All Locations > California > High Sierra

06 - Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in 06 - Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses

Bear Creek Spire 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Little Lakes Peak 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Lookout Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Morgan Pass Bouldering 0 / 0 / 0 / 82 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 82 / 82

Mount Abbot 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Mount Dade 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Mount Morgan (North) 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Mt Gabb 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Mt Mills 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Mt Morgan (South) 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Mt Starr 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4

Patricia Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Petit Griffon 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Pip-Squeak Spire 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Ruby Peak 13 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 13 / 13

Third Recess Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Treasure Peak 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Wheeler Peak 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

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:	12,598 ft	3,840 m
GPS:	37.41135, -118.78302 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	177,912 total · 1,529/month
Shared By:	Justin Johnsen on May 26, 2015 · Updates
Admins:	Chris Owen, Lurk Er, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Description

Little Lakes Valley is another excellent high elevation starting point for day (and longer) excursions into the high Sierra. The road to the trailheads here takes one conveniently to 10,000 feet of elevation outside the snowy months, offering relatively easy access to Bear Creek Spire and neighboring alpine playgrounds. Recently alpine bouldering development has begun on the slopes of Mt. Morgan (South) for the adventurous pad warriors. Lodges, campgrounds and trailhead parking lots offer accommodations for various levels of expense.

Mono Recesses are a series of hanging valleys west of Mono Pass, the further west you go the less visited they get. Recess Peak is located over Mono Pass, although not a climbing destination Pioneer Basin is a wonderful high and relatively remote area, one of the hallmark High Sierra scenic destinations.

Getting There

From highway 395 at Toms Place (don't blink and miss it!), drive south into the mountains on Rock Creek Road, winding between west and south to Rock Creek Lakes Resort.

Depending on your destination, you will either turn left on Rock Creek Lake Road for Tamarack Lakes trailhead, or continue on Rock Creek Road to Mono Pass trailhead at Mosquito Flat. Two trails start here; Little Lakes Valley and Mono Pass.

Main peaks of interest are:

Bear Creek Spire - Bear Creek and Little Lakes Valley Trail
Mount Dade - Little Lakes Valley Trail
Mount Gabb - Little Lakes Valley Trail
Mount Abbot - Little Lakes Valley Trail
Mount Mills - Little Lakes Valley Trail or Mono Pass Trail
Recess Peak - Mono Pass Trail

Campsites
Campsites for the main peaks in Little Lakes Valley can be; the west side of Long Lake, Treasure Lakes, or Dade Lake. Some routes can be handled in a long day by fit people.

Permits
Permits for this trailhead can be reserved here. Both Mono Pass and Little Lakes Valley are very popular, reserve early.

For backcountry skiers, the road is closed in winter, and parking can be had at a Rock Creek Sno-park. From there you can follow a groomed trail up to Mosquito Flats, then the wonderland of snow and mountains is your oyster. You'll need to display a permit which you can get here .

122 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	06 - Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at 06 - Little Lakes Valley & Mono Recesses

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

3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a 14 ● North Couloir Trad, Alpine Mt Abbot
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a 9 ● Summit Ridge traverse S->N Trad, Alpine Mt Starr
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a 8 ● Nevahbe Ridge Trad, Alpine Mt Morgan (North)
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b 5 ● Southwest Ridge Trad, Alpine Treasure Peak
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b 6 ● SSW Ridge low Trad, Alpine Mt Starr
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b 7 ● East Ridge Indirect Trad, Alpine Ruby Peak
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b 4 ● South Ridge Trad, Alpine Pip-Squeak Spire
Easy 5th 1+ 3 I 5 M 1c 180 ● Northeast Ridge Trad, Alpine Bear Creek Spire
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 4 ● NNW Ridge direct Trad, Alpine Little Lakes Peak
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Easy Snow 11 ● Southeast Face Trad, Snow, Alpine 3 pitches Petit Griffon
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 242 ● North Arete Trad, Alpine 6 pitches Bear Creek Spire
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 9 ● East Arete Trad, Alpine 22 pitches Bear Creek Spire
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 4 ● North Buttress Trad, Alpine 10 pitches Third Recess Peak
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 13 ● Pteradon Trad, Alpine 4 pitches Ruby Peak
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 6 ● Shine On You Crazy Diamond Trad, Alpine 7 pitches Ruby Peak