Elevation: 5,379 ft
GPS: 40.5727, -111.77699
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 4,274,066 total · 16,192/month
Shared By: Eric Jacobsen on Oct 2, 2001 · Updates
Admins: Andrew Gram, Nathan Fisher, Perin Blanchard, GRK, D C
Access Issue: Gate Buttress Area Recreational Lease: Climbs on Church Buttress above vault remain closed Details

Description

LCC offers primarily quartz monzonite (white granite, essentially) with a few areas of limestone.

Trad, sport, bouldering, and ice climbing are all well-represented here. Most of the climbs are on the sunnier, north side of the canyon, but shade may be found for those hot summer days. In addition, north-facing classic routes are found on the south side of the canyon (see especially Pentapitch Area and Coal Pit Buttress.

On the north side of the canyon, roughly from The Egg past the Gate Buttress, the rock is either owned by or the approaches to the tock cross land owned by the LDS Church. Be considerate when crossing/using these areas.

The Wasatch Resort about one mile up the canyon on the right (south) presents access problems to some of the crags on that side of the canyon as well.

SLCA Annual Fundraiser

JOIN US FOR OUR 9TH ANNUAL SALT LAKE CLIMBING FESTIVAL!

Presented by Black Diamond and Momentum Climbing

August 27th-28th, 2022, Solitude Mountain Resort (Moonbeam parking lot), Utah

Tickets: saltlakeclimbingfestival.com

 

CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY. ELEVATE YOUR CLIMBING SKILLS.

A weekend of skills based climbing clinics and festivities brought to you by the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance and fueled by our local guide outfitters, artists, and outdoor industry partners.

 

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT GO BACK TO STEWARDSHIP OF WASATCH CRAGS.

Set in our own beautiful backyard of the Wasatch Front, there are skills-based climbing clinics for both beginner and seasoned climbers. Clinics will run in single and two-day formats, with our base camp, dinner and festivities held at Brighton Ski Resort. 

 

Saturday night only tickets that include dinner, activities, live music, and drinks are also available. For ages 14+ we welcome all ability levels and identities to learn and grow with us as our local climbing community blossoms. 

Be sure to invite your friends! 

Ice Climbing

This is a well known area. The Falcon guide has numerous routes listed, but realistically only 2 that come in real thick (at least that I've seen in the last 7 years of my ice climbing experience). There are a lot of other thin routes throughout the canyon. The 2 main lines are Scruffy Band and the Great White Icicle. The GW Icicle has always got a crowd! Last year I went up there at 10 at night for a late night run up the ice thinking the route would be free. There were still 2 groups just starting up the trail. This wouldn't be too bad, but the route is somewhat narrow, so anyone climbing above you will knock ice on you. So if you're looking for a remote, backcountry experience, this is not the area. Both Scruffy and GW icicle have easy approaches (10-30min) and the routes are moderate in difficulty (WI 2-3). So if you want a close easy climb with a crowd, these are probably good places to climb.

Getting There

From the I-215 beltway around Salt Lake, take the 6200 South exit at the southeast corner of the loop. Follow signs to the ski resorts and Big and Little Cottonwood canyon. Pass the left turn into BCC and continue on Wasatch Blvd (Route 210) for a few more miles. This road leads directly up into LCC. From the south, exit I-15 at 9000 South (Route 209). Head east as 209 becomes 9400 South and eventually hits Wasatch (210) at the mouth of LCC. Turn right and head up the canyon. (camping info#littlecottonwood)

2,019 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Little Cottonwood Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V4 6B
 101
Tequila Sunset
Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 805
Pentapitch
Trad 5 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 630
The Coffin
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 674
Sasquatch
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 420
Gordon's Hangover
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R
 120
S-Direct
Trad 7 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 479
Mexican Crack
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R
 98
The Fin Arete
Trad 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 129
The Flakes
Trad 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 336
Bongeater
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 225
Equipment Overhang
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 135
Tick Fever
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 149
Enter the Dragon
Trad 3 pitches
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 134
Medussa
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 90
Cool Your Jets
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Tequila Sunset Boulders - Litt… > … > Party Pit Area > Tequila Boulder
 101
V4 6B Boulder
Pentapitch Pentapitch Area
 805
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
The Coffin Coffin Buttress
 630
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Sasquatch Pentapitch Area
 674
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Gordon's Hangover Green Adjective Gully
 420
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
S-Direct Thumb Area
 120
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R Trad 7 pitches
Mexican Crack Crescent Crack Buttress
 479
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
The Fin Arete Fin > Upper Fin
 98
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R Trad 3 pitches
The Flakes Gate Buttress > E Gate Buttress
 129
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
Bongeater Bongeater Buttress
 336
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Equipment Overhang Gate Buttress > Dihedrals Area
 225
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Tick Fever Wheeler-Newsome Wall
 135
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Enter the Dragon Dragon Arch
 149
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad 3 pitches
Medussa Hellgate Cliffs > Tower One
 134
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Cool Your Jets Coalpit Gulch > Waterfall Wall
 90
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Little Cottonwood Canyon »

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