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Elevation: 5,357 ft
GPS: 37.74959, -119.57051
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 398,271 total · 1,842/month
Shared By: Josh Janes on Jun 15, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes
Warning Access Issue: Latest updates on closures, permits, and regulations. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Royal Arches is a tremendous arched wall found on the north side of the Valley, just west of Washington Column. The wall is formed of white granite with cool black streaks running down it and it looms impressively over the Valley's Ahwahnee Hotel. Easily the most popular route on this wall is the moderate Royal Arches (5.10- or 5.7 A0) (5.10a or 5.7 A0), amazingly first climbed in 1936 by Ken Adam, Morgan Harris, and W. Kenneth Davis. This is a really cool experience for many first time Valley visitors, as the route takes you from floor to rim and is easily climbed in a day by most parties.

Getting There Suggest change

As with Washington Column, it used to be you could park at the Ahwahnee and hoof over to the Column on the bike path, but I've heard recently that you can't park there anymore (permit req'd?). Maybe someone can post up the current beta...

60 Total Climbs

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Location: Royal Arches Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Royal Arches

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 61
Y Crack
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a A0
 5
Super Visor
Sport, Aid 5 pitches
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b A0
 1,220
Royal Arches (5.10- or 5.7 A0)
Trad, Aid 15 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 31
Poker Face
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 13
Mid-Life Crisis
Trad 4 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b PG13
 17
Tenaya's Tears
Trad 7 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 16
1096
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R
 4
The Rambler
Trad 5 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R
 5
Shaky Flakes
Trad 8 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13
 7
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Trad 2 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 43
Arches Terrace Direct
Trad 6 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 11
Adrenaline
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 9
Age of Industry
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a R
 8
Firefingers
Trad 2 pitches
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 8
Hang Dog Flyer
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Y Crack Central Royal Arches
 61
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Super Visor Central Royal Arches
 5
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a A0 Sport, Aid 5 pitches
Royal Arches (5.10- or 5.7 A0) Central Royal Arches
 1,220
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b A0 Trad, Aid 15 pitches
Poker Face Central Royal Arches
 31
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Mid-Life Crisis Eastern Royal Arches
 13
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 4 pitches
Tenaya's Tears Western Royal Arches
 17
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b PG13 Trad 7 pitches
1096 Eastern Royal Arches
 16
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
The Rambler Eastern Royal Arches
 4
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R Trad 5 pitches
Shaky Flakes Eastern Royal Arches
 5
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R Trad 8 pitches
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Central Royal Arches
 7
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13 Trad 2 pitches
Arches Terrace Direct Eastern Royal Arches
 43
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad 6 pitches
Adrenaline Western Royal Arches
 11
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
Age of Industry Central Royal Arches
 9
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Firefingers Western Royal Arches
 8
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a R Trad 2 pitches
Hang Dog Flyer Eastern Royal Arches
 8
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Trad
More Classic Climbs in Royal Arches »

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