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Challenge Buttress

Utah > Wasatch Range > Central Wasatch > Big Cottonwood Canyon

Description

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.

Aerial photo here.

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.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Challenge Buttress
[Hide Photo] Challenge Buttress
Upper West Face of Challenge, The Roadster (left) and cTr (right)
[Hide Photo] Upper West Face of Challenge, The Roadster (left) and cTr (right)
Preston sends Coral Bells Arete in the early morning light of the sun.
[Hide Photo] Preston sends Coral Bells Arete in the early morning light of the sun.
Approach to Challenge Buttress, right next to the stream
[Hide Photo] Approach to Challenge Buttress, right next to the stream

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Anonymous Coward
[Hide Comment] 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? Jul 28, 2005
Nathan Fisher
St George
[Hide Comment] I have documented the "new" routes as Unknown (5.5), and Wrecking Ball. Both routes are listed under Challenge Buttress. Jul 28, 2005
Steve Jay
salt lake city, UT
[Hide Comment] 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. Apr 29, 2007
Glen Kaplan
Salt Lake City, UT
[Hide Comment] Rap Not Lower!!! Aug 14, 2007
ddriver
SLC
[Hide Comment] 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. Aug 3, 2009
Shaft
Salt Lake City
[Hide Comment] 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? Aug 3, 2009
Brian in SLC
Sandy, UT
[Hide Comment] "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.

Astro turf? Aug 3, 2009
Andrew May
Westminster, CO
[Hide Comment] Hey,

Whats the name of the route just left of Mega? Is it Whoopsie?
I couldnt seem to find it in the book... Jul 7, 2010
smax
Wanship, UT
[Hide Comment] Anyone know what the deal is with the bolts next to Sweet and Low, to the right? There seem to be quite a few bolts but only 2 hangars, plus the two at the anchors. Jun 7, 2012
ddriver
SLC
[Hide Comment] smax, we also saw that yesterday and climbed it. Looks like a botched job that was sort-of cleaned. The two remaining bolts were not placed deeply enough and the hangars are spinners. There are probably a half dozen studs still in place, a couple with nuts. I'd rate it 5.3 or 5.4. The rap station is handy though for routes to the right. Jun 25, 2012
Kenny Seymour
[Hide Comment] PLEASE WEAR A HELMET at all times near this (and any other) crag. I was two feet away from killing a helmetless individual yesterday when I knocked loose a sharp 6-inch-sub-sandwich-shaped rock from 40 feet up on the multipitch route. May 17, 2023
Terri Raine-Berg
[Hide Comment] Does anyone know why someone/group is making the approach a pathway and stairs instead of a trail? Sep 4, 2023