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GPS: 44.58661, -107.60362
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Trevor Bowman on Jan 3, 2008 · Updates
Admins: Mike Snyder, Taylor Spiegelberg, Jake Dickerson

Description Suggest change

On the west flank of the Bighorns, US Highway 14 winds its way through this majestic canyon with its massive dolomite rimrock, escarpments, and beautiful, deep granite gorge. Shell Creek cleaves through the red granite, forming a tight canyon with walls up to several hundred feet tall in spots. Access into this chasm is limited to the occasional break in the cliffs, or by rapping in and climbing out.

There have been a good number of rock routes established in the granite canyon, but with the challenging approaches and out of the way location, the cracks are not climbed frequently, and many continue to be dirty and unappealing to most climbers. However, for adventurers with an appetite for first ascent experiences, there are many intriguing crack systems which may or may not have ever seen an ascent. There are apparently no published sources of information on these routes.

There are also several ice climbs scattered throughout the canyon. Some of these have been frequented for decades, while others are only recently seeing activity. Again, there is no published source of info, so this is currently the best beta available. The climbing history of the area is sparse; I'm trying to investigate this history more thoroughly, and if anyone else has info please contribute it here!

Getting There Suggest change

From the tiny town of Shell at the western foot of the Bighorns, drive up Highway 14 into the canyon. Or, drop into the canyon from above, by driving across the mountains on 14 from Ranchester/Dayton on the east side.

26 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Shell Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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