Montana Recommendations

Hey Montana climbers, I'm thinking about heading up that way this summer and am looking for your recommendations on areas to visit. I'm mostly interested in sport climbing areas and prefer steep routes in the 5.11 and 5.12 range. Pocketed limestone would be nice if there are any areas that offer that too.

Natural Bridge State Park, it's exactly what you're looking for.

mountainproject.com/v/natur…

this is the guide you'll want:
amazon.com/Rock-Climbs-Sout…

I thought Bozeman pass was really fun, offered in the same recommended guidebook. Lots of fun sport in the Bitterroots (near Missoula)as well, Although it's granite.

Blackleaf canyon on the rocky mtn front is pretty sick in an unbeatable setting

I really appreciate all the suggestions and info. I'm looking forward to enjoying some of your great climbing. Any other tips like great camping sites or not to miss routes are appreciated too.

Chesnut mountain would be a great place as well. It is in the guidebook suggested above.

Ty Morrison-Heath wrote:Chesnut mountain would be a great place as well. It is in the guidebook suggested above.

Ditto on that. IMO the best quality limestone in southwest Montana.
If you really want to climb boundless, incredible, pocketed limestone, you should probably go to Wyoming instead. Between Tensleep and Lander there are multiple lifetimes of excellent, hard sport climbs.

Nick & others, thanks for the suggestion & since I was in on Tensleep from the very early days, I've already spent several weeks/months there & around Lander too. That fact leads to my interest in exploring some different areas. Is Chesnut Mountain well documented in the Vassilopolos guide (I guess I'll find out soon since I ordered it yesterday)?

Chestnut is well documented in both books, but I think there's been more stuff going in and definitely room for more as you'll see if you head up there.