All Locations > California > High Desert > Barstow Area

New Jack City Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in New Jack City

Box Canyon East 199

Box Canyon West 77

Entrance Area Crags 88

Land That Time Forgot, The 31

Pipeline Pass 34

Southern Canyon Crags 10

Western Carousel 44

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Elevation:	3,700 ft	1,128 m
GPS:	34.66539, -116.97834 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	970,324 total · 4,279/month
Shared By:	Francis Baker (fran) on Sep 26, 2006 · Updates
Admins:	C Miller, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

New Jack City (NJC), also known as Sawtooth Canyon, is a sport climbing destination in the high desert near Barstow, California. New Jack City offers something for climbers of all abilities with more than 450 sport climbs ranging from 5.3 - 5.13+.

The rock is an unusual form of metamorphic rock of volcanic origin, offering often tricky and thought-provoking sequences and moves on huecos, pockets, edges, jugs, underclings, and crimps. The climbing is typically steep and diverse, requiring both strength and technique.

Located in the High Desert, the climbing season at New Jack City typically runs from October through May.

Getting There

Heading south from Barstow on Hwy 247 (Barstow Rd.), turn right on the dirt road at mile marker 63.0.

Follow this washboard road for 0.9 miles, where the road forks at a BLM kiosk. Bear left at the kiosk, and follow the road more-or-less straight ahead for 0.6 miles, passing the group campsite, until the road dead ends at the main parking area.

The maintained trail from this parking area crosses the fence and leads directly to Raven Rocks.

Camping

Campsites at New Jack City are first-come first-served and there is no fee to camp. Each campsite has a picnic table, shade structure, and a fire ring and outhouses are not too far away. No water is available so come prepared - this is the desert. Average annual precipitation is 6 inches.

Over the last few years, in the absence of a campground host, it has become common to camp in dispersed areas in and around the official campsites. As of Nov. 2020 BLM rangers are patrolling these illegal campsites and asking campers to leave. If you are not in a site with a shade structure, fire ring, and a picnic table you'll likely be kicked out. There are only 14 sites considered official/legal.

https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/274437/1

483 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at New Jack City

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

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 81 ● Getaway Sport Box Canyon East > Getaway
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 68 ● Catalina Sport Land That Time… > Bighorn Buttress
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 170 ● The Scene Is Not For Sale Sport Box Canyon East > Crossfire Crag
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 64 ● Hole In One Sport Box Canyon East > Fairway
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 204 ● Gun For Hire Sport Box Canyon East > Hueco Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 104 ● Crucified Sport Box Canyon East > Crucified Crag
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 49 ● Rainbow Drive Sport Box Canyon West > Predator Wall > Predator Wall - S Face
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 45 ● King of all Media Sport Box Canyon East > Hidden Wall (aka The…
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 101 ● Crossfire Sport Box Canyon East > Crossfire Crag
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 52 ● Freakshow Sport Box Canyon East > Fairway
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 17 ● Mental Block Sport Box Canyon West > Predator Wall > Predator Wall - S Face
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 39 ● Lost In The Middle Sport Entrance Area C… > Rdside Crag > Rdside Crag - S Face
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 14 ● Double Kneebar Ranch Sport Box Canyon East > Crossfire Crag
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 7 ● Hallraker Sport Box Canyon West > Predator Wall > Predator Wall - S Face
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 11 ● The Travesty Sport Box Canyon West > Arch Rocks