ROCK CREEK

Rock Creek is a beautiful alpine canyon draining the 13,000' peaks of the Mt. Abbott region. The climbing routes are at an elevation of 9,000' on the west side of the canyon so they receive morning sunshine. The rock is excellent-quality granite, offering some of the best crack climbing this side of Yosemite. There are also some bolted slabs, but the steep, featured sport climbs of the Main Cliff should not be missed.

To get to the Rock Creek area start at the junction of Hwy. 203 and U.S. 395 and drive south on 395. After 16 miles is the Tom's Place/Rock Creek exit. Turn right here and head south up the canyon. The cliffs are all on the west side of the canyon and take about 20 minutes to scramble up to. The mileages indicated are measured from U.S. 395.

Iris Slab:

To get to the Iris Slab, drive 4.1 miles up Rock Creek and park outside the Iris Meadow campground, hike through the campground, cross Rock Creek and scramble up to the crag. The Iris Slab has long been a popular teaching area with local guides services and is a great place for beginning climbers. Fixed anchors are found on top, making top-roping and lowering convenient. All routes are about 80' long.