Elevation: 4,581 ft
GPS: 44.5911, -104.71442
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 91,316 total · 359/month
Shared By: Brian Milhaupt on Jul 11, 2002
Admins: Peter Gram, Mike Snyder, Taylor Spiegelberg, Jake Dickerson
Access Issue: June Voluntary Climbing Closure and Seasonal Raptor Closure Details

Description

As of 5/15/23 This side of the tower is closed for raptor nesting.

https://www.nps.gov/deto/learn/news/temporary-closure-to-protect-nesting-falcons-and-climbers.htm

This area encompasses a large portion of Devil's Tower that is accessable via the East and Northeast buttress approaches. Everything from offwidth to finger cracks can be found here. Most routes are of high quality with sustained straight-in climbing. On the East side of the tower looms a large roof system that cuts across the sheer East face of the tower. To the right of these roofs is the Belle Fouche buttress which forms a prominent protrusion that ledges out halfway up the tower. This buttress marks, more or less, the left end of the routes accessable from this appoach. The right end is at the terminus of the ramp below the north face. Quality climbs of note include Belle Fouche buttress, McCarthy's North Face, and New Wave. From the Teacher's Lounge ledge there are several great climbs including Patent Pending and Assembly Line.

Getting There

From the lot follow the paved trail around the North side of the tower. The trail dips low into the woods and then climbs back into view of the tower. Hike past a bench and before a large boulder start looking for a faint trail that is sometimes cairned. The trail winds up to the notch that separates the base of the east face from the northeast. At the notch the better defined trail goes up steps to the right to the routes below teacher's ledge lounge and continues on broken ledges to all the north face routes. The less defined trail is so because there are less quality routes and abundant poison ivy. To reach routes on and near Belle Fouche buttress ford the ivy and scramble up and across slabs to the base.

27 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: East and Northeast Buttress Approach Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at East and Northeast Buttress Approach

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a
 3
Stepping Out of Flatland
Trad 3 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 41
Patent Pending
Trad 4 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 259
Assembly Line
Trad 2 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 3
Sassenach's Crack
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 221
New Wave
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 142
Broken Tree
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 95
Belle Fourche Buttress
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 68
Burning Daylight
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 20
Dump Watt
Trad 3 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 22
Back to Montana
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 26
Casper College
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 6
The Hourglass
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 37
Everlasting
Trad 2 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 10
Maid in the Shaid
Trad
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 5
Surfer Girl
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Stepping Out of Flatland
 3
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a Trad 3 pitches
Patent Pending
 41
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 4 pitches
Assembly Line
 259
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 2 pitches
Sassenach's Crack
 3
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
New Wave
 221
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Broken Tree
 142
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
Belle Fourche Buttress
 95
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
Burning Daylight
 68
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Dump Watt
 20
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 3 pitches
Back to Montana
 22
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Casper College
 26
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
The Hourglass
 6
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Everlasting
 37
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 2 pitches
Maid in the Shaid
 10
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad
Surfer Girl
 5
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Trad
More Classic Climbs in East and Northeast Buttress Approach »

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