Crag Climbing

Easy Crag Climbing 

Multipitch Climbing 

Trad Climbing 

Types of Rock

Climbing Gear 

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!

Trad Climbing

Washington has some of the finest traditional climbing in the United States, from classic granite cracks in the Cascades to alpine ridges, big walls, and high-altitude glaciated peaks.

Top Five Overall

• Outer Space

• Beckey Route on Liberty Bell

• South Arête on South Early Winter Spire

• Prusik Peak's West Ridge

• Mount Stuart's Upper North Ridge

For a broad progression, start with classic Leavenworth multipitch routes, move to Washington Pass alpine spires, then tackle the bigger North Cascades and Stuart Range objectives.

The Essential Washington Trad Classics

• Outer Space - Snow Creek Wall, Leavenworth

  • 5.9 · 6 pitches · Grade III

  • One of Washington's most iconic multipitch trad climbs

  • Excellent granite, varied crack systems, exposed positions, and a spectacular finish. A must-do for experienced 5.9 leaders

• Beckey Route - Liberty Bell

  • 5.6 · Grade II · Alpine

  • A legendary moderate alpine climb featuring varied rock, exposed ridges, and a summit with unforgettable views of Washington Pass

  • One of the state's classic introductory alpine trad routes

• South Arête - South Early Winter Spire

  • 5.5 · Grade II · Alpine

  • A beautiful granite arête with excellent exposure and a dramatic summit

  • A fantastic moderate alpine trad objective in the Washington Pass area

• Midway - Castle Rock, Tumwater Canyon

  • 5.6 · 3 pitches

  • A historic Washington climbing route, first climbed by Fred Beckey in 1948

  • Classic crack climbing on polished granite with a strong sense of climbing history

• West Ridge - Prusik Peak

  • 5.7 · 4 pitches · Alpine

  • A spectacular granite spire in the Enchantments

  • The climbing is moderate, but the long approach, exposure, and extraordinary alpine setting make it a memorable adventure

More Outstanding Multipitch Trad Climbs

• Orbit - Snow Creek Wall

  • 5.8+ · 7 pitches

  • Long, varied granite climbing

• Hyperspace - Snow Creek Wall

  • 5.11a · 7 pitches

  • Sustained, physical crack climbing

• Iconoclast - Snow Creek Wall

  • 5.10c · 8 pitches

  • Long, adventurous wall route

• Canary - Castle Rock

  • 5.8+ · 3 pitches

  • Excellent moderate crack climbing

• Damnation Crack - Castle Rock

  • 5.9+

  • A Tumwater Canyon crack classic

• Celestial Groove - Pearly Gates

  • 5.9+

  • Beautiful crack and corner climbing

• The Warrior - Icicle Creek

  • 5.10d

  • A demanding, iconic single-pitch corner

• Davis-Holland / Lovin' Arms - Index

  • 5.10b/c · 7 pitches

  • Premier splitter-crack multipitch climbing

• Aries -Index

  • 5.8

  • Classic introductory multipitch trad

Best Alpine Trad Adventures

These are bigger mountain objectives where the approach, route-finding, weather, and descent are part of the climb.

• Upper North Ridge - Mount Stuart

  • 5.9 · Grade IV · 18 pitches

  • One of Washington's premier alpine rock routes, with sustained climbing, exposed ridges, and a major summit.

• West Ridge - Forbidden Peak

  • 5.6 · Grade III

  • A world-famous alpine ridge with spectacular exposure and a glaciated approach.

• Fisher Chimneys / Southeast Arête - Mount Shuksan

  • 5.5 · Grade III · Alpine

  • A classic combination of scrambling, glacier travel, and technical alpine rock climbing.

• East Ridge - Inspiration Peak

  • 5.9 · Grade III · Alpine

  • A beautiful, more remote alpine rock route with excellent ridge climbing and dramatic North Cascades scenery.

These routes are featured among classic North Cascades and Pacific Northwest alpine objectives.

Best Areas for Trad Climbing in Washington

• Leavenworth 

  • Best overall variety of crack climbing, multipitch routes, and alpine objectives.

• Index 

  • Premier splitter cracks, steep corners, and hard multipitch trad.

• Washington Pass 

  • Outstanding alpine granite spires and classic moderate routes.

• Tieton River

  • Excellent single-pitch crack climbing, especially for moderate trad.

• Snoqualmie Pass

  • Convenient alpine rock climbs such as The Tooth.

• The Enchantments 

  • Remote granite spires and unforgettable alpine adventures.