Buttermilk Boulders

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada, enormous golden granite boulders sit in a wide desert basin like a collection of dropped monuments. The Buttermilks are world-famous for bouldering, but their setting beneath the snow-capped peaks is just as unforgettable.

Choose problems appropriate to your skill, move between boulder clusters and study the distinctive rounded granite. Some lines are approachable; others are extremely tall and serious.

ONCE YOU’RE THERE Walk established approaches to the boulder groups and climb only problems within your ability, with pads and experienced spotters where appropriate. There is no single prescribed climbing circuit.

THE STORY BEHIND THIS PLACE The Buttermilks helped define modern American highball bouldering, where height and landing quality make judgment essential.

DON’T MISS THIS Even without a hard climb, the scale of the boulders against the Sierra escarpment is the spectacle.

TRAIL CONDITIONS & SAFETY Highball falls can cause serious injury. Bring crash pads, know your limits, protect fragile vegetation and do not drive off established roads.

ACCESS & BEFORE YOU GO There are few services and little shade. Wind, cold nights and extreme summer heat are common.