Western Washington
Beacon Rock
Basalt tower in the Columbia Gorge. Short approaches. 5.6 to 5.12. Crack/Face.
Beacon Rock
Beacon Rock is an 800-foot basalt monolith rising above the Columbia River at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. It is the scene of what must be one of the first technical rock climbs in the Pacific Northwest. On August 24, 1901, Frank J. Smith and Charles Church of Portland, along with George Purser of White Salmon, climbed a route on the northwest face using iron spikes and […]
Bellingham
Besides being close to Squamish, Bellingham offers easy access to bouldering within minutes of town, and roped climbing not much farther away. Among Washington cities, it is second only to Spokane for easily accessible urban climbing. Bellingham bouldering has been surging recently.
Lost Ledge
Access Fund and Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) opened this unique new bouldering area near Bellingham, Washington in Sprin 2019. Located in Larrabee State Park, this cluster of sandstone boulders along the Chuckanut Mountain escarpment provides high-quality bouldering for climbers of all skill levels.
Access Information
The trailhead is located at the end of Cleater Road in Larrabee State Park. Click here for driving directions and display your Discover Pass in vehicles. Follow signs for the Rock Trail and hike 0.8 miles. Along the way, the cliff band will disappear and you will cross a footbridge. Do not take the first set […]
Bat Caves
Located south of Bellingham on the slopes of Blanchard Mountain, the Bat Caves have more than 30 sport (and a few trad) routes ranging from 5.4 to 5.12c. The area’s name is a misnomer: there aren’t any real caves, only holes in an impressive talus field below a series of cliffs. The cliffs, which include the Samish Wall and San Juan Wall, are up to 200 feet high. The metamorphic rock is sometimes brittle, with an emphasis on crimpy moves.
The view alone is worth a visit to this spot: you look out to the San Juan Islands, over to the […]
Mt. Baker Crags
Located east of Glacier on Highway 542, the Mt. Baker crags probably offer the best roped climbing in the Bellingham area. Nearly all of the 30 or so routes are sport climbs on meta-volcanic rock that some compare to Exit 38. Unlike Exit 38, however, some of the climbing is on cobbles.
The routes range from 5.8 to 5.12d on six walls or sub-walls: the Cobblestone Wall; Baker City Cliff; the Pump House; Big Daddy Wall; Pee Wee’s Playhouse; and the Pimp Wall. Most routes are 70-feet or less in length, although there is at least one two-pitch route on the […]
Sehome Hill
Rising above the Western Washington University campus, Sehome Hill offers a number of top rope routes and boulder problems on mostly good sandstone. It is an historic area, with a tradition of climbing dating back to the 1950s. Sehome Hill has been the starting point for many climbers, including Chuck Pratt, a Bellingham high schooler who went on to become a Yosemite legend.
The main Sehome Hill area is a collection of boulders and small walls up to 35 feet high. The rock features occasional pockets and veins of pebbles. The toprope climbs range from 5.6 to hard 5.10, with boulder […]
Larrabee State Park
Although Larrabee State Park has a few sandy lead routes, beachside bouldering is what it’s all about. The rock is a soft Chuckanut sandstone that ranges from good to decomposed. At its best, it offers interesting climbing on edges, slopers, and wave-sculpted huecos. A gorgeous setting makes up for any shortcomings of the rock, and there are enough quality problems to make it worth repeat visits. It’s a great place for a family trip to the beach with a little bouldering.
There are two main access points to the beach. The first is at the main parking area at the north […]
Darrington
Shaded boulders, rock climbs one to twenty pitches, and alpine peaks near the town of Darrington; approaches may include brush or scrambling. 5.6 to 5.12; V0 to V6.
Darrington
The area traditionally known as “Darrington” is a collection of granite domes in the Clear Creek Valley south of the North Cascades town known by the same name. Today, climbers enjoy boulders and cliffs spread throughout the surrounding area. Gorgeous peaks rise from the roadside and a vast wilderness awaits those looking for extended outings.
The granite in Clear Creek and Squire Creek offers generally lower angle climbing on slabs and knobby faces but steep walls are found here too. The D-Ton boulders in the Whitechuck River valley offer great climbing in the shade. High quality boulders and crag climbs up to seven pitches long are found in the North Fork of the Sauk River, below Spring Mountain.
Current road status:
As of Summer 2018, the roads in Clear Creek, serving Exfoliation Dome, Three O’clock Rock, and Green Giant Buttress (with the classic climb Dreamer) are open. The road up Squire Creek remains blocked by a washout about a half mile short of the huge slide directly across […]
Gold Bar
Granite boulders and largely unexplored crags. V0 to V11; and (?) 5.9 to (?) 5.11. Boulders/Crack/Face.
Gold Bar
Access Note: The area adjacent to the Gold Bar boulders is being actively logged. Please check our Alerts page for any current access alerts. Once logging operations are complete, DNR plans to decommission the former road. The WCC is working to upgrade the access trail with support and permission from DNR.
DNR has long been concerned about vehicle access there, including the high levels of traffic, unauthorized use of the gate by non-WCC-members during a period when WCC members were granted access by the former private landowner, and potential liability issues. Updates will be posted here, on […]
Index
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