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Elevation: 6,230 ft
GPS: 43.8394, -103.5358
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 122,722 total · 464/month
Shared By: Andrew Gram on Jun 28, 2002
Admins: Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Mikel Madsen, Mark Rafferty

Description Suggest change

The Tenpins/Switchbacks area is in between the Needles Eye area and the Cathedral Spires parking lot along the Needles Highway. The Ten Pins is the most interesting cluster of spires along Needles Highway. Tent Peg and the Tricouni Nail are classic reasonably protected moderates. End Pin, Hairy Pin, and Superpin are classic testpieces requiring a cool head and willingness to do hard 5.10 friction moves a *long* way above gear. There are a number of other interesting spires in the area besides the Ten Pins for those willing to explore.

Getting There Suggest change

Pass through the Needles Eye area, and descend down a series of steep switchbacks on the Needles Highway. At the bottom of th switchbacks, look on the right side of the road for a cluster of impressive skinny tower next to the road - these are the Ten Pins. Park in a pullout and struggle through the 15 foot approach.

60 Total Climbs

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Location: Tenpins/Switchbacks Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Tenpins/Switchbacks

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 93
Tent Peg
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c X
 19
Patience
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 189
Cerberus
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 12
Phallus
Trad 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 52
On Little Cat Feet
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 32
Tee The Ball
Trad, Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 28
Dakota-Illinois
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 21
Loss of Sensation
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b R
 43
Nantucket Sleighride
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b X
 24
Barber Route
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b X
 22
Cleveland Route
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 9
Just My Baby and Me
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b X
 10
Quartz Jester
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13
 27
End Pin
Trad, Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 4
End Game
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Tent Peg Tent Peg
 93
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Patience Pawn
 19
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c X Sport
Cerberus Tricouni Nail/Cerberus
 189
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Phallus Phallus
 12
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 2 pitches
On Little Cat Feet Sandberg Peak
 52
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Tee The Ball Someone Else's Peg
 32
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Sport
Dakota-Illinois Dakota-Illinois
 28
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Loss of Sensation Reunion Rock
 21
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Nantucket Sleighride Moby Dick
 43
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b R Trad
Barber Route Superpin
 24
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b X Trad
Cleveland Route Hairy Pin
 22
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b X Trad
Just My Baby and Me Not the Pawn (Other P…
 9
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
Quartz Jester King Pin
 10
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b X Trad
End Pin End Pin
 27
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13 Trad, Sport
End Game End Pin
 4
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Tenpins/Switchbacks »

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