If you're bouldering in South Lake Tahoe, sooner or later you end up at Pie Shop. It's a two-minute pull off Highway 50, the granite faces south so it bakes in the sun and dries fast after a storm, and there are somewhere around 90 problems packed onto one hillside, everything from soft warm-ups to lines that'll shut you down for a season. Just know going in: the rock is sharp. Coarse enough to sand your fingerprints off. This guide is part of a bigger Lake Tahoe bouldering guide.
Where it is & how to get there
From the Highway 50 / Highway 89 junction in South Lake Tahoe, head west on Hwy 50, past the airport. Turn right onto Sawmill Road, go about a quarter mile, and park on the left side of the road. The trail heads up into the boulders, just right of two houses. You're at roughly 6,300 feet up here. 📍 Open the area in Google Maps (38.87501, -120.01322).
Heads-up: this is the edge of a neighborhood with only a handful of roadside spots. Park legal, don't block anyone's driveway, and keep it mellow. The area stays open because climbers don't act like jerks about it.
A note on access: the approach crosses private land, and access here has been genuinely on the line. In 2026 a residential development got proposed on Sawmill Road that could've wiped out the whole area, and the Tahoe Climbing Coalition stepped in to fight for it (background here). Tread light, follow any posted signs, and check with the Coalition for the current status before heading out.
When it's in
Pie Shop faces south and sits in the sun most of the day, so it dries out fast after storms and stays climbable spring through fall, plus the odd bluebird winter day when the shady, north-facing stuff is still locked in ice. The flip side: in summer the field turns into a frying pan by afternoon, so get there early or chase shade.
The lay of the land
There are around 90 documented problems here, spread across a few sub-areas: the Golf Course Boulders, the Trailhead Boulders, and the Quality boulder. One thing worth knowing going in: Pie Shop granite is sharp. It's coarse and grippy, which feels great on small holds right up until it files your tips down to nothing. Tape helps, and so does keeping sessions short once your skin starts to go and brushing the holds as you climb (a clean hold shreds a lot less than a chalk-caked one). (More on saving your skin.)
Classic problems, V1 to V9
Here's a ladder through the area's classics. Grades are community consensus, so they'll feel stiff some days and soft others. Tap MP / Kaya for beta, and the coordinates to drop a pin right on the boulder:
| Problem | Grade | What it is | Beta | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razor | V1 | Razor-sharp detached flake, you can spot it from the road | ||
| Quality Line | V3 | Clean classic on the Quality boulder (worth the hike) | MP · Video | 38.88269, -120.01062 |
| Mars Attack | V3 | Striking featured face, hueco sit start, climbs a bit awkward | MP | 38.87639, -120.01129 |
| The Whopper | V4 | A solid next-step moderate | MP | 38.8755, -120.0112 |
| Flying Birdie | V5 | The area mega-classic | MP | 38.87468, -120.00879 |
| Sink or Swim | V6 | Popular V6 on the Uphill face | MP · Kaya | 38.87574, -120.01076 |
| American Gladiator | V8 | Steeper power testpiece, and genuinely super fun | MP · Kaya | 38.88269, -120.01062 |
| Pimp Juice | V9 | Headline overhang into a tricky mantle | MP · Kaya | 38.88064, -120.01097 |
Grades and coordinates from Mountain Project; problems on the same boulder share coordinates. Check conditions and access before you go.
What to bring
- Crash pads. Granite landings are hard and uneven, so bring enough to cover the gaps.
- A boar-bristle brush for the coarse, polishing holds. (How to brush a hold without wrecking the rock.)
- Stiff, edgy shoes. You'll be standing on crystals and tiny edges.
- Dry, grippy chalk that holds up on cool granite. (More on chalk here; Pow Day is built for it.)
- Tape and aftercare. The granite's sharp, so tape your tips and pack something like After Session Salve to put your hands back together after.
- A bucket that survives the walk in. The Bolder Chalk Bucket shrugs off granite grit and keeps a brush in reach while you climb.
Pie Shop etiquette
Pie Shop is roadside and residential, which makes it a textbook Leave No Trace spot:
- Park legal and keep the noise down. You're in someone's neighborhood.
- Keep dogs leashed and under control.
- Pad off the plants, not on top of them.
- Brush off your chalk and tick marks before you walk out. Two minutes of cleanup keeps the rock looking like rock, and keeps the gate open for everyone.
FAQ
Where is Pie Shop bouldering? Pie Shop is in South Lake Tahoe, off Highway 50 just west of the Hwy 50 / Hwy 89 junction. Turn right on Sawmill Road, go about a quarter mile, and park on the left. The trail starts up in the boulders.
Is Pie Shop good for beginners? Yeah. There are plenty of warm-ups and friendly classics like Razor (V1), Africa Flake (V2), and Quality Line (V3) sitting right next to the hard stuff, so a mixed-ability crew can all work the same blocks.
When is the best season for Pie Shop? It faces south and dries quick, so it's good spring through fall and on sunny winter days. Summer afternoons bake, so climb early or find shade.
What's the hardest classic at Pie Shop? Pimp Juice (V9), a proud overhang into a tricky mantle, is the headline hard line. There are harder projects out there, but that's the famous one.
Do I need a rope at Pie Shop? Nope, it's bouldering. Bring crash pads, shoes, chalk, and a brush.
Pie Shop is the easiest yes in South Lake: roll up, warm up on Razor, and work your way across the field. For the bigger picture, see the Lake Tahoe bouldering guide, and read up on keeping the rock clean before you head out.