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Aqueduct Area, The

Utah > Wasatch Range > Central Wasatch > Big Cottonwood Canyon

Description

The Aqueduct Area is south-east and south-west facing with a 10-minute approach just down from Dogwood. A few bolted routes and a few trad routes are here for the picking with ratings of 5.8 to 5.12. 2 bolt anchors are present for all the climbs.

Getting There

Just before reaching Dogwood, on the left is a pull-out with a lot of loose gravel. Hike up the trail to the NW, up a steep dirt hill, continue past 2 small switchbacks, loose rock, and aquaduct debris (Thanks UP&L). The SW face can be reached by scrambling down and left from the SE face onto a ledge.

Oblique, aerial photo here.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 2
Whitewashed
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 1
Dredging the Trench
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 20
Submachine
Sport, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 40
Burning Bits
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 10
Poison Idea
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R
 22
Aquaduck
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c PG13
 14
Terra Nova
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 20
Free Lemmingwinks
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 7
Herbie's Hobo Hut
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 57
Lip Service
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 38
Subterrainian
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 55
Double Standard
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 40
Sockdollager
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 8
Straight Face
TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 16
Straight Talk
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
Chris' Crack
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 2
Chinese Water Torture
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Whitewashed
 2
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Dredging the Trench
 1
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Submachine
 20
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, TR
Burning Bits
 40
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Poison Idea
 10
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Aquaduck
 22
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R Trad
Terra Nova
 14
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c PG13 Trad
Free Lemmingwinks
 20
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
Herbie's Hobo Hut
 7
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Lip Service
 57
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Subterrainian
 38
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Double Standard
 55
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Sockdollager
 40
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Straight Face
 8
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b TR
Straight Talk
 16
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Chris' Crack
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Chinese Water Torture
 2
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

updated 2023 Aquaduct topo
[Hide Photo] updated 2023 Aquaduct topo
The Aqueduct wasn't exactly built to Roman standards but clues from the past abound!
[Hide Photo] The Aqueduct wasn't exactly built to Roman standards but clues from the past abound!
Compare the Ruckman topo vs other uploaded pics.
[Hide Photo] Compare the Ruckman topo vs other uploaded pics.
ummm...just a shot of the SE face
[Hide Photo] ummm...just a shot of the SE face

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] Good crag for early spring or late fall climbing. A well established trail begins at a pull-out on the north side of the road 40 feet or so up-canyon of milepost 3, generally across from the Dogwood Picnic Area. About 50 feet from the pavement, the trail splits, with the right continuing up the gully and the left cutting west across the slope of the gully. Take the left trail. It should be obvious all the way to the crag, and take about 5 minutes. Beware of poison oak just before the crag. Sep 24, 2016
Sam Elander
Salt Lake City, UT
[Hide Comment] If you have the know-how, replacing the anchors for Terra Nova/Aqua Duck this would be AMAZING. (And by amazing, I mean the route wouldn't have dangerous anchors anymore. Apr 16, 2020