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Elevation: 5,036 ft
GPS: 46.3102, -114.2394
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Shared By: Josh Kornish on Aug 1, 2011 · Updates
Admins: GRK, Zach Wahrer

Description Suggest change

An excellent destination for climbing in western Montana, Mill Creek features everything from TR to multi-pitch trad. This area get some decent exposure to the sun in the winter allowing it to be climbed almost year round. This area is infamous for it's ticks so be prepared. Some new routes are being put up by a couple of professors from the University of Montana. Please see millcreekreport.blogspot.com. Downloadable guide available there.

A great destination with a lot of potential. Bring a helmet!!! I have had close calls with rock falling from the big walls. Have fun!

Getting There Suggest change

From Missoula: Drive about 35 miles south on US 93. You will see Mill Creek Trail Road on your right. Drive up the road until you reach the trailhead which has a pit toilet and parking. Take the trail about a half mile up until you reach a log bridge. Cross that take a left and continue for about the same distance until you reach trail headed up the mountain to the seemingly obvious wall. Approach takes roughly 30-60 minutes. An early start is nice.

The trailhead is off of Cow Creek Road out of Pinesdale.

The Drive:

Take Highway 93 south from Missoula toward Hamilton.
Mile marker 54, look for Sheafman Creek Road on the right.
Turn west and drive 1 mile to the top of a s.hort steep hill.
Turn sharp left to stay on Sheafman Creek
Follow the road a couple of miles including a sharp right curve.
At stop sign turn left onto Main and drive into Pinesdale.
Approx. .9 miles from stop sign, brown forest service sign “Sheafman Creek Trail”
Turn right onto West Cow Creek dirt road. (GPS Coord: 46.323650, -114.218033)
Drive slowly through the neighborhood.
Park at gate (1/2 mile), or if gate open (summer), park at right hairpin (1 mile).
Approach trail begins at hairpin. (GPS Coord: 46.316267, -114.229533)

The Hike:

Follow the trail through a gate and tress for just a few hundred yards down and into a deep drainage. The trail will leads back out of the drainage and curve around to the crest of the ridgeline in about 200 yards. Look for a large cairn (sometimes missing) and clearly-traveled trail branching off sharply uphill along the ridge until it turns sharp left into Mill Creek Canyon. Follow this trail for about 3/4 of a mile to the climbs.

37 Total Climbs

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Location: Mill Creek North Rim Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Mill Creek North Rim

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 36
No Sweat Arete
Trad, Alpine 4 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 23
No Dick Tick
Sport, Alpine
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 13
Tick Man
Sport, Alpine
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 17
Fantastick
Sport, Alpine
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 11
Last Known Girlfriend
Sport, Alpine
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 21
Birthday Tick
Sport, Alpine
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
Ticktastic
Sport, Alpine
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 14
Tick On
Sport, Alpine
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 10
Liger
Sport, Alpine
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 11
Pie for Strength
Sport, Alpine 4 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 13
Witness the Tickness
Sport, Alpine
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 7
No Drama Obama
Sport, Alpine
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 6
Shere Khan
Sport, Alpine
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 10
Big Science
Sport, Alpine
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 5
Scary Math
Sport, Alpine
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
No Sweat Arete No Sweat
 36
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Alpine 4 pitches
No Dick Tick Tick Farm
 23
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, Alpine
Tick Man Tick Farm
 13
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport, Alpine
Fantastick Tick Farm
 17
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport, Alpine
Last Known Girlfriend First Girlfriend Butt…
 11
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport, Alpine
Birthday Tick Tick Farm
 21
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport, Alpine
Ticktastic Tick Farm
 14
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport, Alpine
Tick On Tick Farm
 14
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport, Alpine
Liger Tiger Stripe
 10
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport, Alpine
Pie for Strength Lower Tier
 11
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine 4 pitches
Witness the Tickness Tick Farm
 13
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
No Drama Obama Upper Tier
 7
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
Shere Khan Tiger Stripe
 6
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport, Alpine
Big Science Big Science
 10
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport, Alpine
Scary Math Big Science
 5
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport, Alpine
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