All Locations > California > Los Angeles Basin > Santa Monica Mo… > Saddle Peak

Corpse Wall Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Corpse Wall

L › R R › L A › Z

	A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing S 5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b V1-2 5
	Block/Gully Var. S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
	Christmas Chronicle S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Double Bush Crack T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Exactamente (aka Xeno Direct) S 5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
	Last Dance S 5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b V2 5+
	Not Lichen This T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Path of Enlichenment S 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Proud Mary S 5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Richard's Rift T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Route 1 - R.I.P Arete S 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13
	Route 2 - The Roof Route S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Route 3 S 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Route 4 S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Route 4 1/2 T 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
	Route 5 S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Route 6 S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Route 7 T,S 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
	Route 7 1/2 T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Route 8 T,S 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
	Route 9 S 5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
	Solitaire S 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Xeno Dance S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

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:	2,584 ft	788 m
GPS:	34.07931, -118.65874 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	7,414 total · 257/month
Shared By:	Tony Sartin on Jul 4, 2022 · Updates
Admins:	jt512, Nicole Wiesenthal, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: RAIN & WET ROCK Details

Corpse Wall sandstone is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB during or after rain. A good rule of thumb is that if the ground near your climb is at all damp, then do not climb.

Description

DO NOT CLIMB WHEN WET!! LET THE ROCK DRY COMPLETELY!!

The Corpse Wall (2600 ft), located on Stunt Road, near the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains, is a north facing sandstone outcrop. While the Corpse Wall receives modest traffic from climbers the rock exhibits a grainy/ball barring feel under foot and a considerable amount of lichen throughout.

Corpse Wall hosts twenty-three bolt protected "sport" routes, which often take or may require supplemental traditional gear, depending on your abilities and head for run outs on moderate grades. Remember to bring a selection of cams and nuts for most routes.

The rock is sandstone with aggregate or pebbles protruding from the matrix, on many routes. While the Corpse Wall seems to be the perfect low commitment sport crag, the north facing aspect makes it shady and cold in the winter and sunny and hot in the summer. The best climbing days are warm fall or winter days and cool spring days.

The main wall is referred to as the "Corpse Wall" as the route developers discovered a body at the base. The crag was developed in the mid-2000s.

Getting There

Santa Monica Mountains. Park at the Topanga Lookout Trailhead, located at the intersection of Stunt Road, Saddle Peak Road and Schueren Road. The trailhead for the Backbone trail is 100 yards down Stunt Road on your left. Hike up the Backbone trail to the West, passing the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District water tower on your right. After 0.3 miles there is a fork in the trail with four signs, stay right at the fork to stay on the Backbone trail and continue downhill. You'll pass a 20 ft wall adjacent the trail on the left. Just after this wall the trail splits, continuing straight leads to the top of the wall and the anchors for top roping, taking a right leads to the bottom of the wall.

Being there: You're at 2600 feet elevation, bring some warmer clothes and a windbreaker. In the winter months before daylight savings you'll not get a glimpse of the sun from where you belay and climb. It tends to get windy often especially in winter.

23 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Corpse Wall Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Corpse Wall

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

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 36 ● Route 8 Trad, Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 40 ● Richard's Rift Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 40 ● Path of Enlichenment Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 35 ● Not Lichen This Trad
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c 41 ● Route 9 Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 63 ● Route 5 Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 55 ● Route 6 Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 42 ● Route 3 Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 71 ● Xeno Dance Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 58 ● Route 4 Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 98 ● Route 2 - The Roof Route Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 54 ● Christmas Chronicle Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b V1-2 5 30 ● A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing Sport, Boulder
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 56 ● Proud Mary Sport
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b V2 5+ 62 ● Last Dance Sport, Boulder