California Guidebooks

FEATURED: Holcomb: Sky Forest Gold - 2nd Edition

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The definitive Holcomb Valley Pinnacles Guidebook, written by one of the original (and the most prolific in the San Bernardino Mountains) area developers, detailed and in-depth. Almost a 100 additional routes added since the 1st Edition, including new routes put up since 2019.

FEATURED: A Climber's Guide to Big Bear Lake & Holcomb Valley Pinnacles

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This is the essential guide to over 1000 routes surrounding Big Bear Lake in California's San Bernardino Mountains. The best-known climbing area here is the famed Holcomb Valley Pinnacles, super-popular for its dense concentration of steep, well-featured, granite sport climbs. The Pinnacles are covered in full detail, along with complete beta for scores of crags well off the beaten path. Moderate sport climbs may have put Big Bear on the map, but there is something perfect here for everyone, from easy slabs to remote pinnacles, to technical slab and trad cracks of all kinds. The pine-covered hills, quaint mountain town, and expansive lake offer an abundance of excellent camping and a large variety of rest-day fun. With never-before-published crags, extensive maps, and new routes for every skill level, this full-color, comprehensive guidebook promises years of climbing adventures in LA's backyard.

Holcomb: Sky Forest Gold

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A detailed and in-depth guidebook to the ever popular Holcomb Valley Pinnacles.

Southern California Sport Climbing Guide (3rd Edition)

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Covers a portion of the Central Pinnacles more popular crags (Claim Jumper Wall, Motherlode Rock, Coyote Crag etc.) as well as select crags in the Southern Pinnacles (Lost Orbit, Parking Lot Rock).

Rainbow Bouldering

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This digital guidebook is complete with photos and GPS navigation, and it works offline. As of this posting it documents 98 boulder problems from V0 to V11, including 11 projects, and it will continue to receive updates as things change.

Rock Climbing Guide to the Castle Rock Area

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1st edition covering over 500 boulder problems, top-ropes and lead climbs in the South SF Bay Area at Castle Rock State Park, Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) preserves, and nearby Silicon Valley crags (Handley Rock, Lexington Rocks, Guadalupe Rock, etc.) Color cover (front & back). Color illustrations and photo topographics. Climbing route and boulder problem index.

Climbers Guide To Calaveras Dome

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Latest and Greatest climbers guide to Calaveras Dome

A Climber's Guide to Big Bear Lake & Holcomb Valley Pinnacles

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This is the essential guide to over 1000 routes surrounding Big Bear Lake in California's San Bernardino Mountains.  The best-known climbing area here is the famed Holcomb Valley Pinnacles, super-popular for its dense concentration of steep, well-featured, granite sport climbs.  The Pinnacles are covered in full detail, along with complete beta for scores of crags well off the beaten path.  Moderate sport climbs may have put Big Bear on the map, but there is something perfect here for everyone, from easy slabs to remote pinnacles, to technical slab and trad cracks of all kinds.  The pine-covered hills, quaint mountain town, and expansive lake offer an abundance of excellent camping and a large variety of rest-day fun.  With never-before-published crags, extensive maps, and new routes for every skill level, this full-color, comprehensive guidebook promises years of climbing adventures in LA's backyard.

1980's OC Rock Guide [FREE!]

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This is a hand drawn 'zine' Rock Climbing Topo from the 80's detailing areas throughout Socal; the first section details Pirates Cove

Boulderfest! The Snow Valley Bouldering Guide

Contains hundreds of bouldering routes as well as the results of the late 90's Boulderfest.

American Alpine Journal, 1979 (free article)

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Bob describes the 3 routes he and friends put recently: Grandma Buttons, Grandpappy and Grizzly Green.

Rock Climbs of Placerville, CA - 2nd Edition (2003, Cottrell)

This excellent book describes two areas around Placerville, and is by far the best resource for both areas covered. Excellent overhead views and detailed topos leave little desired, except more pictures perhaps?

Covers two areas: Cosumnes River Gorge and Mosquito Coast.

Lake Ramona Bouldering Guide

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Written by developer Aden Parker, this digital guide contains over 900 unique problems at Lake Ramona. Including offline GPS maps with pins for every problem, topos, directions, descriptions, and community uploaded beta videos, this guide is the best collection of data for Lake Ramona available. A KAYA subscription also includes access to their full catalog of over 100 guides to areas such as Tramway, Joshua Tree, Mt. Rubidoux, Horse Flats, Bishop, Joe's Valley, Red Rock, and many more.

FEATURED: A Climber's Guide to Courtright Reservoir & Vicinity

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Welcome to Courtright; a little known area with world class climbing. Know for its awesome thin face adventures, courtright has a huge variety of climbs spanning the spectrum from fun low angle face to steep hard test pieces. Here you will also find the jewel of the western Sierra, Power Dome, with over 20 five-star routes.

Over 40 different formations
Over 400 routes in an area worthy of national park status
A sampler of over 100 Shaver Lake climbs included.
Beautiful climbs, bouldering, hiking, mountain biking, fishing & boating.
ISBN: 978-0-692-03319-7

Kings Canyon Bouldering

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The first bouldering guidebook for Kings Canyon.

FEATURED: Mammoth Bouldering

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"A bouldering guide to the area around Mammoth Lakes, California

Over:

1,000 problems
300 color photos
By: Charlie Barrett

978-1-5323-7708-2"

FEATURED: A Climber's Guide to Courtright Reservoir & Vicinity

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Welcome to Courtright; a little known area with world class climbing. Know for its awesome thin face adventures, courtright has a huge variety of climbs spanning the spectrum from fun low angle face to steep hard test pieces. Here you will also find the jewel of the western Sierra, Power Dome, with over 20 five-star routes.

Over 40 different formations
Over 400 routes in an area worthy of national park status
A sampler of over 100 Shaver Lake climbs included.
Beautiful climbs, bouldering, hiking, mountain biking, fishing & boating.
ISBN: 978-0-692-03319-7

Courtright Reservoir A Select Climbing Guide Book

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New guide book to Courtright Reservoir.

FEATURED: Fresno Dome Rock Climbers Guide - Bonus Crags, Lewis Creek, Lost In The Forest, Ukraine Dome, Willow

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Those familiar with my guide books know I go through great lengths to get clear photos of the walls to draw accurate topo lines of route paths and anchor locations. I am excited to add the new use of a drone for that perfect birds eye view of formations, walls and action photos. This has been super helpful with the 500 foot tall walls on Fresno Dome. Some walls even have their own topos of just the top pitches so you can clearly see the finishes and all the other nearby options for finishes. I also used many ground based photos so when you walk up to the wall you can easily see the starts as well.

Lots of action photos throughout will get you psyched to climb!
Precise driving directions with maps will get you to the different parking areas. Further maps and drone shots of all the approach trails will keep you on the right path. Each area also has gps coordinates for the directionally challenged. Sun/shade information and strategies for different walls are included.

I also use a color coded system on the topos. Green up to 5.9, Blue 5.10, Orange 5.11, Red 5.12. This allows you to quickly scan a page and choose the grade you are going for. Detailed route descriptions include grade, safety rating (PG-13,R,X), name, star quality rating, length in meters, bolt count and or gear required, route description of what you will encounter, descent options when needed, and the FA Party and date of ascent. It is everything you need to find the route, climb it, have a blast and move on to the next.

I have been climbing here since 2004 and personally climbed 95% of the routes to verify the information. Lots of research was needed to clarify some of the route paths, route names and first ascent party info which had been changed or misreported over the years. With help from local developers Mark Spencer, Jerry Anderson, Matt Schutz and others, the record is set straight for an area that has been shrouded in mystery.

Over just the last three years myself and partners have added 78 new pitches from 5.7 to 5.12 to the area. We also did lots of trail work around the dome and replaced many aging bolts and anchors with stainless steel quality hardware.

Nearby bonus crags of Lewis Creek (Bouldering), Lost In The Forest (Enchanted), Upper and Lower Willow Creek, and Ukraine Dome (developed 2022) are included. These add a vast array of single pitch climbing options while in the area.

My sincere thanks to everyone for helping make this all possible! Climb on!

From back cover: Come experience the thrill of rock climbing at Fresno Dome! With an abundance of high-quality granite, this rock climbers’ paradise offers a variety of routes from gear swallowing cracks to gently overhanging sport climbs.

This guide will help you find your way through 376 distinct pitches. Explore some of the highest-featured granite in the western Sierra mountains. Centrally located in California and accessed via a two wheel drive dirt road. With its casual approach and everything from single pitch sport routes to multi-pitch adventures up to 500 feet long, Fresno Dome has something for everyone. Nestled in a 7,000 foot high pine forest with stunning views, plenty of free camping options, and stacks of routes, Fresno Dome is the ideal destination. This all new well researched, full-color and highly accurate guide will unlock the fun. Nearby bonus crags are included adding even more options for adventure. So, grab your gear and get ready for an unforgettable experience!

Oakhurst Select

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Includes a sampling of climbs from : Lewis Creek bouldering, Volcanics sport routes and bouldering, Willow Creek sport and trad climbs, Fresno Dome sport and trad climbs and Shuteye Ridges Chilkoot Lake area bouldering, sport and trad climbs.

This select rock climbing guide is catered towards convenience cragging with short drives and quick approaches in the Oakhurst (Stokehurst) area. A high density of climbs await the traveling climber looking to maximize their time in the area. Also a good resource for local climbers. Most of these areas have never had accurate route and topo info before.

Bouldering, topropes, sport and trad climbs on a variety of rock from Volcanic to Granite. All reached via easy dirt roads for 2wd vehicles.

Published 2022. Full color. Highly accurate turn by turn odometer readings with directions. GPS coordinates for each area. To scale overview maps. Color coded route ratings by difficulty for quick reference. Accurate route descriptions by one of the areas prominent route developers. First ascent details. Drone shots for accurate topos. 56 pages.

Fresno Dome Climbers Guide (2021)

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For all new Fresno Dome rock climbing guide book 2021 contact Mike Arechiga at mikeclimbingdude@aol.com, Flash Drive Publisher Rock climbing guide books.

Southern Yosemite Rock Climbs

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Currently out of print. The buy link goes to Amazon. From the seller's page there:

"Southern Yosemite Rock Climbs is a comprehensive guide to the rock climbing in the uncrowded southern boundary region of Yosemite National Park. These areas include: Mount Starr King Area, Wawona, Fresno Dome (Wamello) Area, The Balls, Mammoth Pool, and Shuteye Ridge. Originally published in 1988, and out of print for several years, this guidebook chronicles 20 years of Southern Yosemite climbing from the early 70s exploration by Royal Robbins and Fred Beckey through the late 80s sport climbing era. This reprint of the original 1988 edition contains first-hand descriptions of the climbs as told by the original ascentionists. In the nearly 20 years since the publication of the Southern Yosemite guide, new approaches have appeared, new routes have been found and climbed, and a new generation of climbers have discovered the adventure of Southern Yosemite."

Rock Climbing Guide to the Castle Rock Area

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1st edition covering over 500 boulder problems, top-ropes and lead climbs in the South SF Bay Area at Castle Rock State Park, Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) preserves, and nearby Silicon Valley crags (Handley Rock, Lexington Rocks, Guadalupe Rock, etc.) Color cover (front & back). Color illustrations and photo topographics. Climbing route and boulder problem index.

Northern California Bouldering

This guide covers more than 1700 bouldering problems from the 50 best areas in Northern California. It includes the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe, Sonora and Bear Valley, Bald Rock and Mt Lassen, the North Coast and all the classic spots in between. We listed all the classic problems as well as a number of new cutting-edge, V-ridiculously-hard testpieces. You will find nearly every rock type: granite, limestone, sandstone, schist, chert, volcanic tuff, greenstone, and pure California Jade. The scenery is as varied as the rock: beaches, mountains, river beds, oak shaded foothills, and High Sierra peaks. In addition, there is info on another 20 bonus areas with hints of the limitless potential just waiting to be discovered. Get out there and send!

Oakhurst Select

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Includes a sampling of climbs from : Lewis Creek bouldering, Volcanics sport routes and bouldering, Willow Creek sport and trad climbs, Fresno Dome sport and trad climbs and Shuteye Ridges Chilkoot Lake area bouldering, sport and trad climbs.

This select rock climbing guide is catered towards convenience cragging with short drives and quick approaches in the Oakhurst (Stokehurst) area. A high density of climbs await the traveling climber looking to maximize their time in the area. Also a good resource for local climbers. Most of these areas have never had accurate route and topo info before.

Bouldering, topropes, sport and trad climbs on a variety of rock from Volcanic to Granite. All reached via easy dirt roads for 2wd vehicles.

Published 2022. Full color. Highly accurate turn by turn odometer readings with directions. GPS coordinates for each area. To scale overview maps. Color coded route ratings by difficulty for quick reference. Accurate route descriptions by one of the areas prominent route developers. First ascent details. Drone shots for accurate topos. 56 pages.

Shuteye Ridge 2nd Edition Coming Soon

In the works is the next full color updated edition with over 100 new routes! New to this edition will be drone shots of some of the crags and trails to help clarify this vast area. The recent Creek fire also burned much of the area. Effected approaches will be updated. Many people have also requested turn by turn directions with exact mileage between turns. This will also be included.

Shuteye Ridge Climbers Guide Book

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Latest and Greatest guide book for Shuteye Ridge!

A Rock Climber's Guide to California's Shuteye Ridge

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424 pages, color.

Oakhurst Select

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Includes a sampling of climbs from : Lewis Creek bouldering, Volcanics sport routes and bouldering, Willow Creek sport and trad climbs, Fresno Dome sport and trad climbs and Shuteye Ridges Chilkoot Lake area bouldering, sport and trad climbs.

This select rock climbing guide is catered towards convenience cragging with short drives and quick approaches in the Oakhurst (Stokehurst) area. A high density of climbs await the traveling climber looking to maximize their time in the area. Also a good resource for local climbers. Most of these areas have never had accurate route and topo info before.

Bouldering, topropes, sport and trad climbs on a variety of rock from Volcanic to Granite. All reached via easy dirt roads for 2wd vehicles.

Published 2022. Full color. Highly accurate turn by turn odometer readings with directions. GPS coordinates for each area. To scale overview maps. Color coded route ratings by difficulty for quick reference. Accurate route descriptions by one of the areas prominent route developers. First ascent details. Drone shots for accurate topos. 56 pages.

Bay Area Bouldering

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Bay Area Bouldering includes over 600 boulder problems within a 1.5 hour drive of San Francisco. All the classic spots are in this book: Castle Rock, Indian Rock, Mickey's Beach as well as a number of lesser known spots on the North Coast. Sandstone, Schist, Rhyolite, Basalt and Chert are the most prevalent types of stone and each offers a very unique experience. This book includes everything from cruiser jug hauls on sandy beaches to sloper wrestling in lush forests. Author Chris Summit personally climbed and mapped almost every route to ensure the accuracy of the information.

Climbers Guide To Alternative Cragging - East Tahoe Region

Yellow Paper back book 2nd Edition, 1991 March
Areas-
Lakeview slab
The Egg
Dinosaur Rock
Iron Butte
Ball Buster Rock
Woodfords Canyon
Pleasant Valley/Grover Hot Springs
Indian Head Rock
Zebra Walls

East Shore Climbers Guide: Woodfords Chapter

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A Supertopo user kindly shared this rough but usable PDF of the Woodfords Canyon chapter of an obscure old guide by Ron Anderson. (note as of 2017 the URL https://www.supertopo.com/topos/obscurities/woodfords_guide.pdf went 404).

FEATURED: Yosemite Bouldering

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• Contains detailed descriptions of more than 1,300 boulder problems, including over 400 new problems and 7 new bouldering areas
• Color coded entries and GPS coordinates help you choose and find your problems
• Full-color 1st edition features multiple personal essays and breathtaking climbing photos

Yosemite Valley Bouldering

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Problems: 600
Difficulty: VB-V13
Pages: 160 pages
Edition: 1st Edition, May 2007

Climbers Guide To The Balls

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All new guide book to The Balls

FEATURED: Texas Canyon The Climbing Guide

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Essential guide to the area written by Pam Neal and Ben Chapman. Photos by Irene Yee.

Texas Canyon The Climbing Guide

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Texas Canyon The Climbing Guide

Cost: $28.00

ISBN: 978-0-9766630-6-5

The first complete guidebook to this great southern California area.

FEATURED: Frustration Creek and Surrounding Areas

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Definitive guidebook to Frustration Creek and surrounding areas written by one of the original key developers.

Locals Guide To Rock Climbs Of Northeast California

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The only comprehensive guidebook for the climbing regions and crags of Northeast California. Full page color photos, with route overlays, for every cliff, route, and boulder problem. Includes historical notes and established climbing ethics for each crag, as well as first ascent information for all routes. Over 600 climbing routes, including more than 300 previously undocumented climbs. Additionally includes a bonus bouldering guide section for "The Lost Sierra" Region. Includes the crags in Plumas County, Lassen County, Western Tehama County, parts of Butte County and Southeast Shasta County.

FEATURED: Owens River Gorge Climbs

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A Climber’s Guide to the Owens River Gorge

Southern Sierra Rock Climbing: Domelands (Book 3)

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"From the Back Cover. The expansive area of domes and crags just northwest of the Needles is described with photos and topos." Book is out of print. FYI link goes to Amazon.

Fairview Mountain Crags

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A Climbers Guide to Fairview Mountain Park.
Category Sports & Adventure
Size 6×9 in, 15×23 cm
172 Pages
ISBN
Softcover: 9781389042386
Publish Date Jan 06, 2018
Language English

American Alpine Journal, 1980

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Bob writes up some recent routes he and friends established around Pyramid Peak.

American Alpine Journal, 1981 (free article)

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Bob mentions Placerville climbers have been establishing routes on Slick Rock this year.

Eastern Sierra Ice, 2nd Edition

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Robert “S.P.” Parker
2010 - 2nd Edition
96 pages - 5.5” x 8.5”
No ISBN
Self Published

The Guide’s Guide to Sierra Waterfalls and Alpine Ice Routes. This print guide has been a long time coming. Waterfall ice climbing in the Eastern Sierra of California started in the 1960s and the alpine ice has been climbed since the 1920s. But until now there has been no comprehensive guide to these routes. Short approaches for a fun day of climbing or long multi-day excursions in the backcountry; it is all here.

FEATURED: The Needles Climbing, A Complete Guide (2017)

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From the seller's website: "This guidebook covers every route from the classics to the obscure at the upper Needles, Voodoo Dome, Demon Dome, and the secretive Merlin Dome.

Also covered in detail are Dome Rock and Hermit Spire. The Needles stately neighbor to the south, Dome Rock, is home to more easily accessible classic climbs than any other crag in the southern Sierra. Hermit Spire, easily seen from The Needles approach, stands alone across the Freeman Creek drainage beckoning to adventurous climbers.

Everything you need to know to get there, camp there, climb there, and enjoy rest days is in this book. You will also find interesting reading, including a carefully researched history of Needles area climbing, rounded out by personal accounts from Needles climbers who led the way.

This book is the complete Needles guide. And coming in at 240 pages (only ten more than the 1992 book) it will not be a burden in your pack."

Nut Tree Lite Guide

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Aaron's shared free preview of progress on his Nut Tree bouldering guide.

New Jack City Sport Climbing Guide

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The latest and greatest and most up-to-date guidebook to New Jack City - come see what you've been missing at one of the best sport climbing areas in Southern California.

http://www.onsightmedia.org/

Southern California Sport Climbing (3rd edition)

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The latest installment of this popular guidebook covers various areas around Southern California and features extensive (but not complete) coverage of New Jack City.

Tuolumne Meadows Bouldering second edition

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From the Flash Press site: "Tuolumne Meadows Bouldering, second edition is the bouldering guide to Tuolumne Meadows. As a 19 year veteran of Tuolumne Charlie knows the ins and outs of the Meadows and with this book, so can you.

Released in 2020, the 372 page, full color Tuolumne Meadows Bouldering guidebook covers over 1,200 boulder problems at 32 different areas in Yosemite's High Country. Tuolumne Meadows offers some of the best summertime bouldering in the U.S.. This book is the essential guide for every boulder looking to enjoy perfect rock in a great setting with problems at every grade and angle from 5.6 to V13. Don't miss it! "

Tuolumne Bouldering

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From the publisher's website: "Tuolumne Bouldering showcases 20 of this great destination’s best bouldering areas. It has more than 275 of the best boulder problems in one of the most pristine alpine rock playgrounds on Earth. Tuolumne has a little something for everyone---steep faces, golden diorite knob pinches, splitter crack jams, gnarly old school mantels and a little bit of every other style of bouldering challenge. Located above 8000 feet in the “high country” Tuolumne Meadows is covered in snow every winter and the only road in is closed, but when summer is on the horizon and the snow is melting, the road will open just in time for you to escape the heat and crowds of the popular, lower elevation areas nearby such as Bishop and Yosemite Valley. The classic boulder problems that abound have rich histories and traditions. You can climb in the footsteps of legends like Bachar, Kauk and Yabo. Marvel in the Sierra geology, inhale the fresh mountain air, cherish the clear sky by day, gaze at the star-filled skies at night and live life the way it was meant to be lived—positive and free, in Tuolumne. "

Bishop Area Rock Climbs: The Climbing Guide to the Eastern Sierra—South (2008)

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Seems to be the most recent hard copy guide book for Alabama Hills.

A Rockclimber's Guide to the Alabama Hills

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Although published in 2002, this still remains the most comprehensive guidebook to this high desert playground in the shadow of Mt Whitney.

Ocean's Eleven: Bouldering Around Santa Barbara

This is the definitive guidebook to 11 superb bouldering areas located in and around Santa Barbara.

• Author: Bob Banks
• Softcover; 144 pages; topos, black-and-white photos
• Alpen Books; copyright 2003
• Thoroughly researched book comes complete with historical hoopla, action photos and storytelling
• Also includes recommended eating and drinking lists to finish up each session
• Covers Pine Mountain, The Swimming Hole, Lizard's Mouth, The Brickyard and more

El Cajon Mountain Wall

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A photocopied homemade guide with photos, drawings and topos to El Cajon Mt. in San Diego County. Simple yet effective, but the durability might be an issue.

The "Purchase" link seems to go to Chris Hubbard's personal website hosting free PDFs?

Southern California Sport Climbing - 3rd Edition

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This guide gives you all the beta and covers all the major areas from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

Areas covered: Williamson Rock, New Jack City, Echo Cliffs, Keller Peak, Devils Punchbowl. Holcomb Valley Pinnacles, Big Rock, Frustration Creek, Malibu Creek, Santa Barbara, Texas Canyon, Mission Gorge
Poway Crags, Apple Valley and Point Dume.

Climbers' Guide: Riverside Quarry

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The second edition of the guide to this popular crag details the ever-growing list of quality climbs to be done in this suburban playground.

Rock Climbing at Indian Springs

Indian Springs is a fun little crag with a lot of variety. There are traditional, sport and top rope climbs and this is a great area for beginner to intermediate climbers. The guide book contains 45 climbs ranging from 5.2 to 5.11 and shows slab locations, climb ratings, slab illustrations & pictures plus climb descriptions.

Big Chief Area Climbs (2005, Hajek)

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From Marek. A new book for Big Chief, finally answering my rantings on the current published information on Big Chief. This book has it all, photographs of almost all the rocks, excellent topographic information on approaches and wall locations. Edited by Marty Lewis (I know him from his Owens River Gorge books, though he has another on Mammoth Area climbs), this book keeps with his style, which is the more information, the better! This book lacked in only one area: it is so narrowly focused, since there are other walls quite close by.

The Climbing Guide to the Big Chief Area, Lake Tahoe
Marek Hajek, Edited by Marty Lewis
March 2005 - 1st Edition
96 pages - 5.5" x 8.5"
ISBN: 0-9676116-7-9
Maximus Press
Lake Tahoe Area Climbing Guides Vol. 1

Big Chief Area
Light Deprivation Buttress
Little Chief
Sawtooth Ridge

Black Mountain Bouldering

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The most comprehensive guide to Black Mountain, including nearly 2,000 unique problems. From the author:
"I've been climbing at Black for well over 15 years and it's somewhere that holds a special place in my heart. It's a place that keeps on giving and somehow never gets old. It's the place where my love for exploration and development began. This guide is not only an attempt at sharing the work of the previous explorers and developers but also to include the last 10 years of exploration and development and also to hopefully inspire others to do the same.

Out of the 1900+ climbs that are currently listed, there are 300+ that previously have never been documented. There are also about 300 more in different outlying areas that are still to come.

In an effort to be as accurate as possible, I have put my hands on every single one of the boulders listed in this guide. That said, I'm just one person, and I see this as a communal effort. In a lot of cases, I'm likely wrong. I tried to get as much consensus as possible, but often, the only opinion I knew of was my own. I encourage everybody to not just take the grade that I gave the climb but to think critically about their own experience and contribute to the consensus.

Please have fun, be safe and enjoy the outdoors!"
- Kody Shutt

FEATURED: Black Mountain Bouldering

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"A guide to 1,700 world-class boulder problems just two hours from Los Angeles"

FEATURED: Tuolumne Meadows Climbing: A Comprehensive Guide

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Over a decade in the making, this is the first new rock climbing guidebook in 15 years to this magnificent alpine region of Yosemite National Park. A comprehensive guidebook written from scratch to the roped rock climbs in Tuolumne Meadows, consisting of formations reachable off Highway 120, between Crane Flat in the west and Lee Vining in the east. Over 1,700 routes are catalogued in detail across over 170 formations, with approach and parking directions, route descriptions and grades, photo overlays, maps and topos, and more.

Tuolumne Free Climbs: 2nd Edition (2009)

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From the publisher's website: "Tuolumne Free Climb: 2nd Editions includes twice as many routes as the first edition: over 275 of the best routes in Tuolumne Meadows from 14-pitch trad climbs to one-pitch sport routes."

Rock Climbing Tuolumne Meadows: 4th Edition (2006)

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Quoted from the back cover:

"Rock Climbing Tuolumne Meadows leads the way to more than 1,000 traditional and sport routes and classic bouldering problems of all degrees of difficulty. Expert climbers Don Reid and Chris Falkenstein share their knowledge of this high-country area, with excellent face and crack climbs on granite domes plus alpine ascents on the surrounding high peaks."

Joshua Tree Bouldering Guide

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Authored by local climber and developer Jeremy Schoenborn, this guidebook contains the most comprehensive and accurate data set for Joshua Tree Bouldering. With nearly 1600 problems with high-quality offline GPS, thousands of community uploaded beta videos, and detailed route descriptions and lines, this digital guide is a no-brainer. A KAYA membership enables access to dozens of other guides for popular areas in California and beyond such as Bishop, Red Rock, Tramway, San Francisco Bay Area, Joe's Valley, Squamish, Leavenworth, and many more!

Joshua Tree Bouldering

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New and improved with a huge number of problems of all grades, full color throughout, actions shots and detailed maps and ratings index.

This exceptionally well done guidebook details the myriad boulder problems scattered throughout Joshua Tree National Park. Loads of detail coupled with extensive maps and high quality photos make this a pleasure to just browse through, let alone use to find problems.

The author besides climbing many of the problems, including many desperate FA's, has listed the problems with exacting detail, including GPS coordinates and overview maps as well as organizing the problems in the back alphabetically and by difficulty.

Printed on quality paper stock with a bomber binding, this book will see you through many a season of thrashed tips and sandbagged no-hold desperates.

Reviewed by C Miller

Wine Country Bouldering

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This digital guidebook is complete with photos and GPS navigation, and works offline. It will continue to be updated as things change. See the linked webpage for the latest information.

Rock Climbing Santa Barbara & Ventura

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Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have long been known as sublime tourist areas, but the rock climbing and bouldering along the California's south-central coast are just beginning to attract the attention they richly deserve. From the sweeping walls of the Echo Cliffs to the awesome overhangs at the Owl Tor, from classic problems at Painted Cave to the vast boulderfields atop Pine Mountain, the many routes and boulder problems described in this book will appeal to a wide range of tastes and abilities. Written by one of the area's leading activists, Rock Climbing Santa Barbara and Ventura provides first-hand information to more than 50 scenic and uncrowded climbing areas not to be left off your tick-list.

FEATURED: Sport Climbing in the Santa Monicas - 3rd Edition

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The only comprehensive guidebook to the Santa Monica Mountains. Covered areas include: Backbone Crags (Mt Olympus, Paleface, Pico Raquelita, Top Hat, Boney Bluff, Hueco Wall), Echo Cliffs, The Lookout, Malibu Creek State Park, Black Flower, Corpse Wall, Tick Rock & Bee Rock (Griffith Park).

Sport Climbing in the Santa Monicas (2nd edition)

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Well written and easy to use, this guidebook details the many newer crags in the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding area. Covers Echo Cliffs, Tick Rock, Black Flower, Boney Bluff and more.

FEATURED: Tramway Bouldering Guide [DIGITAL]

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This Tramway Bouldering Guide provides detailed GPS coordinates, topos, descriptions, and beta videos for hundreds of problems in the Tram. All available offline, you will be certain to never get lost or forget the beta again. KAYA includes 50+ other guides to popular areas such as Bishop, Tahoe, San Francisco Bay Area boulders, Red Rock, Joe's Valley, and much more.

Tram Bouldering (out of print)

"Our ground breaking “Tram Bouldering” guide, cuts through decades of misinformation on this somewhat secret area and presents an accurate and detailed manual, opening up the full glory of this fantastic destination to the bouldering public. Loaded with inspirational action shots, funny and bizarre clip art, 50+ highly detailed maps, GPS coordinates, and 300 photos, this guide will navigate you through an adventure in the maze of the Tram’s boulder strewn forest."

http://www.kdanielspublishing.com/shop/guide-books/tram-bouldering/

FEATURED: Redwood Burl

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Redwood Burl is a compact yet comprehensive guide to the extensive climbing in Northwest California. The college town of Arcata is the center of a universe of incredible but little-known cragging and bouldering. Sea cliffs, sea lions, river-polished boulders, towering redwoods, hidden limestone caves, and enough climbing to keep you busy for a lifetime. It’s a paradise. For years, road-tripping climbers in the know have visited the limestone of the Trinity Arêtes and the overhanging seaside pockets of Promontory, declaring them some of the best sport crags in CA. This book fully documents these gems, and introduces dozens of other excellent cliffs that have hidden under the radar … until now!

There’s a lot packed into this guidebook. You’ll find maps to keep you oriented, icons depicting sun and rain aspects, hiking approach times, geology and ecology info, gorgeous color photography, and enough beta on bouldering, sport, and trad climbing to keep you busy whether you’re just visiting the area or a seasoned local.

$1 of each book sale is donated to the Northwest California Climbers Coalition, whose mission is to preserve and expand local climbing opportunities. Please visit their website at nwca-climbers.org, and feel free to pitch in, any way you can!

Bishop Area Bouldering on KAYA by Dan Beall and Eric Bissell (digital)

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This painstakingly comprehensive Bishop, California bouldering guidebook includes every established variation, link-up, obscurity, and, of course, classic, collected by local legends Dan and Eric. With comprehensive topos, descriptions, and GPS coordinates for every problem, all available offline, this guide greatly improves the experience of finding and sending problems in Bishop. Additionally, there are beta videos automatically linked to each problem which can also be downloaded and filtered to climbers of a similar height, gender, or experience level to you. This guide is available with a $10/month or $60/year KAYA PRO subscription which also includes access to the Golden State and Joe's Valley guidebooks, among other features.

Bishop Bouldering Select Guidebook

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Bishop may be the best bouldering area in the world. It’s certainly one of the most famous, with a high concentration of world-class problems from beginner-friendly romps to standard-setting testpieces. Sealing the deal are two distinctly different kinds of rock—each with its own variations—plus magnificent scenery, consistently sunny weather, cheap camping, free hot springs, and convenient local amenities in the town of Bishop itself. This guidebook covers 722 of the area’s best problems, in Rock Creek, the Happy and Sad boulders, Druid Stones, and both roadside and backcountry areas in the famed Buttermilk Country.

FEATURED: Bishop Area Rock Climbs

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The third of the series covering the southern portion of the Sierra Eastside with all the info to popular areas like Whitney Portal, the Alabama Hills, Pine Creek, Cardinal Pinnacle and more. Detailed topos, actions shots, and index and routes by rating as well.

Bishop Area Rock Climbs: The Climbing Guide to the Eastern Sierra's South
Peter Croft & Marty Lewis
August 2008 - 3rd Edition
336 pages - 5.5" x 8.5"
ISBN: 0-9676116-9-3
Maximus Press
Eastern Sierra Climbing Guides Vol. 3

Bishop Bouldering (2nd Edition) (out of print)

The town of Bishop, in eastern California, is a boulderer's paradise, one of the few places in the world where a high concentration of world-class bouldering combines with magnificent scenery, convenient amenities, and near-perfect weather.

Bishop Bouldering details more than 2000 problems at this internationally popular climbing destination, providing complete coverage of the Buttermilk Country (including outlying areas like Dales Camp and the Pollen Grains), The Happy and Sad Boulders, The Druid Stones, and Rock Creek and The Sherwin Plateau (north toward Mammoth).

Bishop Bouldering also showcases the region's bouldering with hundreds of color photographs, including stunning action shots from pro shooters like Dan Pattitucci, Jim Thornburg, Stephan Denys, Simon Carter, and Wills Young.

http://www.wolverinepublishing.com/guidebooks/climbing/bishop_bouldering.html

OSO GRANDE

Rock climbs of North Big Bear Lake - one of the original guides to the area.

FEATURED: Climber's Guide to Pinnacles National Monument

This is the best and most up-to-date guide for climbing at Pinnacles National Park. It is a must-have for those wanting to explore the climbing opportunities outside the most popular corridors and has accurate route descriptions and well-drawn maps.

Climber's Guide Pinnacles National Monument

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Sold online through Amazon at a fair price.

Los Angeles County Bouldering

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All encompassing guide to bouldering in Los Angeles County, including Stoney Point. A must for any dedicated boulderer.

FEATURED: Urban Rock

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Guidebook for boulder problems and top-rope problems at Stoney Point.

Stoney Point Guide

The old yellow book is out of print - but you may be able to find it at a used book store, or a middle aged climber's bookcase.

Southern California Bouldering

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Local climber Craig Fry's extensive guide to bouldering in SoCal, contains Stoney Point problems also. No longer in print.

New Direction Cliffs and Kern Slabs (2016)

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"There are upwards of 100 climbs in this new guide to “New Directions Cliffs and Kern Slabs”. This guide encompasses almost all of those climbs. The map-like format makes it very easy to find any particular route, especially those located on New Directions Cliffs, which has several adjacent climbing faces, and which in the past has been difficult to decipher." - Herb Laeger shared on ?this thread?.

Southern Sierra Rock Climbing: Domelands (Book 3)

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From Chockstone Press, Inc.; 1st edition, January 1, 1992. Features a forward by Fred Beckey! Link is to Amazon page.

Southern Sierra Rock Climbing: The Needles

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From Chockstone Press, October 1999. Link is to the Amazon page.

Yosemite Climbing Guide App (free - out of app stores)

App creator Chad Lawver announced in the forum thread Free! Yosemite Guidebook App that his Yosemite Climbing Guide App (for Apple and Android devices) is now free.

http://www.mountainproject.com/v/free-yosemite-guidebook-app/112166147/

Yosemite Climbs: Free Climbs

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Yosemite Climbs: Free Climbs Paperback – 1994
by Don Reid (Author), John Dill (Introduction)
Paperback: 413 pages
Publisher: Chockstone Press; 1st edition (1994)

Out of print but widely available on Amazon.

Rock Climbing Yosemite's Select

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Rock Climbing Yosemite's Select 2nd Edition by Don Reid
Series: Regional Rock Climbing Series
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: FalconGuides; 2nd edition (May 1, 1998)

Out of print, but still widely available on the Amazon page linked.

Yosemite Valley chapter of A Climber’s Guide to the High Sierra (free online guide)

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A Climber’s Guide to the High Sierra (1954), edited by Hervey H. Voge. Authors: Richard M. Leonard and David R. Brower (1940), and William W. Dunmire (1953).

Yosemite Valley Sport Climbs and Top Ropes

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Yosemite Sport Climbs and Top Ropes
Authors: Chris McNamara and Chris Van Leuven
Routes: 200 (click to see the complete route list)
Difficulty: 5.1-5.12a
Pages: 120 pages
Edition: 1st Edition, July 2010

The Road to The Nose

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The Road to The Nose
Routes: 14+ (click to see the complete route list)
Difficulty: 9-5.10d and C1-C2
Pages: 60 color pages
Format: downloadable eBook (PDF)
Author: Chris McNamara

Yosemite Big Walls - 3rd Edition

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Yosemite Big Walls - 3rd Edition
Authors: Chris McNamara and Chris Van Leuven
Routes: 64 (click to see the complete route list)
Difficulty: C1-A5
Pages: 208 pages
Edition: 3rd edition, May 2011

Yosemite Bigwalls

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Roger Putnam's and Erik Sloan's Yosemite Bigwalls is sold in print and/or digital formats.

FEATURED: Rock Climbing Yosemite Valley (2020)

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2020 Rock Climbing Yosemite Valley: 750 Best Free Routes + (PDF) Ebook Authors are Marek Jakubowski and Erik Sloan.

Yosemite Topropes

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Now you too can bring your kids to the rocks. Floyd takes a unique approach to climbing books, using interesting little icons to represent information from the slope of the climbs to whether or not to bring your children along. An interesting book, though a little bit too small for a climbing region (Yosemite) containing thousands of routes.

Climber's Guide to Ellery Lake Bowl, 2nd edition (MorComm: 2017)

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Bruce Morris's 2017 guide to many crags in Mountain Project's Lee Vining Canyon / Tioga Road area is on its second edition.

Climber's Guide to Ellery Lake Bowl (MorComm: 2016). 31 pages. All color. ISBN 978-0965023450. MSRP $19.95.

Columbia Bouldering (out of print)

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Guidebook to problems at Columbia. I see this for sale at nearby climbing gyms, but the online store link from the blog doesn't seem to work in 2015.

Southern Yosemite Rock Climbs

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Currently out of print. The buy link goes to Amazon. From the seller's page there:

"Southern Yosemite Rock Climbs is a comprehensive guide to the rock climbing in the uncrowded southern boundary region of Yosemite National Park. These areas include: Mount Starr King Area, Wawona, Fresno Dome (Wamello) Area, The Balls, Mammoth Pool, and Shuteye Ridge. Originally published in 1988, and out of print for several years, this guidebook chronicles 20 years of Southern Yosemite climbing from the early 70s exploration by Royal Robbins and Fred Beckey through the late 80s sport climbing era. This reprint of the original 1988 edition contains first-hand descriptions of the climbs as told by the original ascentionists. In the nearly 20 years since the publication of the Southern Yosemite guide, new approaches have appeared, new routes have been found and climbed, and a new generation of climbers have discovered the adventure of Southern Yosemite."

FEATURED: Mammoth Area Rock Climbs

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This 4th Edition is the latest version of Marty Lewis's standard guidebook for the greater Mammoth area.

Details crags from Tioga Pass in the north to Rock Creek in the south, including Clark Canyon, Dike Wall, Benton Crags, Bear Crag and more.

Mammoth Area Rock Climbs: the Climbing Guide to the Eastern Sierra North
Marty Lewis
October 2014 - 4th Edition
376 pages - 5.5” x 8.5”
ISBN: 978-0-9824988-2-8
Maximus Press
Eastern Sierra Climbing Guides Vol. 2

•Rock Creek
•Way Lake
•Bear Crag
•Clark Canyon
•Deadman Summit
•Tioga Cliff Area (aka Private Property)
...

California Central Coast Climbing: San Luis Obispo

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This is the most current guidebook available for San Luis Obispo County. It is available in many small shops around California, including:

Mountain Air Sports
667 Marsh St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 543-1676

Classic Rock Climbs No. 18 Castle Crags California

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A small sampling of routes in the park (there are a lot!). Very useful to have, but a little route-finding is definately necessary!

FEATURED: High Sierra Climbing - Volume 3

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The Sierra Nevada is a world-renowned climbing destination for alpine climbing in some of the most favorable conditions of any mountain range on the planet. This close-to-comprehensive guidebook covers technical free climbs, alpine big walls, ice climbs, and selected scrambles in the High Sierra. It is the essential reference for any climber exploring the “Range of Light”.

This book, Volume 3 of a three-volume series, covers peaks between Bishop Pass and Sonora Pass. Including:



Picture Peak & the Evolutions
The Bishop Skyline Peaks
Merriam Peak & Seven Gables
Bear Creek Spire & Rock Creek
The Minarets, Mount Ritter, & Banner Peak
Convict and McGee Creeks
The Cathedral Range
Mount Conness & the Third Pillar of Dana
The Incredible Hulk & Little Slide Canyon
Northern Yosemite & the Juggernaut
Flatiron Butte & the Watchtower
& much, much, more!

FEATURED: High Sierra Climbing - Volume 2

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This book, Volume 2 of a three-volume series, covers peaks on the northern part of the Kern-Kaweah Divide, the Great Western Divide, and on and west of the crest between Shepherd Pass and Bishop Pass.

Angel Wings & Valhalla
Tamarack Creek & Saber Ridge
The Watchtower & Tokopah Valley
Bubbs Creek Wall & Charlotte Dome
Mount Clarence King Area
Tehipite Valley
Gorge of Despair
Lake Basin
Temple Crag & the Palisades
Langille Peak & the Citadel
& much, much more!

FEATURED: High Sierra Climbing - Volume 1

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The Sierra Nevada is a world-renowned climbing destination for alpine climbing in some of the most favorable conditions of any mountain range on the planet. This close-to-comprehensive guidebook covers technical free climbs, alpine big walls, ice climbs, and selected scrambles in the High Sierra. It is the essential reference for any climber exploring the “Range of Light”.

The Good, The Great, and The Awesome

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The Guidebook to the top High Sierra Rock Climbs, 2nd Edition

Early Days in the Range of Light: Encounters with Legendary Mountaineers

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It's 1873. Gore-Tex shells and aluminum climbing gear are a century away, but the high mountains still demand your attention. Imagine the stone in your hands and thousands of feet of open air below you, with only a wool jacket to weather a storm and no rope to catch a fall.

Daniel Arnold did more than imagine — he spent three years retracing the steps of his climbing forefathers, and in Early Days in the Range of Light, he tells their riveting stories. From 1864 to 1931, the Sierra Nevada witnessed some of the most audacious climbing of all time. In the spirit of his predecessors, Arnold carried only rudimentary equipment — no ropes, no harness, no specialized climbing shoes. Sometimes he left his backpack and sleeping bag behind as well, and, like John Muir, traveled for days with only a few pounds of food rolled into a sack slung over his shoulder.

In an artful blend of history, biography, nature, and adventure writing, Arnold brings to life the journeys and the terrain traveled. In the process he uncovers the motivations that drove an extraordinary group of individuals to risk so much for airy summits and close contact with bare stone and snow.

The Last Season

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This, the story of the life and mysterious disappearance of Randy Morgenson, High Sierra Backcountry Ranger, makes for a compelling read - and along the way describes some of the places we've either been or would love to be - some hauntingly so, or perhaps it just my sense of nostalgia.

It's a great read.

Ansel Adams - American Experience

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Not particularly a film about climbing, but rather the life and works of Ansel Adams - whose plates of the High Sierra and the Yosemite remain as the datum-point of California mountain imagery.

Parts of this documentary capture the haunting spirit of the High Sierra like no other film before.

If you need a reason to join your local PBS, or The Sierra Club, this is it. Just the thought that my few measley bucks contributed to this gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra

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The final version of Hervey Voge's original. My first guidebook to the High Sierra and one you could actually take with you - I think I read it more lying in a tent than at home.

Starr's Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region

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Lovingly prepared. The original guide on how to get in and out of the High Sierra, originally published in the 1930's and still quite valid today, thanks to the conservationists. Any edition is worthwhile and used books stores often carry more than one - the older the better.

Missing in the Minarets

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The Search for Walter A. Starr, Jr. (sub-title)

A real page turner for those of us interested in climbing history, I won't say any more.

Mountaineering in California

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Great fun! A ripping Victorian yarn (true story nevertheless) about how famous explorer Clarence King and two of his buddies made an epic excursion from west of the Great Western Divide over to the High Sierra crest in order to bag the highest peak, and managed to bag the wrong one! Written in the days when the American public were hungry for tales of exploration and adventure instead of being just plain hungry.

The purchase link now opens a free online text edition.

Close Ups of the High Sierra

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Norman Clyde was the most prolific first ascentionist in the history of climbing in this range - so it's a good idea to read what he thought of climbing here. An expanded and illustrated edition of Norman Clyde's classic, with new stories added for the first time.

A Climber's Guide to the High Sierra

The entire range including climbs in the Yosemite! Out of print, try to find it at used book stores. Contains mountain plates by Ansel Adams himself.

My First Summer in the Sierra

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Muir gleaned some of the truth of the Universe just by merely existing in it's wild and beautiful regions (can it be that simple?) - his idea that everything is connected predates Sagan and all scientific observations.

This volume in the John Muir Library Series is the most popular of Muir's works: the naturalist's account of his first visit to the High Sierra and the Yosemite.

High Sierra Climbing

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Yes, yet another Sierra select featuring detailed topos of "40 of the best" rock climbs in the backcountry.

Climbing California's High Sierra

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Originally known as 100 Sierra Classics this book is somewhere halfway between the select works and the full blown Secor guide. Contains schematics and historical data etc.

The Good, The Great, and the Awesome

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Peter Croft's down to earth route descriptions will inform and entertain you. Another "select" work which also contains roadside cragging, and eateries in the local towns.

Climbing California's Fourteeners

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Routes on the peaks of the range which are > 14,000ft. Contains historical information and useful schematics of the more sterner stuff.

FEATURED: The High Sierra - Peaks, Passes, and Trails

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R.J.Secor's bumper book of fun for the Sierra is still the quintessential High Sierra guidebook for people who want to get the big picture, and learn all about a mountain range bigger than the entire Alps.

Joshua Tree Select Routes

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This digital guidebook is complete with photos and GPS navigation, and works offline. It currently documents 1,062 routes in the best areas of the park. More details are on the linked webpage.

Joshua Tree Rock Climbs 3rd Edition

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About the book:

Explore one of the world’s great climbing areas, Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California, with this newly updated guide to climbing! The 3rd edition of Joshua Tree Rock Climbs is our fattest book, weighing in at over 500 pages. Renowned for its intoxicating combo of demanding trad climbing, exotic granite formations, unique flora, and laid-back outdoor living, Joshua Tree is a must-visit destination on every rock climber’s life list. Most come back year after year. For over half a century, the Yosemite Valley climbing greats “trained” in Joshua Tree in the cooler months, leaving a fascinating legacy of hard, classic climbs.

Prefer mellower fare? The variety of easy and moderate routes in the Park is second to none. It’s a great place to introduce someone to the sport. Every discipline of rock climbing is represented: cracks of all sizes, overhanging face climbs, delicate edging problems, friction slabs, corners, overhangs, arêtes — you name it! Toproping has a long tradition here, and some of the hard topropes are world class. Though true sport climbs are in the minority, most climbs here are a mix of gear and bolts and require only a small rack, making this a great place to develop your “old-school” skills.

Joshua Tree Climbs

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Randy is the leading author on climbing in Joshua Tree and his books are the benchmark. With over 1000 routes this guide covers the best Joshua Tree has to offer. Randy is known for his detailed route topos's and area maps, the user will find EVERY route and formation included in the most efficient manor.

Joshua Tree Sport Climbs & Top Rope Sites

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Up to date guide to Sport Climbing and Top Roping in the Joshua Tree National Park area.
Beta on 1,000+ routes in a full color detailed guide!

Joshua Tree Climb-On Map

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Tired of getting lost in JTree? Get away from crowds and find over 640 mapped crags! Climb-On Maps provides detailed crag maps with approaches, walk-offs, and at-a-glance crag summaries. Complements Mountain Project.

Best Climbs Joshua Tree National Park: The Best Sport and Trad Routes in the Park (Best Climbs Series)

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A concise guide to more than 250 quality trad and sport routes with full-color photographs throughout. Perfect for the visiting climber with sun/shade info, GPS coordinates, gear requirements and much more.

Classic Joshua Tree Routes and Bouldering

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A great select book detailing the best of the best with helpful maps, interesting history throughout and much more. The perfect guide for visiting climbers and locals alike.

Joshua Tree Rock Climbs

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A fairly complete select guide with thousands of routes and boulder problems. Full color throughout with detailed maps, action photos and fun lists throughout.

Cragcam's Guide to Joshua Tree National Park - a DVD

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A trip to Joshua Tree is too big to plan from grainy black and white photos in a travel or climbing guide book. With over 1200 square miles and almost 8000 climbing routes, there's an incredible amount to see and do in Joshua Tree.

Cragcam's guide breaks park activities into three easy to explore sections; Off Rock, On Rock and In Camp. From the main menu you can select the activities you're interested in for planning your visit to the park and avoid wasted drive time or disappointing long approaches. Day hikes, overnight trips, remote desert floor, palm tree oasis, mountain ascents, top rope areas, isolated crags, classic climbs... it's your vacation, what do you want to do?

Joshua Tree West : Quail Springs to Hidden Valley Campground

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The long awaited first installment, of three, to cover the ever popular Joshua Tree National Park. Completely reworked with new maps, new photos, more detailed route descriptions with protection recommendations and tons of new routes. Get your copy and see what you've been missing!

The Trad Guide to Joshua Tree - 60 favorites climbs from 5.5 to 5.9

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The Trad Guide to Joshua Tree was written especially for moderate climbers looking for fun routes. It contains detailed maps, directions, and photos for locating each of 60 favorite rock climbs, sun/shade info, descent instructions, and pro suggestions. There is a large, full-color photo of every route, plus other photos showing details of the approach for the more complex areas.

Rock Climbing: Joshua Tree

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Randy Vogel's Joshua Tree guidebook is getting a bit dated (this 2nd edition was published in 2000), but it still remains a comprehensive guide to the world famous area and works perfectly well for getting you to the numerous classics of the area.

Rock Climbing Joshua Tree, 2nd (Regional Rock Climbing Series) Paperback – September, 2000

Bouldering Lake Tahoe - West Shore (2nd Edition)

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"Bouldering Lake Tahoe-West Shore 2nd Edition features over 3,900 problems at 15 different areas.

This is a comprehensive guide covering every pebble that has been wrestled on and around the west shore of Tahoe. Some of the areas included are: Sugar Pine, Meeks Bay, Lost Corner Mountain, Bliss, Lost in Space, The Eagle’s Nest, Lake Azure, Cascade Falls, Voodoo Stones, Angora Lakes and much more. It has full color photos of all the boulders, topos, overview maps, breathtaking photography and everything else you need to get you to the boulders. This book is written by local climbing pioneer Dave Hatchett, so you can be assured the info will be accurate and up date."

Bouldering Lake Tahoe: North Shore in KAYA

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Dave Hatchett's Bouldering Lake Tahoe has gone digital! Find thousands of problems with high-fidelity GPS, topo lines, descriptions, directions, and more often than not, beta videos—all available offline! A KAYA membership will give you access to the entire guide library including areas such as Red Rock, Bishop, Joe's Valley, the Bay Area, and many more.

Climbers Guide to Tahoe Rock (1991, Carville)

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Mike Carville's 1991 Chockstone Press guide has tons of routes.

From the Back Cover:

"Superb crags in a sensational setting--that is climbing in the Lake Tahoe region. This beautiful, wide basin, surrounded by the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, hosts a variety of excellent crags along the lake shore and throughout the surrounding backcountry. Rock Climbing Lake Tahoe, formerly Tahoe Rock, describes more than 1,000 routes at a dozen major areas around Lake Tahoe."

Bouldering Lake Tahoe - Outlying Areas (2nd Edition)

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"Bouldering Lake Tahoe-Outlying Areas Edition features over 2,500 problems at 20 different areas.

This is a comprehensive guide covering every pebble that has been wrestled on the outskirts of Tahoe. Some of the areas included are: Doyle, Purgatory, Pyramid Lake, The Sierra Buttes, White Rock Lake, Hwy 20, Bear Valley, Prison Hill, Washoe Boulders, Erratica, Sivler Lake, Ronin, Woodfords Canyon, Loon Lake and much more. It has full color photos of all the boulders, topos, overview maps, breathtaking photography and everything else you need to get you to the boulders. This book is written by local climbing pioneer Dave Hatchett, so you can be assured the info will be accurate and up date."

FEATURED: North Tahoe: A Rock Climber's Guide

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"The definitive guidebook to rock climbing in the North Tahoe region. This 350+ page full-color guide has it all! Photo diagrams of every crag, detailed topographical maps, route info, inspiring photos as well as hundreds of never before published routes!This guidebook covers a broad geographical area north of Lake Tahoe between Auburn, CA in the west and Reno, NV in the east. It describes over 1400 rock climbs, which span the full spectrum of climbing styles and grades, from multi-pitch traditional adventures to clip-and-go sport routes. All the classic and previously documented areas - such as Donner Pass, Big Chief, Rainbow, and Indian Springs - have been thoroughly researched and expanded to include pitch length, grade, gear required, a description of each climb, as well as detailed approach and descent options. The new and yet-to-be documented areas of Bowman Valley, The Emeralds, and Cold Stream Canyon are included for the first time in print. From the classic to the soon-to-be classic, the guide includes over 90 distinct crags in the greater Tahoe area."

Climber's Guide to Lake Tahoe and Donner Summit (1973, Beck, out of print)

The original guide to Lake Tahoe climbing documented five 5.10s between the Tahoe Basin and Donner Summit.

FEATURED: Bouldering Lake Tahoe - North Shore (2nd Edition)

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"Bouldering Lake Tahoe-North Shore 2nd Edition features over 2,300 problems at 20 different areas.

This is a comprehensive guide covering every pebble that has been wrestled on and around the north shore of Tahoe. Some of the areas included are: Cisco Grove, Rainbow, Castle Peak, Summit Lake, Donner Summit, Saddle Boulders Truckee, Big Chief, Old County, and much more. It has full color photos of all the boulders, topos, overview maps, breathtaking photography and everything else you need to get you to the boulders. This book is written by local climbing pioneer Dave Hatchett, so you can be assured the info will be accurate and up date."

FEATURED: Bouldering Lake Tahoe - South Shore (2nd Edition)

Purchase this book

"Bouldering Lake Tahoe-South Shore 2nd Edition features over 2,200 problems at 15 different areas.

This is a comprehensive guide covering every pebble that has been wrestled on and around the south shore of Tahoe. Some of the areas included are: Phantom Spires, Lovers Leap, Benwood Meadows, Flagpole Peak, Alpine Club, PCT Boulders, The Beavers, The Pie shop, Tahoe Mountain and much more. It has full color photos of all the boulders, topos, overview maps, breathtaking photography and everything else you need to get you to the boulders. This book is written by local climbing pioneers Dave Hatchett and Frank Lucido, so you can be assured the info will be accurate and up date."

Locals Guide to Rock Climbs of North Tahoe (2011, Jackson)

John Jackson, CAMP 4 PRESS, 2011

From the publisher's website: "The only comprehensive guidebook for all climbing routes located in the North Tahoe and greater Reno and Carson City Region. Over 1,200 routes, including more than 700 previously undocumented climbs and many formerly obscure crags. Full page color photos, with route overlays, for every cliff and route. Includes a section on the extensive climbing history of the North Lake Tahoe Region, with vintage photos, as well as first ascent information for all routes. Also directs climbers to select bouldering areas (Not a bouldering guide though) throughout the region. 60+ crags, 476 pages. "

California areas covered include:
Crystal Bay Boulder
Donner Summit
Indian Springs
Rainbow
Trippy Rock
Truckee River Canyon

FEATURED: South Lake Tahoe Climbing (2004, McNamara)

Purchase this book

Chris McNamara and company at Supertopo have put out an excellent book on climbing around the Southern Section of Lake Tahoe. While the topos often leave some things to be desired, the books plethora of pictures picks up the slack.

Rock Climbing Lake Tahoe (1999, Carville)

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Mike Carville's 1999 Falcon Guide has tons of routes.

From the Back Cover:

"Superb crags in a sensational setting--that is climbing in the Lake Tahoe region. This beautiful, wide basin, surrounded by the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, hosts a variety of excellent crags along the lake shore and throughout the surrounding backcountry. Rock Climbing Lake Tahoe, formerly Tahoe Rock, describes more than 1,000 routes at a dozen major areas around Lake Tahoe."

Golden State Bouldering on KAYA

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Featuring over 20 unique climbing destinations in the San Francisco Bay area, authors Kimbrough and Shannon have taken their spectacular Golden State guidebook and made it digital with KAYA PRO. From sandy beach bouldering in Fort Ross to the classic forest slopers of Castle Rock State Park, this region has it all.

With exact GPS coordinates for every problem and parking area, hundreds of beta videos in-app, climb lists, written directions, and ascent data, KAYA Guides are meant to make days out bouldering easier and more convenient. Including 24 unique climbing destinations within the San Francisco Bay area, Kimbrough Moore and Shannon Joslin’s Golden State guidebook is the most thorough and comprehensive collection of climbing in the region.

Purchase a KAYA PRO subscription for $10/month or $60/year and gain access to this guidebook, the newly released Bishop Area Bouldering guide, the Joe's Valley guide, and more!

Golden State Bouldering on KAYA

Purchase this book

Featuring over 20 unique climbing destinations in the San Francisco Bay area, authors Kimbrough and Shannon have taken their spectacular Golden State guidebook and made it digital with KAYA PRO. From sandy beach bouldering in Fort Ross to the classic forest slopers of Castle Rock State Park, this region has it all.

With exact GPS coordinates for every problem and parking area, hundreds of beta videos in-app, climb lists, written directions, and ascent data, KAYA Guides are meant to make days out bouldering easier and more convenient. Including 24 unique climbing destinations within the San Francisco Bay area, Kimbrough Moore and Shannon Joslin’s Golden State guidebook is the most thorough and comprehensive collection of climbing in the region.

Purchase a KAYA PRO subscription for $10/month or $60/year and gain access to this guidebook, the newly released Bishop Area Bouldering guide, the Joe's Valley guide, and more!

FEATURED: San Francisco Bay Area Bouldering

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2023 edition, 476 pages, the Bay Area’s most up-to-date bouldering guide.

FEATURED: GOLDEN STATE BOULDERING

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Golden State Bouldering is a comprehensive guide to the greater Bay Area of California, with information on the outdoor bouldering around San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz. This guide describes 1,600 boulder problems with hundreds of color photos, maps, GPS coordinates, and hand-drawn illustrations. Golden State Bouldering has a philosophical twist, exploring the ways in which climbing can be among the most meaningful parts of our lives. Whether you are new to climbing or an old-school veteran, Moore and Joslin draw on decades of experience to describe the unique magic of Bay Area climbing.

Bay Area Top Ropes

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Chris's latest Bay Area climbing books are split into bouldering and top ropes; this is the latter, with coauthors.

Bay Area Bouldering

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Chris's latest Bay Area climbing books are split into bouldering and top ropes.

FEATURED: Bay Area Rock

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The latest edition (2022) of Jim's annually updated book covering many climbing spots in San Francisco's immediate area.

Rock Climbing the San Francisco Bay Area

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Teresa Black

Rock Climbing Guide to the Castle Rock Area

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A good book on the Skyline and Castle Rock areas, expanded again by Bruce Morris to include content from his earlier, more specialized separate guides. This edition includes both roped climbing and bouldering in the whole South Bay area.

FEATURED: Redwood Burl

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"Redwood Burl is a compact yet comprehensive guide to the extensive climbing in Northwest California. The college town of Arcata is the center of a universe of incredible but little-known cragging and bouldering. Sea cliffs, sea lions, river-polished boulders, towering redwoods, hidden limestone caves, and enough climbing to keep you busy for a lifetime. It’s a paradise. For years, road-tripping climbers in the know have visited the limestone of the Trinity Arêtes and the overhanging seaside pockets of Promontory, declaring them some of the best sport crags in CA. This book fully documents these gems, and introduces dozens of other excellent cliffs that have hidden under the radar … until now!

There’s a lot packed into this guidebook. You’ll find maps to keep you oriented, icons depicting sun and rain aspects, hiking approach times, geology and ecology info, gorgeous color photography, and enough beta on bouldering, sport, and trad climbing to keep you busy whether you’re just visiting the area or a seasoned local.

$1 of each book sale is donated to the Northwest California Climbers Coalition, whose mission is to preserve and expand local climbing opportunities. Please visit their website at nwca-climbers.org, and feel free to pitch in, any way you can!"

Climbers Guide To Table Mt.

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Climbers Guide To Table Mt. 2018

FEATURED: A Climber's Guide to the Sonora Pass Highway (2nd edition, 2013)

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A Great book describing climbs along highway 108. They have gone to great detail to ensure that their topos are excellent, their information is correct, and their ratings and climbs are fair. A good resource associated with this book is their website which contains many updates to the book, as well as new climbs in the area.

June 2013 - 2nd Edition
ISBN: 978-0-9797421-2-5
Self Published

Brad Young and Steve Dawson / Maximus Press

A Climber's Guide to Big Bear Lake & Holcomb Valley Pinnacles

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This is the essential guide to over 1000 routes surrounding Big Bear Lake in California's San Bernardino Mountains.  The best-known climbing area here is the famed Holcomb Valley Pinnacles, super-popular for its dense concentration of steep, well-featured, granite sport climbs.  The Pinnacles are covered in full detail, along with complete beta for scores of crags well off the beaten path.  Moderate sport climbs may have put Big Bear on the map, but there is something perfect here for everyone, from easy slabs to remote pinnacles, to technical slab and trad cracks of all kinds.  The pine-covered hills, quaint mountain town, and expansive lake offer an abundance of excellent camping and a large variety of rest-day fun.  With never-before-published crags, extensive maps, and new routes for every skill level, this full-color, comprehensive guidebook promises years of climbing adventures in LA's backyard.

Hidden Treasures East (Big Bear Basin)

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This is a guidebook to the Big Bear Area and covers popular crags such as Holcomb Valley Pinnacles, Castle Rock, Fisherman's Buttress, Black Bluff and more. Over 200 pages with action photos, a list of routes by grade and more. *Out of Print*

The Purchase link goes to Amazon.

Southern Sierra Rock Climbing: Sequoia/Kings Canyon

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Falcon; 1st edition (January 1, 1993). Link is to Amazon page.

Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite

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Not a climbing book per se, but full of lovely climbing legends, lore and gore, including some firsthand stories, from a coauthor that did a stint as a ranger in the Valley.

Rock Climbing Yosemite's Select

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A fairly good compilation about Yosemite's "favorite" climbs. Unfortunately, this also usually means that you'll wait in line on most of the lower difficulty climbs. The information in the book is concise and accurate, though often approach information is a little cryptic.

Best Climbs Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks

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New for 2013 is this select book which improves greatly on the comprehensive guidebook to the area by adding color photos, new routes, detailed descriptions and hand-drawn topos. The look, feel and layout on this is a definite step-up from previous guides to the area and is sure to help climbers new to the area find the routes they want and have a great time.

• 288 routes with an emphasis on routes 5.10 and under
• 45 new routes never before published
• color photos by Greg Epperson and Kevin Powell

Rock Climbing Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks (3rd edition)

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This is the third edition of the only guidebook available to these popular traditional crags near Idyllwild. Inside you'll find easy to read topos as well as accompanying text and overview photos - something quite handy when trying to determine the line taken by some of the more obscure multi-pitch routes at Tahquitz.

Southern California Bouldering Guide (2nd Edition)

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Although dated this is a good overview of some but not all the bouldering in Southern California. Black and white photos with hand drawn maps throughout.

The San Diego Climber Pocket Guide

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The guidebook with the goods to San Diego's backcountry areas. Includes information on El Cajon Mountain, Corte Madera and Eagle Peak. Color photos with easy to ready topo overlays.

Sport Climbing in the Santa Monicas

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A rock climbing guide to the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. Lavishly illustrated with maps, topos and action photos. A sport climbers paradise with a year round climate.

* Paperback: 250 pages
* Publisher: Maximus Press; 2nd edition (July 2003)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0967611660
* Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.5 x 8.5 inches

Rock Climbing Santa Barbara and Ventura

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From Amazon.com:

"Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have long been known as sublime tourist areas, but the rock climbing and bouldering along the California's south-central coast are just beginning to attract the attention they richly deserve. From the sweeping walls of the Echo Cliffs to the awesome overhangs at the Owl Tor, from classic problems at Painted Cave to the vast boulderfields atop Pine Mountain, the many routes and boulder problems described in this book will appeal to a wide range of tastes and abilities. Written by one of the area's leading activists, Rock Climbing Santa Barbara and Ventura provides first-hand information to more than 50 scenic and uncrowded climbing areas not to be left off your tick-list."