Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 1,134 ft
GPS: 48.45306, -122.62666
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 579,128 total · 3,192/month
Shared By: Jim Thompson on Apr 23, 2009 · Updates
Admins: Jon Nelson, Micah Klesick, Zachary Winters

Description Suggest change

Mount Erie is actually within city limits, located just south of Anacortes. Features some 50 miles of hiking trails, as well as exceptional views of the Olympics and Puget Sound. Though it is a mountain there are no really large expanses of rock, but instead short cliffs & crags hidden in the steep madrona, fir & hemlock forests on the flanks of the mountain. With over 400 routes, good weather and great views, Mt. Erie has become a popular climbing destination. From beginner top rope training, to 5.14 sport, to mulitpitch classics, Erie's got a lot of variety.

Climbing type: sport, moderate and mixed routes. There are many opportunities for top rope climbing as well.

Gear: small rack of gear to 3 inches and  quickdraws. All routes can be descended with a single 60-meter rope.

Rock type: diorite, highly textured and featured, excellent to climb on but few continuous cracks of any significant length.

Weather: located in the rain shadow of the Olympics, so offers the potential for dry climbing year round. March to October best, always bring layers.

Camping: no camping on Mount Erie, but there is a campground at the Lake Erie Store across the street. 

Further Reference: Rockin' on the Rock: A Guide to Mt. Erie Climbing, by Dallas Kloke, Jim Thompson and Aaron Bryant. The print guide is available at the Lake Erie Store, Samcor Fuel Station on Hwy 20 across from Campbell Lake as well as the Watermark Book store in downtown Anacortes.  The digital version is available on rakkup (as well as the print guide) which provides a map and navigation assistance to the myriad crags at Mt. Erie. The rakkup guide is always the most up to date source as routes are added and revised by local climbers. The Mt. Erie Facebook page provides information on route updates and events.

Getting There Suggest change

Drive time from Seattle: 1.5 hours
Approach times: 5-30 minutes
Getting there: Exit I-5 at Burlington and take SR 20 west for about 15 minutes. Make left at roundabout (still on SR 20) head towards Deception Pass (worth seeing on its own). In a few miles reach a fork & trend right on Campbell Lake Road. Mount Erie will be visible on the right. In a few more miles the Mount Erie Grocery (stop for beer or Kloke's guide book) marks the right-hand turn onto Heart Lake Road, & in one more mile the state road to the top will branch off to the right. Several miles up the winding road leads to the summit parking areas. There is limited parking at the base of Mt. Erie just up the road from the store. Please do not block the white private gate or neighbors' driveways. A few cars can also park by the two giant fir trees on Heart Lake road to access the West Buttress trail.

360 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Mount Erie Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Mount Erie

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V5 6C
 14
The Gates of Ekron
Boulder
V6 7A
 8
Giant Slayer
Boulder
V6+ 7A
 4
Gates of Ekron - Right Sit Start
Boulder
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 167
Zig Zag
Trad 2 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 65
Undercover
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 49
Alan Henshaw Pre-Memorial Route
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 45
Lord of Creation
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 178
False Impressions
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 91
Springboard
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 142
Intimidator
Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 69
Terminator
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 18
Women are from Venus
Sport
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 77
Lethal Weapon
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 59
Frogs in Space
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 8
Dancin' with the Divine (aka the…
Trad 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Gates of Ekron * Bouldering at… > Goliath Boulder
 14
V5 6C Boulder
Giant Slayer * Bouldering at… > Goliath Boulder
 8
V6 7A Boulder
Gates of Ekron - Right Sit… * Bouldering at… > Goliath Boulder
 4
V6+ 7A Boulder
Zig Zag (g) Main Wall > (b) Main Wall West
 167
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches
Undercover (g) Main Wall > (b) Main Wall West
 65
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Alan Henshaw Pre-Memorial R… (b) Shady Hollow > (b) Wall C & F
 49
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Lord of Creation (d) Powerline Area > (d) The Cirque
 45
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
False Impressions (d) Powerline Area > (c) Powerline Wall
 178
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Springboard (g) Main Wall > (b) Main Wall West
 91
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Intimidator (d) Powerline Area > (c) Powerline Wall
 142
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Terminator (d) Powerline Area > (c) Powerline Wall
 69
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
Women are from Venus (c) Orange Area > (e) Big Snag Wall
 18
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Lethal Weapon (d) Powerline Area > (c) Powerline Wall
 77
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Frogs in Space (g) Main Wall > (c) Snag Buttress
 59
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
Dancin' with the Divine (ak… (g) Main Wall > (e) Main Wall East
 8
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad 2 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Mount Erie »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading