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Elevation: 4,000 ft
GPS: 40.77, -123.5033
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 103,941 total · 496/month
Shared By: Rick Shull on Jan 4, 2007
Admins: Rick Shull, Lurk Er, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description Suggest change

The Trinity Aretes are a steep, high quality limestone sport climbing area located above the Trinity River. The rock is of excellent quality with routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.14a. The cliffs are generally north facing and quite cold during the winter. Summer and Fall are the best times to climb. While some routes are only 35 feet, most are 100 feet or longer, and up to 250, so a 70 meter rope is highly recommended. Some locals use 100 meter ropes for ease of lowering on the longer lines. After following rumors of a big limestone crag, Paul Humphrey finally drove the right dirt road and found one of the highest quality limestone crags on the west coast. Since 1996 route development has been spearheaded by Eric Chemello and Humphrey and there are now over 50 routes.

Some routes do require gear so check your line before launching. A helmet is highly recommended as there is some loose rock above and around the climbs.

Getting There Suggest change

Directions to the crag:
(1) Take a right on Underwood Mountain Road (just east of Burnt Ranch) if coming from Arcata on Hwy 299. Set your odometer to zero.
(2) At 4.0 miles, take a right on 5N40 Rd.
(3) At 6.2 miles (from Hwy 299) you'll see the Trinity Aretes. Park on the side of the road or in the small camping area (please do not park in the camping area if you are not camping). Less than 5 minutes to the base of the Visions Wall.

52 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Trinity Arêtes

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 43
Cedar's Dihedral
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 35
[Redacted]
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 21
Stoned Samurai
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 22
Snatchsquatch
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 31
Bambi Slayer
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 12
Natural Selection
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 27
Gold Rush
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 26
Gooseberry
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 5
Mob It. It Rules.
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 18
Visions Of Impalement
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 12
Blitzkrieg
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 19
Whiplash
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 9
Burnt Offering
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 10
Paisano Direct
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 8
If
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Cedar's Dihedral Shooting Gallery > Boardwalk
 43
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
[Redacted] Shooting Gallery > Boardwalk
 35
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Stoned Samurai Visions Wall
 21
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Snatchsquatch Shooting Gallery > Boardwalk
 22
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Bambi Slayer Shooting Gallery > Upper Shooting Gallery
 31
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Natural Selection Visions Wall
 12
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Gold Rush Shooting Gallery > Upper Shooting Gallery
 27
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Gooseberry Visions Wall
 26
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Mob It. It Rules. Shooting Gallery > Lower Shooting Gallery
 5
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Visions Of Impalement Visions Wall
 18
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Blitzkrieg Shooting Gallery > Lower Shooting Gallery
 12
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Whiplash Shooting Gallery > Lower Shooting Gallery
 19
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Burnt Offering Paisano Buttress
 9
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Paisano Direct Paisano Buttress
 10
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
If Paisano Buttress
 8
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Trinity Arêtes »

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