Icicle Creek Climbing

A great area just outside Leavenworth littered with granite crags, boulders and some ice climbs. The crags tend to be scattered. Some are roadside, while others have 1.5 hour uphill approaches. All aspects, and climbable in all seasons (though winter gets pretty chilly for rock). There are both crowded and secluded areas, and routes of all grades. This tends to be a more moderate area, with tons of classic routes 5.11 and under. But there are also some harder lines, quite a bit of hard bouldering, and potential for much more.

Classic climbs include Outer Space, Givler's Dome, the Regular Route on Careno Crag and many, many more.

The Icicle area is also a popular bouldering regions in the Pacific Northwest. The rock is granite, with a grain somewhat larger than that of the Skykomish Valley boulders, but the terrain tends to be flatter and the environment drier. There are classic problems of every grade here, and although the boulders themselves are spread out along the two canyons there are almost always plenty of problems within walking distance of a given road pullout.

There are several Forest Service campgrounds in the canyon.

The nearby town of Leavenworth is a faux-bavarian tourist town. Gustav's - on the main drag - has good pub food and a good brew selection.

Rest days include whitewater kayaking and rafting, guzzling brews on a sunny terrace in town, or hiking into the Enchantments, one of the most amazing alpine environments around.

Leavenworth is a short drive away for beer and food.