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Elevation: 267 ft
GPS: 38.38524, -121.98691
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Shared By: Aron Quiter on Oct 18, 2004 · Updates
Admins: Aron Quiter, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes
Warning Access Issue: Hillcrest Parking Issue DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

PLEASE NOTE;

THE ROCK AT THE NUT TREE BOULDERS ARE BASALT AND GENERALLY BLACK IN COLOR. EXCESSIVE TIC MARKING AND "POWDERING" OF HOLDS IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED AND EXTREEMLY FROWNED UPON HERE. CHALK IS HIGHLY VISIBLE AND AN EYE SORE TO HIKERS AND OTHER CLIMBERS ALIKE. PLEASE PRACTICE GOOD ETHICS AND SHOW YOUR GOOD STYLE BY LEAVING AS LITTLE TRACE ON THE ROCK AS POSSIBLE, LIMITING TIC MARKING TO A SMALL DOT AND BRUSHING OFF HOLDS AFTER YOU'RE DONE CLIMBING.
 EXCESSIVE CHALKING IS GRAFFITI TO 99% OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE OPEN SPACE LAND. 


Ever climb a route at Nut Tree and wonder if it has ever been done before?

Check out the PDF of Aaron Roughs unfinished guidebook for a good list of undocumented (in any published guidebook) routes for the Nut Tree Boulders located HERE;resourcekey=0-BmoCSbTHmTNRdD8IGDwJ7Q .

The Nut Tree Boulders

This basalt bouldering area sits directly above the suburban mecca known as Vacaville. That said, when it's REALLY REALLY clear out, you'll have an excellent view of the Sierra as you pull your way up excellent holds on overhung basalt.


Sitting just above a Vacaville development, this open space bouldering area has no access fees, no "real" parking area, and some really fun bouldering on fairly large rocks from 10 - 15 feet in height, and some problems keep you busy for over 20 feet.


The basalt of the area can be rather loose in spots; when you pull a roof into a somewhat uncleaned topout, expect about 30% of what you grab to be loose. It's basalt though, so it probably won't come out :)


Camping? NO! Hotels? Yes!


This area has been developed over a period of time by a variety of different people. Resultingly, you'll find different cleaning techniques, and different landing options. Some routes have an excellent almost manacured landing, and others have a nice sharp chunk of rock on a steep hillside underneath the crux. Take your pick.


Routes range from really easy to really hard, and everyone will find plenty of rotues to keep themselves entertained on almost 20 different rocks, with development potential for those that are interested.


The Nut Tree Boulders are not somewhere you want to be in the summer. In the fall and spring on hot days, you'll find most routes cooking. Winter and cool days will be excellent, provided it hasn't rained in the last 24 hours.

Getting There Suggest change

The Nut Tree Boulders are located in the town of Vacaville off of Highway 80 in Northern California between Sacramento and San Francisco.

*From the West (San Francisco), Exit on Allison Drive / Vacaville exit. Take a left at the light onto Allison Drive. Cross the freeway and go .7 miles until the road ends and take a left onto Browns Valley Parkway. Head North on Browns Valley Parkway, which will turn into Browns Valley Road.

*From the East (Sacramento), Exit Vaca Valley Parkway/Leisure Town Rd and go Right on Vaca Valley Parkway. Follow Vaca Valley Parkway until you reach the intersection with Browns Valley Rd. The Hillcrest Boulders and Boxcar Woody Boulders will be strait ahead on VV Parkway. To get to the Woodcrest Boulders follow Vacavalley Parkway until it ends and make a left onto Wrentham. Follow Wrentham for a ways until you can make a Right onto Woodcrest.

For the Hillcrest Boulders:        92V7+GV Vacaville, California

The residents of Hillcrest Circle, the neighborhood surrounding Nut Tree Boulders in Vacaville, have asked that all parking be diverted to alternative locations outside of the neighborhood. There are two convenient options with ample parking:

  1. Vaca Valley Pkwy: There is parking along the west side of Vaca Valley Parkway before it dead-ends.  The City of Vacaville removed "No Parking" signs recently to accommodate additional parking areas. Note that cattle are currently grazing in this area, so please be sure to close gates!
  2. McMurtry Lane: Heading north on Browns Valley Parkway turn left (west) on McMurtry Lane.  Go all the way down until you reach the Caliguiri Park and Preserve Area.  There is plenty of street parking there that will not interfere with residents. Note that cattle are also grazing in this area, so please be sure to close gates!

For the Woodcrest Boulders:       92G9+XH Vacaville, California

Stay on Browns Valley Road for a short 6 /10ths of a mile. Make a left turn onto Wrentham. Continue 3 short blocks and make a left onto Woodcrest. Park on the street next to a gate that has a dirt road and an ugly looking barbed wire fence behind it.

For the Boxcar Woody Boulders:       92Q7+7V Vacaville, California 

Either follow Browns Valley Rd and make a Left onto Vaca Valley Parkway. Then follow VV Parkway until it ends. The Boulders will obvious next to the road on the right.

Or, from Browns Valley Rd, take a left onto Wrentham like you're headed to the Woodcrest boulders but keep going until Wrentham ends at Vaca Valley Parkway.

Park on the street next to the boulders or across the street next to the Church.

142 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Nut Tree Boulders

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V0 4 R
 50
Gimme My Forty Sucka
Boulder
V1- 5-
 23
Rump Roast
Boulder
V1 5
 30
Stonewall Traverse
Boulder
V1 5 PG13
 18
Mother Nature
Boulder
V2 5+
 20
Brass Monkey
Boulder
V3 6A
 26
Naked Lunch
Boulder
V3 6A R
 17
Natural Disaster
Boulder
V3 6A
 27
Bloody Madness
Boulder
V3 6A
 48
The Bulge
Boulder
V3 6A
 27
The Rift
Boulder
V3 6A
 24
Passage
Boulder
V4 6B
 24
Saddle Sore
Boulder
V5 6C
 15
Stoned Dangler
Boulder
V5+ 6C+
 6
Boxcar Traverse
Boulder
V6 7A
 14
Mega Monster
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Gimme My Forty Sucka Hillcrest Boulders > Hidden Boulder
 50
V0 4 R Boulder
Rump Roast Hillcrest Boulders > Saddle Boulders > Rump Roast
 23
V1- 5- Boulder
Stonewall Traverse Woodcrest Boulders > Woodcrest Ridge… > Stonewall Rock
 30
V1 5 Boulder
Mother Nature Hillcrest Boulders > Mother Boulder
 18
V1 5 PG13 Boulder
Brass Monkey Hillcrest Boulders > Hidden Boulder
 20
V2 5+ Boulder
Naked Lunch Hillcrest Boulders > Mad Cow Boulder
 26
V3 6A Boulder
Natural Disaster Hillcrest Boulders > Hidden Boulder
 17
V3 6A R Boulder
Bloody Madness Woodcrest Boulders > Woodcrest Ridge… > Boulder of Bloody Mad…
 27
V3 6A Boulder
The Bulge Woodcrest Boulders > Woodcrest Ridge… > Stonewall Rock
 48
V3 6A Boulder
The Rift Hillcrest Boulders > Hidden Boulder
 27
V3 6A Boulder
Passage Hillcrest Boulders > Saddle Boulders > Rump Roast
 24
V3 6A Boulder
Saddle Sore Hillcrest Boulders > Saddle Boulders > Y Boulder
 24
V4 6B Boulder
Stoned Dangler Woodcrest Boulders > Woodcrest Ridge… > Boulder of Bloody Mad…
 15
V5 6C Boulder
Boxcar Traverse Boxcar Woody Bo… > 4. The Boxcar Woody
 6
V5+ 6C+ Boulder
Mega Monster Hillcrest Boulders > Saddle Boulders > Y Boulder
 14
V6 7A Boulder
More Classic Climbs in The Nut Tree Boulders »

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