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Elevation: 4,551 ft
GPS: 44.04393, -121.46742
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 27,683 total · 166/month
Shared By: Matt T on Aug 23, 2010 · Updates
Admins: Kevin Piarulli, Micah Klesick, Nate Ball

Description Suggest change

A small but worthwhile climbing area to check out, situated near Tumalo creek, it sits under power lines and is fairly secluded. Most of the routes have bolted anchors at the top and can either be top-roped or led with trad gear.  Many of the previous "top-rope only" face climbs have recently been bolted, as well as 4 new sport lines, so there is a pretty equal mix of trad lines and sport now.  There is a walk around to get to the top.

Power Lines boast some awesome crack climbing that is all relatively protected with a double rack.  The cracks range from 5.8-5.11ish. The sport routes are sequential and often feel harder than the grade to onsight, but they are well protected at the cruxes for the most part.  The sport routes are primarily upper .10 to upper .11. This is a great place for an after work session.  The cracks stay moist for a bit after rains, but many of the aretes dry out quickly. Mostly High quality climbing condensed into some short 45' routes.

Getting There Suggest change

Located about 15 minutes from Bend, drive out Skyliners rd, take a right onto FR 4606, and a left onto FR4609/Jack pine spring rd. There will be a small pullout on the left-hand side. Walk downhill towards the water from here and you'll find the cliffs.   This is a long dirt road and it is sometimes rough depending on the time of year and conditions.

Option 2: Less dirt.  Drive all the way up skyliners and continue onto bearwallow road.  Right when bearwallow starts to head continuously uphill, and well before before Bearwallow takes its first (and only) big switchback, turn right and briefly descend on an unmarked dirt road (old canal road).  First jct go left, next one go right.  When you cross the dry canal, you are almost there.  AFter the canal it is the second turn out on the right...park under the powerlines.  

Option 3: Drive west out of Bend on Skyliners Rd, from the last roundabout drive 6.1 miles to a dirt road on the right (turns into a private drive). You can park immediately on either shoulder of this road or drive about 100 yards to then turn onto FR4606-09. From the parking spots, walk north on the dirt road and turn right (east) on FR4606-09 (unmarked). From here walk a short distance on the dirt road until you see the power lines and there will be a faint climbers trail marked with cairns on the left. From here, it is about 5-10 minute walk to the crag. Expect some bushwhacking through Manzanita if you don't find the trail. You'll wind down to Tumalo Creek and cross at the rocky beach just upstream of the crag. The trail is not well marked but makes for less bushwhacking to the crag.

21 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Power Lines

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 18
Supercrack of the (high) Desert
Trad
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 11
Stembox of the (High) Desert
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 11
Finger crack of the (high) desert
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 5
Unknown crack
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 8
Steep Flake
Sport, TR
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 13
Hand Jam
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 10
Piton Crack Left
Trad, TR
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 7
Piton Crack Right
Trad, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 9
3 In One
Trad, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
Quarantined with Spirit
Sport, TR
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 4
Birthday Bulge
Sport, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 9
No name
Sport, TR
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 4
Serology Test
Sport, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Supercrack of the (high) De…
 18
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Stembox of the (High) Desert
 11
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Finger crack of the (high)…
 11
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Unknown crack
 5
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Steep Flake
 8
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport, TR
Hand Jam
 13
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad, TR
Piton Crack Left
 10
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, TR
Piton Crack Right
 7
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, TR
3 In One
 9
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, TR
Quarantined with Spirit
 14
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport, TR
Birthday Bulge
 4
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport, TR
No name
 9
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, TR
Serology Test
 4
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport, TR
More Classic Climbs in Power Lines »

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