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Iowa Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Iowa

Backbone State Park 19 / 0 / 27 / 69 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 97

Bever Park 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Bloody Run County Park 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Cedar Bluffs 0 / 0 / 1 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 15

Cedar Valley Boulder 0 / 0 / 8 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 8

Centennial Park 0 / 0 / 0 / 21 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 21

Chimney Rocks 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Cohen Park 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Coralville Lake Bouldering 0 / 0 / 0 / 39 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 39

Crapo Park 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3

Decorah 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Dows 3 / 0 / 2 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 18

Dubuque 1 / 0 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Hitaga Sand Prairie - Big Rock 0 / 0 / 0 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 7

Indian Bluffs 1 / 37 / 1 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 43

Iowa City Buildering 0 / 0 / 0 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11 / 11

Joinerville Bouldering 0 / 0 / 0 / 67 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 67

Lake Delhi 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Lake Red Rock 0 / 0 / 0 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 20

Mossy Glen 1 / 0 / 1 / 14 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 15

Old State Quarry 0 / 0 / 0 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 8

Ozark Wildlife Area 1 / 35 / 0 / 37 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 73

Palisades Kepler State Park 9 / 0 / 23 / 55 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 76

Pictured Rocks 8 / 66 / 9 / 48 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 123

Prairie Creek 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Silo Ice Climbing 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Waldo's Rock Park 0 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10

Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center 0 / 0 / 0 / 19 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 19

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Elevation:	853 ft	260 m
GPS:	41.935, -93.5376 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By:	Jon Lauters on Jan 19, 2008
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Description

The majority of outdoor areas with quality rock are located on the eastern side of the state. Iowans and folks from out of state gather in great numbers at places like Pictured Rocks county park, and Indian Bluffs state wildlife management area, both near Monticello, Iowa.

Backbone State park, near Strawberry Point, has a variety of climbs that are more spread out. Hoot Bluff, between Monticello and Maquoketa, Iowa, is a notable winter destination because the south-facing climbs are often warm enough for winter free climbing. In summer, Hoot as well as other spots become very hot, humid and difficult to get to when the vegetation expands and obscures trails and views.

Getting There

Head towards the eastern side of the state via I80 or other appropriate highway or gravel road. Most of the climbing is within 40 to 50 miles of Monticello, Iowa, which is located on Route 151. Many of the state roads are in excellent shape, but the path you take in Iowa will have many 90-degree turns. The 151 is a more direct / diagonal route in many cases.

Whatever path you take, you will no-doubt see lots of flat landscape, then rolling hills. Keep the faith, and ask directions if you need to. Folks will help, and you will be rewarded with an opportunity to spend some time on quality limestone and see the hidden gems of Iowa.

689 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Iowa

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

V5 6C 14 ● Sugar Daddy Boulder Coralville Lake… > Original Boulders
V7 7A+ 13 ● Sugar Daddy Sit Start Boulder Coralville Lake… > Original Boulders
V8 7B 9 ● Creme Brûlée Boulder Coralville Lake… > Original Boulders
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 64 ● Three Strikes No Balls Sport, TR Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 33 ● Border Town Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > Windy Point
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 27 ● Liberal Tendencies Sport Ozark Wildlife… > Sport/Trad > Hoot Bluff
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 44 ● Bird in Hand Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > Wild Iowa Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 33 ● Super Fly Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > A Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 71 ● Flash Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 23 ● Julie's Kiss Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 18 ● C N Red Sport Indian Bluffs > Sport/TR/Trad > Mother Wall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 25 ● Gravity Amp Sport Ozark Wildlife… > Sport/Trad > Hoot Bluff
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a R 14 ● Sneaky D.L. Fingers on the Hush… Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > T-Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 12 ● Pogo Sticks Sport Pictured Rocks > Sport/TR/Trad > Windy Point
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 10 ● Back in the Groove Sport Ozark Wildlife… > Sport/Trad > Hoot Bluff