You probably know the sport climbing in California is a bit like the UK: the good easy rock was mostly climbed as trad. leaving the mediocre (Owen's River Gorge) or the hard. Good moderate multipitch routes will need some gear - unless you can stretch CA to include Las Vegas. Your options are much better if you take a small rack: ~3 small-medium cams, 5 wires and a couple of slings. You should be OK on the following if you're happy running it out a little on 5.7 (VS).Yosemite Has a scattering of moderate sport routes (e.g. base of Lower Cathedral, Chapel Wall). Not really it's strong suit though. As above, Snake Dike (5.7, HVS 4c) is a long hike to ~6 pitches of very cool climbing followed by a lot more hiking. Submitting Half Dome is great of course. A couple of cams are handy for the first and last belays. Royal Arches regular route (5.7) mostly Severe. Largely soloable, a couple of sections feel more comfortable with a rope on. Descend the N Dome Gully unless you have a very nervous scrambler on the team. Or go on up to:Crest Jewel on North Dome (10a, about E2) if you've made good time on Royal Arches. Brilliant route, all bolted, though a little bit run-out for a Sport route. You can also hike in to this from Tuolumne. The Needles are beautiful, one of the loveliest places I've ever climbed. It's probably going to be quite cold up there in October and nearly all the routes are very trad. as far as I'm aware. The Magic Dragon (1000' 5.8; VS, short HVS crux) is mostly easy slabbing up a stunning feature and should be OK with an Alpine rack. Tuolumne might also be getting a little chilly. You could probably do Fairview regular route (5.9) with your light rack (mostly VS, short HVS crux) otherwise how happy do you feel about run-out 5.8? (Roseanne, Magical Mystery Tour, and many similar).Joshua Tree has a small number of sport routes and some sporty trad. routes that would go on qds only if you were feeling brave. Much better if you've got a full trad. rack though. Red Rocks? Not Cali but not that far from Joshua Tree or Bishop. Ideal for what you're looking for: good sport climbing, excellent moderate multi-pitch routes, nice rock, and soft grades! Crimson Chrysalis (1000', 5.8 ) is really good, goes on draws only, and can be abseiled with a single 70m (just). Dream of Wild Turkeys (10a) is also brilliant. We did this with small rack of wires, adding a couple of cams would be reassuring.
Red Rocks? Not Cali but not that far from Joshua Tree or Bishop. Ideal for what you're looking for: good sport climbing, excellent moderate multi-pitch routes, nice rock, and soft grades! Crimson Chrysalis (1000', 5.8 ) is really good, goes on draws only, and can be abseiled with a single 70m (just). Dream of Wild Turkeys (10a) is also brilliant. We did this with small rack of wires, adding a couple of cams would be reassuring.
The Needles are beautiful, one of the loveliest places I've ever climbed. It's probably going to be quite cold up there in October and nearly all the routes are very trad. as far as I'm aware. The Magic Dragon (1000' 5.8; VS, short HVS crux) is mostly easy slabbing up a stunning feature and should be OK with an Alpine rack.
I live just near Yosemite and could lend you some gear for a day or two to use in Yosemite if you need it. I'd prob do E Buttress Of Middle Cathedral as it gets the shade, but if its cold maybe something on the other side in the sun - Serenity / Sons etc.
Scirroco is about the only one I can think of?https://www.mountainproject.com/v/scirocco/106258179
Do you never work?
Your options are much better if you take a small rack: ~3 small-medium cams, 5 wires and a couple of slings.
I live just near Yosemite and could lend you some gear for a day or two to use in Yosemite if you need it. I'd prob do E Buttress Of Middle Cathedral as it gets the shade, but if its cold maybe something on the other side in the sun - Serenity / Sons etc
Levitation 29 (5.11+) as well. Long walk in and out but quite good climbing. Bring a few wires and three-four friends.
I haven't been but Kolob Canyon near Zion looks good/interesting (a fairly short drive from Red Rocks by USA standards):
There's some decent single pitch sport in Tuolumne if you like face climbing on chicken heads (e.g. Electric Africa).
Shameless Needles photo. I spent the time to tag the towers should it be useful:The Californian Needles by travelswithmyt4, on Flickr