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Handley Rock

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Summary

Fun urban top-roping on soft Bay Area sandstone.

Description

A day's worth of fun short top-ropes, with spectacular views down over Redwood City and the bay. Although the top has lots of bolts, most of which are in good condition, they are oddly placed so bring a lot of long slings (or better yet a second rope) for rigging your top rope anchors.

Access issues

For all access issues, please contact the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

The park is private property, although the Access Fund established an easement in the early 1990s specifically for climbing. This easement has the following restrictions:

  • the park is only open between 8am and sunset - being in the park outside these times is illegal, and trespassers are actively prosecuted!
  • no more than 8 climbers in the park at a time
  • no motorised equipment of any kind in the park (this includes drones)
  • no glass is allowed in the park
  • no alcohol or smoking in the park

Local landowners are generally supportive of climbers, but have had substantial problems with non-climbers misusing the park. This resulted in the fencing off of the entire park in summer 2020, with time-delayed gates (gates are open between 8am and sunset, but lock automatically outside those times). DON'T GET CAUGHT IN THE PARK WHEN THE GATES LOCK!!

Please be considerate and polite while you're in the park, and spend 15 minutes at the end of your day picking up trash and packing it out - in addition to creating a nicer climbing experience it goes a long way to preserving good relations with the local community and the land manager.

Approach

Park in the small (5 car) gravel lot at the uphill end of the park, then stroll 30 feet to the rock. Top access is halfway up the low angled left side of the rock.

Do not park anywhere else, and do not block any driveways!

Routes

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Grade Route

The side of the rock facing away from the street.

The obvious crack at the left hand side of the caves.

The bulging prow just right of the crack, with two heinous old bolts hanging out of it. This route is NOT safe to lead.

Start just right of 'Unnamed 1', head up to the high cave, then exit diagonally left.

Start on the left side of the right hand cave, then up the wall above.

Start right of the right hand cave, then head up and left on pockets.

The short manufactured crack on the right side of the face, then over the upper bulge.

Top rope access to the top of the rock.

The slab below the belay ledge.

Head up behind the tree.

The right side of the lower slab.

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Selected Guidebooks more Hide

Author(s): Kimbrough Moore, Shannon Joslin, Leo Popovic

Date: 2022

ISBN: 9798218007959

Edgewalker Entertainment:
A comprehensive guide to the greater Bay Area of California, Golden State Bouldering provides readers with info on the outdoor bouldering around San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz.
  • Describes 1,600 boulder problems with hundreds of color photos, maps, GPS coordinates and hand-drawn illustrations

Author(s): Toby Evans

Date: 2021

ISBN: 9781493045464

FalconGuides:
Hiking the State's 15 Peaks Over 14,000 Feet. Developed for every skill level, the FalconGuides Climbing California's Fourteeners lays out plans and logistics for making your climb a positive experience—no matter how many summits you've reached.
  • California's 15 peaks over 14,000 ft. are becoming more popular, and this book provides essential information for taking them on
  • Each mountain is broken down based on the technical skills needed so you know what to expect
  • Details for each climb include a list of recommended equipment, how to prepare for rapidly changing weather and trail conditions, and a general timeframe needed to summit

Accommodations nearby more Hide

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Wed 19 Apr
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