Best Time to Go
When to go
For outdoor rock, the best time to climb is mostly about temperature and friction. Too hot and the rock is greasy and miserable, too cold and your fingers go numb. Most US regions peak in the shoulder seasons. Indoor gyms, of course, climb great all year.
- Month-by-month conditions
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Desert Southwest
Red Rock, Joshua Tree, Indian Creek, and the desert towers come alive in the cool months. Summer is dangerously hot; winter days can be perfect in the sun.
Southeast
The sandstone of the Red River Gorge, the New River Gorge, and Chattanooga is a fall-and-spring paradise. Summer is humid and sticky; winter has crisp, high-friction sending days.
Mountain West
High-country granite and alpine objectives across Colorado, Wyoming, and the Sierra come into season once the snow melts. The window is summer through early fall.
California & West Coast
From coastal crags to Yosemite’s big walls, the West Coast offers long seasons. Spring and fall are ideal in the valleys; summer pushes climbers to higher, cooler elevations.
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