Nodes in San Francisco Bay Area

The fabled "Land of Microcrags". Limited, though varied and interesting climbing and bouldering on a wide variety of rock types.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A cool free-standing chert cube with faces up to about 20' high. Some nice boulder problems on the left hand side (V0-V5) and possibly some futuristic projects under the big overhang. The tall, clean right hand side has a handful of 5.8+ top rope problems.

There's one manky hangerless bolt above the right hand wall, but it's best to bring a lot of long slings or a 2nd rope to sling a block way back from the edge. There's also a 1" - 2" cam flake immediately behind the bolt, but it's exceptionally loose - don't use it!

Note that the rock is exposed to the wind howling up from Rodeo Beach - it can be pretty unpleasant on cold, windy days.

A tide-dependent adventurous escape from the crowds and city, without having to go far. Offers two distinct areas, on very different rock types.

A tide chart is available here.

A 300' wide outcropping of chert up to around 35' in height that's been undercut, and, in the lower sections polished, by the ocean. The strata generally dips at around 45 degrees, making for universally challenging problems - your pinch strength will get a workout.

The rock is crumbly, especially above maximum wave height and you will snap off numerous holds while climbing here! As a result the area is best approached with an adventurous mindset, and extra care taken to avoid out-of-control falls.

On the plus side, the landings are mostly excellent - the coarse grained black sand doesn't seem to get hard packed even when wet, and often offers a softer landing than a mat. One or two problems on the initial wall have dangerous rocks underneath them, but they're the exception rather than the rule.

The number of problems here is virtually unlimited, due to the extremely featured nature of the chert. However due to the water polished rock and down-dipping nature of the layers, most of the climbing is V2 or harder.

Due to the difficulty of the problems and snappy nature of the rock, this is not a good area for beginners, although the location is stunning and worth a non-climbing visit anyway.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A remote and adventurous area offering great bouldering on exceptional water polished greywacke. Note that the rock quality rapidly deteriorates the higher you go.

Given the seclusion, this is also a popular area for nudists.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A 25' tall boulder right beside the Dias Ridge Trail, about half a mile from the parking lot. Doesn't look like much on the approach, but the western and southern sides offer some steeper highball / top rope terrain (bring gear for an anchor if top-roping).

The prominent peak (2500' / 780m ASL) just across the Golden Gate in Marin County. Offers a small but pleasant variety of climbing and bouldering on a smattering of different rock types. The 'Summit Crags' are well worth visiting for the view - on a clear winter or spring day you can see the Sierras, 200 miles to the East.

A dispersed collection of serpentine boulders on the Western and Southern slopes of Mt Tam.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A 40 foot high lump of crumbly serpentine right beside the road. Doesn't look like much from the road side, but the other side is steep and tall. May be worth bringing top roping gear if you're at all nervous about highballs, although there aren't a lot of options for an anchor (at one time there was a bolt on top, but all that's left is a rusty empty sleeve).

Landings are mostly excellent (flat gravel).

Left to right.

Start 10ft left of the base of the crack, at some low flat holds.

Start at the large undercling pocket at head height, about 4ft left of the base of the crack. Straight up through the obvious second undercling pocket.

Graded V2 in guidebooks, but that seems a bit sandbagged.

Start at the base of the crack, then blast straight up over the bulge.

Start at the two obvious head-height jug pockets, and follow the easiest line to the top.

Start just right of the right hand pocket on 'Camel High', using a large high left facing sidepull to get going.

Seems like there'd be another V4-ish line just right again, going over the next bulge.

Between 'Right Again' and 'Right Arete'.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A steep but limited boulder with a handful of mostly hard problems. Sloping landings mean you should probably have a spotter.

Sit start. Stand start is V6.

Sit start then up the ramp / corner. Hard at the top.

Start as for 'Scenic Cruise'.

Sit start.

The crimpy line to the left of Scenic Cruise. VERY CRIMPY!!

An impressive, featured, steep wall with the potential for a lot of variants on the problems described here.

Landings are quite sloping, so extra pads (to build up the landing zone) and spotters are recommended.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

Sit start.

Sit start.

Sit start on the sidepull, then up and slightly left.

Start as for '38 Special', but move up and right.

Start on the rail then traverse up and right. Finish on a jug on the lip.

Left to right traverse.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A neat cluster of boulders hidden in amongst a lovely forest.

The clean cut boulder right beside the trail.

Traverse right to left.

Starts near the end of the 'Trailside Traverse'.

The boulder on the right side, downhill from the 'Trailside Boulder'.

Traverse the Corridor boulder uphill.

V6 variant traverses below the lip.

The projecting boulder on the left side, opposite the 'Corridor Boulder'.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

Start as for 'Kitty Hawk', but move right.

Traverse left to right.

Sit start problem on the back of the boulder.

The lower of two boulders visible through the trees off to the left (facing out) of 'The Cairn'.

Vague left arete.

Start as for 'The Best Damn', but move left.

Centre of face. Take care with a loose hold up high.

Right arete.

A large 35ft high slab in the middle of the boulder field, with fantastic views to the north.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A prominent boulder downhill and right of the 'Lakeview Slab'.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

Vague arete left of 'Hunger Strike'.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A small cave under a boulder to the left of 'Big Hunk'.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

A cool boulder with an inspiring featured cave on its downhill side. Some opportunity for hard new problems & variants.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

For any/all access issues at crags in this region, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

Sit start.

Low start.

Start as for 'High Spirits', but traverse right.

A cluster of small crags offering a day's mid-range top-roping in a spectacular setting.

The first and most extensive of the 4 features on the East Peak of Mt Tamalpais. Bring lots of long slings, or better yet a second rope, for slinging blocks for an anchor. A small rack may also be useful - there are a few options for wires and cams.

A sun trap - this face can get very hot in summer, and has minimal shade at the base.

The left most line on the feature. Hard to top-rope from the same anchors as the other routes.

Up to the obvious overhanging block. Undercling right to join Sun Slab Center.

Up the blank bulgy wall between Sun Slab Undercling and Equinox. Harder & better if you avoid the large cracked hold to the left.