Damon Corso - Best Climbs Los Angeles

Damon Corso, a freelance photographer, author, and director of photography, has been capturing thrilling moments with rock-climbing professionals since 2004 across the United States and Europe. His work can be found on the covers and in feature articles of a multitude of major magazines, including Climbing, Rock & Ice, Deadpoint, Urban Climber, Los Angeles magazine, Time, National Geographic Adventure, and Exercise & Health. Along with his National Outdoor Book Award for Discovering the John Muir Trail in 2019, his work is also on display at the Museum of Photography in Bad Ischl, Austria. Damon, his wife Crystalyn, and their rescued pit bull Maggie currently live in Southern California, where they dream of spending a majority of their time searching the High Sierra for secluded peaks, untouched granite boulders and scenic vistas.

Id like to thank the climbers that have come before me and showed the way to escape the clutch of Los Angeles by establishing the amazing routes detailed in this guide. Id also like to thank the people who have spent large portions of their lives making sure these climbing areas have good access trails and stay clean, safe, and, of course, fun! Climbing in Los Angeles is a passion for many, and I would like to thank the dedicated few who have written detailed guidebooks for the thousands of routes around Los Angeles County. I would also like to thank the climbers who volunteered their time to help make some amazing images for this book. A huge thank-you to all these people: Louie Anderson, Matt Oliphant, Bill Leventhal, Darshan Etz, Jeff Constine, Steve Edwards and Doniel Drazien, Mike Draper, John Mireles, Jack Marshall, John Long, John Yablonski, Troy Mayr, Scott Loomis, Chris Owen, Craig Fry, Jeff Johnson, James March, Tom Gilje, John Bachar, Yvon Chouinard, Royal Robbins, Bob Kamps, Michael Reardon, Nikki Reardon, Crystalyn Falk, Jason Falk, Gary Boisvert, Alvin Hsing, David Meyers, Isamer Bilog, Norman Montes, Tommy Lutz, Stephanie Cronshaw, Victor Ramirez, Shawn Diamond, Natasha Barnes, and Aaron Sandlowand to everyone else who was, is, and will be a part of the Los Angeles climbing community.

Gear Shops

REI Burbank

1900 Empire Ave.

Burbank, CA 91504

(818) 847-9509

REI Arcadia

214 N. Santa Anita Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91006

(626) 447-1062

REI Woodland Hills

6600 Topanfa Canyon Blvd.

Woodland Hills, CA 91503

(818) 703-5300

REI Northridge

18605 Devonshire St.

Northridge, CA 91324

(818) 831-5555

REI Santa Monica

402 Santa Monica Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 458-4370

Gyms

Hangar 18 Arcadia

305 N. Santa Anita Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91006

(626) 538-4081

Boulderdash Thousand Oaks

880 Hampshire Rd., Ste. A

Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

(805) 557-1300

Boulderdash Chatsworth

19801 Nordhoff Pl.

Chatsworth, CA 91311

(818) 700-1300

Verdigo Boulders

266 East Magnolia Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91502

(818) 962-2377

Hollywood Boulders

1107 North Bronson Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90038

(323) 747-1000

Cliffs of ID

2537 Fairfax Ave.

Culver City, CA 90232

(424) 543-3820

LA Boulders (LAB)

1375 E. 6th St., Unit 8

Los Angeles, CA 90021

(323) 406-9119

Rockreation West LA

11866 LaGrange Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 207-7199

The Stronghold Climbing Gym

650 S. Avenue 21

Los Angeles, CA 90031

(323) 505-7000

Top Out Climbing

26332 Ferry Ct.

Santa Clarita, CA 91350

(661) 288-1813

Guide Services (Southern California Area)

ATS Adventureworks, (626) 434-3636

On Rope Consulting, (310) 804-7303

Sierra Mountaineering International, (760) 872-4929

Sierra Rock Climbing School, (760) 937-6762

Southern California Mountaineers Association, www.rockclimbing.org

Vertical Adventures, (800) 514-8785

Wilderness Outings, (877) 494-5368

Hospitals

Exer Urgent Care

26777 Agoura Rd., Ste. 4

Calabasas, CA 91302

(818) 880-2225

9 a.m.9 p.m. every day

Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills

Medical Center

5601 De Soto Ave.

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

(818) 719-2000

24 hours

Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center

215 W. Janss Rd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

(805) 497-2727

24 hours

Malibu Urgent Care

23656 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Malibu, CA 90265

(310) 456-7551

9 a.m.8 p.m. every day

Olive View UCLA Medical Center

14445 Olive View Dr.

Sylmar, CA 91342

(818) 364-1555

24 hours

Saint Johns Health Center

2121 Santa Monica Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90404

(310) 829-5511

24 hours

Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center

1250 16th St.

Santa Monica Blvd, CA 90404

(424) 259-6000

24 hours

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital

1812 Verdugo Blvd.

Glendale, CA 91208

(818) 790-7100

24 hours

West Hills Hospital and Medical Center

7300 Medical Center Dr.

West Hills, CA 91307

(818) 676-4000

24 hours

A motor powered glider cruises low over the ocean near Leo Carrillo.

Sunset near the Santa Monica pier

Stoney Point is Los Angeless oldest outdoor climbing area and the countrys first bouldering area; its sandstone walls and boulders have been used by climbers for over eighty years now. Every boulder problem has at least one variationa common theme among the gym-like boulders of Stoney Point. Locals test each other with harder variations of classic and not so classic lines. Its all part of the amazing experience Stoney Point will surely provide on your visit.

Stoney Point

At Stoney Point it is easy to follow in the footsteps of such American rock climbing legends as Royal Robbins, Ron Kauk, John Long, Lynn Hill, Yvon Chouinard, John Bachar, Michael Reardon, and Bob Kamps. Some of these luminaries went on to spearhead groundbreaking first ascents of dream climbs such as the Salath and North America walls on El Capitan or bold free solo ascents in Yosemite and Joshua Tree.

If you plan on taking advantage of the outstanding toproping that Stoney Point has to offer, make sure you bring plenty of slings or webbing, locking carabiners, and a small rack of cams or nuts. Please be aware of the porous sandstone and dont climb at Stoney Point for at least three days after it rains.

Royal Robbins hopped freight trains as a teen. One day as the train slowed for the turn before a tunnel, he hopped off and discovered a hidden climbing gem called Stoney Point.

Getting there: From the south take US 101 via either the north or south and exit at Topanga Canyon Boulevard (CA 27), then head north. Drive 7 miles and you will see the crag on your right; park according to signage on the east side of the road. From the north take CA 118 from either the east or west and exit at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, then head south. Drive past the traffic light and make a U-turn when possible; park according to the local signs on the east side of the road.