The Classics

Featured Route For El Cariso

Heelnasium V4-5  CA : Riverside/Orange Counties : ... : El Cariso

Start with matched hands on either side of where the roof pinches the other large boulder. walk feet up and move up and out across the roof, use a heel hook and mantle up. then its friction to the top. I should add this is a classic for the area, as most of the ratings go for el cariso... they are all rated relative to the area ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of El Cariso Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: area map	BETA PHOTO: moby dick to grumpy man	BETA PHOTO: grumpy man to aid hill
monkey wrench stopper... i would clip	to be climbed...	El Cariso can get snow, this is a view of the firs...
BETA PHOTO: looking at the aid hill from the next hill over SW...	late night bouldering, just learning photoshop	jeff light painting
plein air cariso; the weather can change...	BETA PHOTO: El Cariso Bouldering from the Craig Fry Southern C...	coolest rattler I've seen out here, I have never s...