Climbing Near Rocklin, California

This former granite quarry is now a community park with several 10 to 25 foot high walls and boulders, and a variety of problems ranging from V easy to V10. A decent amount of shade makes climbing possible even on moderately hot days, but since this is the Central Valley you might want to limit your summer climbing here to mornings. Despite traffic noise from the nearby street, it's actually a nice little park. Some parts of it are pretty badly trashed, but the more open areas are clean and many of the boulders have flat landing areas.HistoryAs throughout Northern California, people have bouldered easy and moderate stone here without much documentation for decades or longer.See the 9. Brigham and Hawes Quarry on the city of Rocklin's website for more on the quarry's pre-climbing history.CommunityThe nearest climbing gear store is just a few miles away, REI in Roseville.Rocklin has brew pubs near the climbing area, including Out of Bounds.A couple of Chris Summit's guidebooks (published through Supertopo) have a few pages covering Deer Creek Park: Northern California Bouldering and Bay Area Bouldering. By Bike or FootWalk or bike by pavement or dirt from the region's many connections.By CarFrom I-80 about 20 miles east of Sacramento, take exit 108 for Rocklin Road. Head west a little under a mile (through a couple of roundabouts) and turn left on Pacific Street.The climbing area is on the right about a quarter mile down, past Riebe's Napa Auto Parts but before Goodyear Tires.Free on street parking can be found by turning right on Farron Street, crossing the train tracks, and turning right again on Front Street.Park in any painted free parking space on the right curb of Front Street.Mind the posted parking signs on and around this street.From Front Street, cross the train tracks on the sidewalk on the left side Farron, minding train traffic.Either walk along the dirt surface from there to the west side of the boulder field, or along the sidewalk, turning left at the big Pacific Street intersection, to the east side.  By TrainAmtrak's Capitol Corridor Line stops at Rocklin Station, right around the block from the boulder field and lots of other tourist, history and adventure geek draws.

Variously known as the Bayou, the Graveyard, or the Pit, depending on whether your mind fixates more on swampy ground, graffiti, or elevation changes. Quarried but seems pretty natural, is shaded most of the day but still hotter than sh*t in the summer. The climbs are at the bottom of one of the tallest cliffs at Deer Creek Park (around 20 feet at its high point). From Pacific Street, head past the Pacific Street Wall to the right and follow the trail until you come across the quarried pit on your left. If approaching from the train tracks, walk to the far left of the visible boulders and their surrounding oak trees, where a trail descends into the Bayou.

A single triangular boulder between the Bayou and Deer Creek Slab, hidden between some trees. It is not a large boulder but has climbable faces on it. The name pays homage to the beautiful, albeit somewhat haphazard, collection of stained glass art installations left on the ground here by locals. From the back parking lot by the train tracks, start on the small trail toward the Bayou. Before turning the corner to the Bayou, turn right up a cleared trail on the rocks. The boulder is right in front of you in a small clearing with a bunch of dead branches.