Seattle-Area Crag Overview

This page is an attempt to give a visiting climber a quick overview of the local crags.  This internet resource is accented by links and pictures ripped off of many other internet resources.  All information herein, especially the recommendations, are totally biased.  That means, it will probably make sense to someone  who usually climbs around 5.10 but almost never harder, prefers traditional to sport climbs, and multipitch to dirt-level.    To someone else it may sound plain screwy..

Having written that I feel I must disclose that every description herein is an unintentional sandbag; i.e. , every climb is actually harder and less pleasant than I make it sound. SO DON'T GET ANY IDEAS FROM ME THAT YOU CAN DO ANY OF THESE CLIMBS!!! Climbing is dangerous, OK?  Use your own discretion.  Not mine.
CRAG
drive time from Seattle
walk time
general weather
Index Index mighty Index!  Has a reputation for being intimidating.  Steep granite, cracks and sport climbs, 1-6 pitches. Not a huge amount of stuff for the sub 5.9 leader.  1.5 hours 5-30 minutes. West of the crest; i.e. wetter.
Static Point Trust your feet territory on a big granite dome out in the middle of nowhere.  Predominantly 5-6 pitch friction-slabby slab climbs.  1.5 hours  1 hour West of the crest, South facing. Dries quick. Brutal in summer sun.
Darrington Constellation of wilderness granite domes nestled deep in the WA jungle. Mostly multipitch (3+) bolted slabs and face, with the occasional crack. 2 hours 1/2 to 1 hour West of the crest and directly East of the Straights, so if it's gonna be wet anywhere ..., White domes brutal in summer sun.
Leavenworth Historical crags and bolt-tamed buttresses.  Scattered granite craglets of various sizes.  Multipitch and single pitch areas, many big enough to keep you busy all day.  2.5 hours +/- 15 minutes  1-60 minutes East side of the crest, so has more dependable weather than the West.
Squamish Washington's only real world-class climbing area.  Make an effort to get here!  ~ 4 hours 1 minute or more right on the water
Vantage Single-pitch basalt columns in the high desert.  Can be crumbly.  Climb trad (cracks) between the columns and sport (bolted aretes) on the edges.  2.5 hours mostly  ~15 minutes Best weather bet when it's wet elsewhere.  Probably too hot in the summer.
Washington Pass Alpine  cragging.  Beautiful area among assorted granitic spires.  Mostly multipitch 5-10 pitches.  3 hours + 1/2 to 5 hours East but near the crest, so usually better weather than West of crest areas.  High altitude.
Smith Washington's world class sport climbing destination area! link1,  link2 ~ 6 hours 15 - 60 minutes Weather as good or better than Vantage.
Snoqualmie Pass Quick fix  alpine hiking and climbing.   Not the highest of quality, but fun can be had. 1 hour NA Right on the crest.  Can be foggy on those rare days when it's actually sunny on the West side and socked in in the East.
Tieton River Columnar something or other.   Great meatgrinder cracks.  Mostly singlepitch. link 1, link 2 3+ hours  < hour? Dry area.  Northfacing
Mt. Erie Don't know anything but that it's got nice views. link 1, link 2  2 hours? ? overlooks the Sound
Little Si Bolted, single-pitch sport climbing. Very close. link1 40 minutes 20 minutes ~ same as Seattle
Exit 38 Bolted, single-pitch sport climbing. People go here. link1 45 minutes 15 - 60 minutes West of crest, mostly jungly (less sun).

Lists of recommended Seattle area climbs can also be found on Perkins, Krawarik, and Smoot pages.

If you think specific information  for one of these areas should be added or altered, or if you object to me linking a picture from your website, then please e-mail me. Make sure you don't have "mortgage" or "refinance" or "L-O-W R-A-T-E-S" anywhere in the subject line.

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