I'm driving from Ventura to Napa and am planning on taking HWY 101. I was hoping to do some quick cragging. I'm looking for somewhere with a fast approach and that has some fun climbing up to 5.10, preferably somewhere with some easier stuff like a 5.6 for my newbie friend. We were thinking about checking out pinnacles national park. Any other suggestions?

If you want to venture off 101 a little bit, in Morro Bay there is Cerro Cabrillo which would be perfect for your friend - Rocklands is a popular place to take out newer climbers and is easy to set-up topropes and has a couple 5.6s that are bolted.

mountainproject.com/v/cabrillo-peak/105737103

Bishop Peak in SLO is pretty accessible, though a little bit of a hike into anything. Depending on where you're going in Napa, Mount St. Helena could be a good bet - though there's a little hiking involved. But the Bubble or Table Scraps are good little crags worth checking out! Anyway, have fun - explore! Especially at Pinnacles - fun place to have an adventure!

mountainproject.com/v/the-bubble/105734213
mountainproject.com/v/table-scraps-pinnacle/106543621

bishop peak is an awsome place with super fast approachs (10 min to farthest away). good guide book here:

www.centralcoastclimbing.com/downloadtoposeguide.html

the mountain Submitted By: Mickey Sensenbach on Mar 7, 2013

Santa Barbara has got a couple of quick cragging areas. Gibraltar would be where I would go. There are a couple .10's couple fun routes under .9 including a pretty awesome, though way too short, lie back (lie back Annie 5.7). All is easy to throw a tr on too.
Message me if you want someone to help out finding the places.

The climbing on Bishop Peak can have a lot of poison oak.