Warning!

Crag Climbing is NOT feasible or safe for most Scout Units.

Climbing crags requires special training and equipment.  Even with the right training and equipment, climbing has inherent risks.  Without proper training and equipment, climbing crags places you at real risk of catastrophic injury. 

We are lucky enough to have Adults and Scouts with special training and equipment.  This has allowed us to climb many of the crags in Washington and Oregon State.  

Do NOT Attempt Outdoor Climbing without properly Trained Instructors!

Moderate Climbs 5.4-5.7

This is the level used to teach basic climbing skill.  Most anyone can climb at this level and is a good place to start for new climbers.  These climbs are probably where you will want to start Scouts new to Rock Climbing. 

There are a limited amount of places with a reasonable concentration of Moderate Climbs.  Do a little research and make sure the crags you are choosing are acceptable for your group.  See mountainproject.com 5.4-5.7 Washington State for a list of Moderate Crag Climbs.

Areas with higher concentrations of Moderate Climbs include:

• Exit 32 - Little Si - 19 Moderate Climbs

  • Canopy Crag Group - 10 Moderate Climbs on multiple walls

  • British Aisles - 8 Moderate Climbs on multiple walls 

• Exit 34 - 11 Moderate Climbs

  • SSP Lower Tier 1x5.6/2x5.7

  • SSP Upper Tier 1x5.4/1x5.6

• Exit 38 - 60 Moderate Climbs

  • Deception Crags - 16 Moderate Climbs 

    • Several areas

    • Accessible from the Iron Horse Trail:

      • Hall Creek Rock 5.8-5.10

      • We Did Rock 1x5.6/1x5.7+ others are 5.9-5,10

      • Deception Wall 2x5.7 others are 5.9-5,13

      • Write-off Rock 2x5.4/3x5.7 and 5.8 and a 5.9

      • Kiosk Rock 5.9

    • Substation is underneath the trestle 

      • 1x5.6/4x5.7

    • Nevermind is a little south

      • 5.9-5.12

    • Baby Squish Rock 1x5.6 

    • Lower Shakespeare Wall 1x5.6 

  • Far Side - 35 Moderate Climbs 

    • Gritscone 1x5.5/2x5.6/5x5.7

      • Excellent place for Scout Outing

        • Great for beginners - Several Moderate climbs

        • Larger base area to hang out

        • Few Intermediate climbs to try out

        • Top ropes can be set up from above by walking around to the top

    • Sunshine Vista 1x5.4/2x5.5/2x5.6

    • Interstate Park 

      • Headlight Point 1x5.5/4x5.6/3x5.7

      • Eastern Block 1x5.7

      • Squishy Bell 1x5.5/4x5.7

    • Overhaul Area 

      • Three walls each with 1x5.7

    • Truck Town 1x5.4/1x5.5/1x5.6

    • Dirty Harry's Rest Stop 1x5.4/1x5.6

    • Shangri-La Area > E World 1x5.7 which has 3.5 stars

• Mt Washington - 5 Moderate Climbs

  • Several areas and walls - total of 1x5.6/4x5.7

• Mount Erie - 49 Moderate Climbs (100 if you include trad)

  • Main Wall 1x5.7

  • Summit Area - 6 Moderate Climbs

    •  Summit Wall 3x5.6 1x5.7+ both are Trad/TR

    • Lookout Wall 1x5.7 Trad, TR

    • Secret Wall 1x5.7 V0 TR, Boulder

  • Powerline Area - 7 Moderate Climbs

    • Powerline Wall > Powerline Wall East 1x5.7

    • The Cirque 2x5.7

    • Crack Wall 1x5.5/3x5.6/1x5.7

  • Orange Area - 6 Moderate Climbs

    •  Black Wall 2x5.5/2x5.7 

    • Madrone Wall 1x5.6/1x5.7 

  • Sunset Slabs - 11 Moderate Climbs

    • N Slab 1x5.4/5x5.6/1x5.7+

    • S Slab 1x5.5/1x5.7

    • Mountaineer's Wall 1x5.6/1x5.7

  • Shady Hollow - 5 Moderate Climbs

    •  New Millennium Wall 1x5.5/1x5.6

    • Wall C & F 1x5.6/1x5.7

    • Aussie Wall 1x5.7

  • Skyline Arete Area - 8 Moderate Climbs

    • Friction Slab 1x5.5/1x5.6/1x5.7

    • Lumpy Crag 2x5.5/1x5.6/1x5.7

    • Adventure Crags > Hidden Wall North 1x5.7

  • Pigeon Stool Area 1x5.5/4x5.6 all on different walls

• Index - 24 Moderate Climbs

  • NOTE - Index is known for it's steep ratings

    • Consider grades to be one harder than stated grade compared to Exit 38

  • Lookout Point Area

  • Lower Lump Area  

• Leavenworth - 82 Moderate Climbs

  • Playground Point

    • Playground Point 2x5.5/3x5.6/4x5.7 and double that if you include trad

    • Several other moderate climbs in other walls in this area

  • Icicle Creek

    • Little Italy Area 

      • Bambino 1x5.5/2x5.6/1x5.7

      • Many moderate 5.5-5.7 trad in Little Itally Area

  • Tumwater Canyon 

• Frenchman Coulee Vantage - 45 Moderate Climbs

  • Feathers > N Side 1x5.4/2x5.5/3x5.6/5x5.7

  • Frenchman Coulee

    • Zig Zag Wall 1x5.6/7x5.7 but mostly trad

    • Green Wall 1x5.4/4x5.6/4x5.7 - all trad

    • Gallery 2x5.6/4x5.7 - all sport

  • Echo Basin > Sunshine Wall > King Pins 

    • Sunshine Wall  

    • Sunshine's Lower Cliffs Rock Climbing  

  • Many others!

• Mazama - 43 Moderate Climbs

  • Fun (Phun) Rocks - so MANY (32) moderate climbs!

  • Matrix  

  • Europa  

• Waka Beach - Near Port Angeles - 12 Moderate Climbs

• Monte Cristo Slab - close to Oregon - 22 Moderate Climbs

• Burge Mountain (Tonasket) - NE of Tonasket (south of Oroville) - 21 Moderate Climbs

• McLoughlin Canyon (Tonasket) - south of Tonasket (south of Oroville) - 17 Moderate Climbs

  •  Last Wall 

• Whistler Canyon Trailhead (Oroville which is by Canada) - 25 Moderate Climbs

  • N W Face  

  • S W Face 

  • W Face 

  •  Upper Canyon 

• Mt Hull - southeast of Oroville - 17 Moderate Climbs

  • Big Butte 

  • Mt Hull - Lower SW Face 

• Tumtum  - Spokane (other side of river to McLellan) - 15 Moderate Climbs

• McLellan Rocks - Spokane - 14 Moderate Climbs

• Dikes - southeast corner of state - 12 Moderate Climbs

• Wallula Gap - west of Walla Walla on Columbia River - 25 Moderate Climbs