Hello Californians,

I am coming to Yosemite and the surrounding area for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have about 5-6 days in San Francisco before I head out to the Valley, and was wondering where some good bouldering spots were around the city, or reachable by public transport nearby. IF you have any info relating to this, please let me know. I'd rather not spend my time in a gym, but in case its pouring, hearing about a good gym would help, too. Thanks.

-- Roger Murphy (rogermurphy@stowe.k12.vt.us), June 02, 1999

Answers

The SF gym is Mission Cliffs. They have a web page. The best bouldering near SF is found in Berkeley, at Indian Rock and other nearby formations (inquire from local climbers). It is a historic and popular spot where you should be able to meet climbers, and although small, has good possibilities. There is a short write-up on it in Sherman's book on bouldering, "Stone Crusade", AAC. You can get to Berkeley from SF using the BART. From the Berkeley station it is less than 1h walk to Indian Rock. Follow Shattuck North.

-- Quang-Tuan Luong (luong@ai.sri.com), June 02, 1999.

Right across the golden gate from S.F. is Mickeys beach which when the tides are right has a lot of bouldering as well as stinson. The routes are on hard blue rock and some are pretty fun. From the golden gate take 101 North to the stinson beach exit and then take Highway 1 toward stinson. After the Steep Ravine Camp Ground there will be a large dirt parking lot. This is it. Hike down trail. Boulders are on the beach. It is also a nude beach. And there is a lot of sport climbing there but all is super hard 5.12+. There is one crappy 5.10d which everyone does.

-- Jamin Horn (beaumonte159@hotmail.com), August 31, 2003.