Climbing in the Pacific Northwest is a truly unique experience. Often wet and mossy, you must learn how to scrap… which makes it all the more fun!
Having learned to climb in the Northwest, Kaf wants to share with you these very special places right in our own backyard. Highlighted are some of the most beautiful climbs in our region in places that we actively guide, so that you know the best places to explore.
Exit 38, WA
unique sport and face climbingExit 38 is the most easily accessible climbing in Seattle. Take a look!
Whether you’re looking for the perfect after-work summer crag or an ideal outdoor classroom, Exit 38 awaits you.
Located immediately off of I-90, near North Bend, Exit 38 holds something for everyone in a single package, and it’s only a stone’s throw from Seattle.
Have you checked out the dry climbing haven, Vantage?
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Rock Type: Metamorphosed volcanic (some say “rhinostone or granodiorite”)
Typical Routes: single pitch faces, mostly sport, lots of slab and some steep overhanging climbs
Ratings Range: Easy fifth class to 5.13
Number of pitches: Mostly single, with a few 2-3 pitch routes -
This area’s abundant moderate climbs and friendly bolts make it a great site for a Beginner Rock Climbing class, an Outdoor Sport Leading class, or even your first multi-pitch route. Great for families and new climbers.
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FAR SIDE AREA:
From Seattle, take exit 38 towards the Fire Training Academy. After exiting, head right at the stop sign and drive 1.8 miles. The road comes to a junction. Turn left to go underneath the freeway and you will see the parking lot ahead of you with a trailhead sign and a bathroom.
Mount Erie, WA
Slabby face climbing with a view!Experience one of the best views of the San Juans and climb Mount Erie!
The rain shadow of the Cascades gives us the high desert shrub steppe; but the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains gives us Mt. Erie!
Just a couple of hours up the shoreline from Seattle, Mt Erie often experiences drier days than most residents of Seattle would expect to find this side of the Cascade Crest. By day, you can enjoy easy-access, solid rock with sweeping views, and frequent sightings of eagles, osprey, and turkey vultures.
After an exhilarating day of climbing, you can retire to your campsite in the hospitable Deception Pass State Park, surrounded by old growth forests and Puget Sound beaches – or just complete the easy drive back to Seattle.
With such great features at such close proximity, Mt Erie is a wonderful choice for a Beginner Rock Climbing class, Rock Rescue Course or a custom experience.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Want to climb the biggest monolith of granite in the Northwest? Then you want to climb Squamish, British Columbia only 1.5 hours north of Mt. Erie!
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Rock Type: Diorite
Typical Routes: much more sport than trad. Often steep, but rarely overhanging
Ratings Range: Easy fifth class to about 5.12
Number of Pitches: Mostly single, up to 3 -
Mt. Erie is perfect for sport climbing. There are a wide variety of sport routes at Mt. Erie that range from easy to difficult. There are a handful of sport multi-pitch climbs as well. A few excellent moderate traditional routes are also available to the adventurous.
Index, WA
Steep Granite Crack ClimbingEnjoy a day out at one of the top ten crags in America!
Index Town Walls are home to the best steep granite crack climbing anywhere in the NW. The climbing sits just off Highway 2 near the town of Index only an hour and a half away from Seattle.
Index has a reputation for tough, steep climbing. Of the over 600 routes, only a few of them are below 5.10. Some of those few are quite excellent, however, and Index should not be overlooked by climbers of all abilities.
Don’t be intimidated. A fun day out climbing at the 5.8 level with one of our guides is not to be missed. The easier multi-pitch climbing reveals magnificent views of Mt. Index at the base of the North Cascades!
The climbing season can be nearly year-round, although the dark and wet months November – February can be rather grim.
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Rock Type: Granite
Typical Routes: Home to a high concentration of the state’s finest granite crack climbs, along with some remarkable face climbs.
Ratings Range: 5.6 to 5.13. Mostly 5.10 and above.
Number of pitches: Single and multi-pitch climbing. Even mini-big wall aid climbing! -
Index climbing is great for intermediate climbers looking to learn the art of crack climbing! The courses best suited for this terrain are Traditional Climbing Fundamentals and Traditional Lead Climbing.
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Driving east on Highway 2, turn north onto the Index-Galena Road, marked by a sign on the south side of Highway 2 marked ‘Index’. Drive through the town of Index, crossing the bridge on 5th Street and turning left on Index Ave to cross the railroad tracks. Make a left onto Crescent Street and a right onto Avenue A. Just under a mile from here, you’ll arrive at a small, unmarked parking lot on the right. From the parking lot, cross the train tracks for the lower town wall. To find the upper walls, walk along the train tracks and turn left, walking along a faint road for a short distance before arriving at a sign proclaiming “Authorized Vehicles Only”. There is a picnic table here, which is hard to see from the road. The trail starts behind the picnic table, just to the right.
Tieton
Beautiful Andesite ColumnsLooking for an interesting climb? Then consider the amazing andesite columns of Tieton River Gorge!
One of the best places in the state to learn traditional lead climbing, Tieton is the other columnar climbing area of the Central Washington shrub steppe.
Located NW of Yakima and SSW of Ellensburg, Tieton usually offers a similar dry climate and has smaller crowds than Vantage.
Have you already climbed Tieton River Gorge and are looking for another exciting climb? How about venturing out to Exit 38?
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Rock Type: Mostly andesite (a volcanic rock similar to basalt)
Typical Routes: Single pitch cracks, faces, and aretes, with a near-even area balance of sport and trad
Ratings Range: Easy fifth class to 5.13
Number of pitches: Mostly single -
Tieton is best known as a traditional climbing location. There are excellent moderate cracks to climb with a short approach. If sport climbing interests you, there are sport routes and sport only crags in the area as well.
Vantage, WA
Columnar BasaltVantage is one of the driest places in Washington state, consistently making it a great spot for rock climbing.
With western Washington being a wet place (as we all very well know!) Vantage makes for a perfect refuge during bad weather days.
When it’s raining or snowing everywhere else in the state, Vantage is dry and ready to go. Even if it’s a cold day, you can always find a face at Vantage that’s in the sun, helping you keep your fingers warm between climbs.
Vantage (A.K.A. Frenchman’s Coulee) does not have a lot of variety: mostly single pitch basalt cracks, face, and aretes are what you will find here – but there are lots of them!
It makes a great place to learn and develop into a well-rounded leader. Vantage is a ready to be your classroom. Kaf Adventures runs many of its Outdoor Rock Climbing Programs here due to the consistently dry conditions and close proximity to Seattle (only a 2.5 hour drive on I-90).
There is also a fantastic waterfall that forms under the right conditions and provides some of the most accessible and longest ice climbs in Central Washington.
It is a truly magical moment to be ice climbing in this sagebrush and juniper environment. Vantage provides the one place in the Northwest where a climber can ALWAYS get outside – which makes it a true gem.
Curious about more of our favorite Northwest rock climbs? Checkout Mt. Erie!
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Rock Type: Basalt (and ice!)
Typical Routes: Single pitch cracks, faces, and arete climbs
Ratings Range: From easy fifth class to 5.12
Number of Pitches: Mostly single -
Vantage is an excellent sport and traditional climbing area. It hosts a variety of moderate sport climbs. The traditional routes vary in difficult from moderate to difficult. Vantage Basalt can be slick!
Squamish, British Columbia
Slabby Granite Splitter CracksClimb the biggest monolith of granite in the Northwest!
Welcome to Squamish, BC, widely regarded as one of the premier climbing destinations in North America.
Squamish is heralded for its perfect granite and “granitic” rock. It is loved for its bouldering, sport climbing, splitter cracks, and long multi-pitch climbs that are all available with the high-quality characteristics of great friction and solid protection. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the phenomenal views…
Squamish is the perfect choice for a course in traditional lead climbing or 2-day multi-pitch climbing.
It would be difficult to find a better option to design a custom climbing experience with us. We can certainly create an individual itinerary to help you fulfill your personal goals and desires.
Take a look at climbing Smith Rock, Oregon – it’s another favorite at Kaf.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
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Rock Type: Granite/”granitic”
Typical Routes: Single- and multi-pitch, bouldering, cracks and slabby face climbs
Ratings Range: Easy fifth class to 5.14
Number of pitches: Bouldering and single-pitch through 18 pitches -
Squamish is a world class climbing destination. There are all styles and types of climbing in the area. It is well know for easy and moderate multi-pitch climbing. There are also very easy and moderate crack climbs to learn on.
Broughton Bluff, OR
Columnar Basalt ColumnsLooking for a day’s escape from the hustle and bustle of Portland? Get out on the rock at Broughton Bluff!
From top rope climbing to traditional lead climbs, Broughton’s columns will deliver the perfect arena for a wide range of technical skills practice.
It makes a great place to learn and develop into a well-rounded leader. Broughton Bluff is a perfect classroom only 10-20 minutes from Portland.
Curious about more of our favorite Oregon rock climbs? Checkout Smith Rock!
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Rock Type: Basalt
Typical Routes: Single pitch cracks, faces, and arete style climbs
Ratings Range: From easy fifth class to 5.12
Number of Pitches: Mostly single -
Single pitch basalt cracks, faces, and arete style climbs. You will surely hone in any single pitch skills you are looking for!
Smith Rock, OR
Where sport climbing was born!Climb 3,000 Sport, Trad, and Multi-pitch Routes.
Smith Rock is a world famous climbing destination located in the heart of Central Oregon, near the town of Terrebonne and close to Bend.
Famous for incredible rock, warm dry weather, and stellar scenery, there isn’t much more that you’ll be left wanting from Smith! Sport climbing was revolutionized at Smith Rock; the first place in the United States where rock faces were bolted, and to this day, it continues to be a world-renowned climbing destination with something for everyone.
Kaf Adventures offers a wide range of climbing courses and custom guided climbs for all skill levels at Smith Rock, each one being well-suited to show the diverse strengths of this amazing area.
One unique experience we are currently offering is our Smith Rock Weekend!
***Please note that custom courses can be created at any time***
Want to climb some incredible basalt columns? Checkout Tieton River Gorge.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
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Rock Type: Welded tuff, columnar basalt
Typical Routes: Single- and multi-pitch climbing, bouldering, cracks, and faces
Ratings Range: Easy fifth class to 5.14
Number of pitches: Single pitch through about six pitches -
With stellar face-climbing on welded tuft, strenuous crack climbing on columnar basalt, and breathtaking views of the Oregon high desert, it’s easy to wonder why you are always able to find an empty route at Smith. But luckily, you are.
With over 3,000 documented routes, you will always find something new – in addition to some shade or sun, depending on what you desire!
Ready to Book a Rock Climbing Course?