Weekend Sport Trip Recomendations

Hey all,

My partner and I are looking for somewhere to camp and climb for the weekend. Looking for an
area with some 5.10-5.11 sport climbs. Preferably less than a 4 hour drive from Santa Barbara, and we are willing to sacrifice some quality for less crowds.

I was looking at Holcomb Valley; however, I do not have a high ground clearance vehicle.

Thanks for the help

You don't need a high clearance vehicle to camp at Holcomb valley. You should check out New Jack City.

A side not on Holcomb Valley, I have made it there in a Honda Element, which is not high clearence at all and have even seen camrys up there, just drive slow and careful. Granted this was 2 years ago or so so i am not sure how the road conditions have changed. (did it up van dusen canyon)

If the road is open, Holcomb would be a decent place to go for the climbs that you are looking for. There are also a few gear routes there, of you are into that kind of thing. The road has been decent enough to make it there in most small cars, when I have been there a few years back

I have heard some mention that the Alabama hills is decent if you want to avoid crowds and want to climb around 5.10 or so. This may be doable, depending on where you live, but If I were going that far, I go somewhere else, such as Owens or Whitney Portal. Anyways I have some people speak in favor of it.

I prefer New Jack over Holcomb, but others will feel differently. If you climb there in the shade,the weather should be decent right now.

New Jack is good, with good camping....I have climbed there in August.

Holcomb can be a real zoo, cause the climbing is not spread out, like at NJC or A-Hills.

Good nu-crowed climbing in the Kern River canyon,north of Kernville, but no easy sport...Get up on the Kern Plateau and go to Church Domes, really fine sport climbing and some summits to climb up to... but that would be pushing your 4 hour limit (its 5 for me from Moorpark) If your going to go for 5 hours... SHUTEYE is the place, one can get to tons of the great stuff without hi-clearence.

I go to the A-hills all the time, the climbing is all about the same- 80 degree slabing, edge, pull,edge,pull over and over again..... but its just the ticket for my recovering back....The best camping is at the Tuttle creek CG... thats just south of the hills, by a mile or so... or if you don't need a bathroom, camp at the "candy store" formations.... good cell service right there....sun in the am if cold or shade in the am if hot, just pick what side of the formations you sleep on.
A-hills is spread out, pull up to one of the spots, see a bunch of climbers go to another spot.... pretty easy to be alone if you wish.

Have fun

You can park and walk a mile to climb Holcomb. That road was fine on my Volvo basically a rocky fire road. Stop and walk where you see the other cars. There are two ways to drive in, stick to the one the guide book says is ok for cars. It's the lower parking lot.

New Jack is way hot in summer.

Alabama hills and the gorge more north are great too when it cools down.