All Locations > California > Lake Tahoe > I-80 Corridor

Rainbow Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Rainbow

Central Area 6 / 8 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 13

Go Fish Boulder 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Left Side 7 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 10

Right Side 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Salmon Lake South 3 / 0 / 6 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 8

Salmon Lake West 5 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	5,740 ft
GPS:	39.30566, -120.51822 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	52,107 total · 273/month
Shared By:	Urs on Aug 14, 2008 · Updates
Admins:	Aron Quiter, Lurk Er, Ky Bishop, Colby Wangler, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Open, with restrictions: private property Details

Do not trespass across the private property which is west of the crag. Presently, the access policies are up in the air and failure to respect private property could inhibit future access. To avoid trespassing on private property, stay along the base of the crag.

Description

Rainbow is a very beautiful place set on a small hill above the tiny community of Big Bend. it is west facing so its best to climb in spring or fall. Even though its right off the freeway it sees very little traffic and it holds spectacular climbing on white granite slabs. The rock is very hard and is much like some of the rock you would find in Donner Summit. The majority of routes ascend thin edges or cracks on small dome like structures. This area is not for beginners. There is one 5.9 and the rest are 5.10a-5.12c. This area is small enough were you could tick of most of the classics in one day, but is definitely worth climbing at.

Getting There

Rainbow is located on the west side of Donner Pass, about 17 miles west of Truckee and a few miles east of Cisco Grove. To find Rainbow, exit off Interstate 80 at Big Bend and turn onto Hampshire Rock Road. Continue to a roadside parking area just east of the south Yuba River. The climbing area is the odvious group of granite cliffs facing west. The approach trail begins behind a storage garage across the street from Big Bend Ranger Station and follows a narrow trail that winds through acres of manzanita to the base of the wall. The approach should only take 10 minutes.

42 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Rainbow Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Rainbow

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

6 ● Sinister Trad Central Area
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 6 ● Lock Buster Trad Left Side
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 15 ● Malcolm's Route Trad Central Area
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 13 ● Dexter Delight Trad Central Area
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 14 ● Dark Special Sport Central Area
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 6 ● Light Special Trad, Sport 2 pitches Central Area
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 7 ● 38 Special Sport Central Area
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 18 ● Dirty Deed Trad Right Side
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 27 ● Aja Trad Left Side
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 8 ● Over the Rainbow Sport Left Side
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 4 ● Amazing Grace Sport Central Area
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a 16 ● Peyote Pump Trad Central Area