This buttress has a multitude of climbs ranging from 5.6 to 5.11. There are still new routes sprouting on this wall. Depending on the weather you can find a nice face, as you can climb the north, west, or east faces. A short approach and a decent quantity of sport routes translate into a crowded cliff at times.
Getting There
Park at Stairs Gulch, and clamber up the bank on the SW of where the creek crosses the road. Follow the trail through the woods until you reach a fork, take the right fork for the north and west faces, and the left fork for the east face. Challenge Buttress is right there to your right at this point; just find the nearest trail to hit the east face, trying not to damage too much vegetation in the process.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Challenge Buttress:
Above Winky and Waxman Go Bolting is this newer bolted route. It follows the bolts to chains and is well-protected and exposed. This is Hollow Man on steroids. A great route, a must-do route... Enjoy jamming around that chockstone. This climb is similar to Hollow Man in the sense that it is pretty consistent and very vertical to slightly overhanging; it differs in the sense that there is a harder move and it has way...[more]Browse More Classics in UT
Does anybody know names or grades for two bolted routes on Challenge that aren't in "The Book"? One is the bolted line next to Birth Simulator. I always thought it *was* Birth Simulator until I realized that's the trad crack. The other is the new bolt line just to the left of Hollow Man. Looks like fun. Anybody know anything?
I have documented the "new" routes as Unknown (5.5), and Wrecking Ball. Both routes are listed under Challenge Buttress.
By icsteveoh From: salt lake city, UT Apr 29, 2007
There's another new route here I guess as of ~ two years ago. Left of Hollow man is a 3 bolt 5.11b put up by Tim. Twas sweet to see him climbing with his mom and pulling the huge roof on this thing.
By glen kaplan From: Salt Lake City, UT Aug 14, 2007
My friend, Rip, lost his grigri with a green auto locking beaner on it at the Challenge Buttress on July 14th. If anyone has seen it - please call him at 435.649.7292. Award offered.
Just ran into the "new" routes Mega and Whoopsie, and the extended Coral Bells. Whoopsie is an excellent addition. It seems, though, that the base area around Coral Bells has really taken a hit in the last 12-18 months. Lots of vegetation has been removed, the base area is expanding and way dusty, and the area is taking on the aura of an AF sport crag. I would hope people will show the area a little more respect.
Last time I was up at coral bells, there was a commercially guided group (8-9 people) that weren't doing the area any favors. Why should an area close to the road in BCC be any different than AF?
By Brian in SLC From: Salt Lake City, UT Aug 3, 2009
"I would hope people will show the area a little more respect."
Hey, soon to be old dude, I think the staging area has been gettin' hammered for years. There's just a gob of traffic, all day on the weekends, and, every night on the weekdays. Super popular area. Kinda compares to the Slips staging area.
Not sure what kinda of TLC we could effect there. Got a pretty good buffer of foliage which hides the staging area from the trail. Erosion hasn't seemed to be out of hand. Its just flattened and dusty. Many many feet.
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