Mountain Project: Climbing Michigan

All though Michigan is 41% water, it houses some of the best old growth forests in the country. Michigan is considered a state with some of the best moderate recreation in the country.

To the outside community, Michigan is NOT known for its rock climbing, but it is known to its locals. With just enough rock climbing to barely hold us over for Kentucky, Arkansas, California and beyond, climbers are able to enjoy what Michigan has to offer. Michigan is more known for its ice climbing in Munising.

Grand Ledge is the only known area in the Lower Peninsula to have any outdoor climbing. (see Grand Ledge page)

Munising/Picture Rocks is home to hundreds of frozen drip and Michigan's Ice Fest (www.downwindsports.com)

Marquette and beyond holds Michigan's best rock climbing. With its hidden rock bands, hard to find boulders, and still to be discovered routes you will most likely be the only one out there climbing...nice eh?

For more beta in the Upper Peninsula: contact Down Wind Sports

Getting There

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Michigan:

The Dryer Hose (aka Life's a Pitch) WI3+ Ice, 1 pitch, 60 feet Munising : Sand Point Road to Miners C...

The Amphitheater WI6+ TR, Ice, 1 pitch, 65 feet Munising : Sand Point Road to Miners C...

Dairyland WI5 Ice, 150 feet Munising : Sand Point Road to Miners C...

Grand Arch V0-1 R Boulder, 12 feet Kalamazoo Buildering

The Finger Crack V3- Trad, TR, Boulder, 15 feet Marquette : Hogback Mountain

Enigma V6 Boulder, 12 feet Grand Ledge

The Traverse V6 Boulder, 20 feet Presque Isle : Black Rocks

Potato Chips 5.7 TR, 1 pitch, 30 feet Grand Ledge

Lie Detector 5.8 Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 70 feet Cliff Dr. - Keweenaw County

Building Blocks 5.9 TR, 1 pitch, 25 feet Grand Ledge

Fine Wine 5.9+ PG13 Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet, Grade V Marquette : The AAA Walls

Top of the world crack 5.9+ Trad, TR, 35 feet Marquette : Top of the world

The Slab 5.10a Sport, TR Marquette : Glenda's Pile

Rocket Man 5.10 TR, 1 pitch, 30 feet Grand Ledge

Doug"s Roof 5.10 TR, 35 feet Grand Ledge

Rated P.G. 5.10 Sport, 1 pitch, 35 feet Cliff Dr. - Keweenaw County

The Pinacle 5.10b/c TR Presque Isle : The Pinacle area

Scrotum 5.10c/d Sport, 1 pitch, 35 feet, Grade V Marquette : Suicide

5th Grade Science Project 5.10d Sport, 1 pitch, 35 feet Marquette : Suicide

to many lady bugs 5.12a Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 60 feet, Grade II Marquette : Hogback Mountain

Comments on Michigan

Add Comment

Show which comments —

By Thomas Ferguson
Aug 19, 2008

There are a lot of areas in Upper Michigan that are fun to climb and worth a trip and or vacation to go climb them. It would be nice to have a page telling about them and where they are. (Or is there a conspiracy not to list any because the climbers who visit or live in Upper Michigan want to keep the great climbing a secret so they won't have to deal with the areas becoming crowded.)

By jay.kalamazoo
From: kalamazoo, mi
Nov 1, 2008

We don't have a lot of rock- but we do have some good buildering.

I encourage folks to post some of those sites up.

By Brandon Snyder
From: Marquette MI
Mar 20, 2009

Climbing can be found all around the town of marquette and across the upper pinsula

By Big-Time-Small-Timer
From: Boulder, CO
Aug 1, 2009

Check out the Cliff Dr. - Keweenaw County page. Say ya to da U.P. eh!

By Clint C
Dec 13, 2010

I'm looking to compile some sweet photos of MI, Wi, Mn, Il or any Midwest climbing for a writing project.
Please send me any you have to clateboulder@yahoo.com

Please send in a jpg low resolution format.

Appreciate it,

Climb on

By Juggler
May 31, 2011

To All Chicago Area Climbers(South suburbs):

I am looking for partners to go to MI climbing and other locations(Jackson Falls, DL, The Red, Grand Dads, etc) with.

I have an Airplane and can fly us there. Please send me a PM if you want more details and the cost of sharing the flight expenses. Hope to meet a few of you soon. I can fit up to 4 climbers with me in the Cherokee 6(with room for gear). LMK :)

By rich magner
From: cathedral city, ca
Apr 18, 2013

I am more than delighted to see climbs going up/being posted. As a Michigan Expat. I look forward to checking these out next time I visit the motherland.

Home - Destinations - iPhone/Android - Gyms - Partners - Forum - Photos - Deals - What's New
	ADVANCED

Michigan

Mishigama, the large water state

Getting There

The Classics