Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 480 ft 146 m
GPS: 44.05839, -123.09714
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 65,949 total · 287/month
Shared By: Karsten Duncan on Jan 25, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Kristin Tippey, JD Merritt, Micah Klesick, Nate Ball

Description Suggest change

This popular wall is located in the heart of Eugene minutes from Elevation climbing gym, The Crux climbing gym, REI, and downtown pubs and restaurants. Despite its small size it has a great concentration of cracks. The basalt columns are all trad and TR lines that average 47 feet (14.3 meters) and have many nice bolted anchors and chains at top.

The Columns get afternoon to evening sun and can be crowded with the after-work crowds. It is a great place to practice crack-technique and leading. The routes mostly range from 5.6 to 5.12, but the locals will tell you about the "off" holds and variations to make the climbs more challenging.

Important note: The route-name board and ratings were done by someone who doesn't climb at The Columns, so some of the ratings are therefore incorrect, both high and low. Also, many routes are missing from the board because the city's guide-writer didn't know that they exist. Trust Tom Rogers's old guide with ratings by Alan Watts (of Smith Rock fame).

Finally, while the rock here is generally solid, occasionally the rock might break off. A few years back a large block came off the top of the route "Limp Dick." As a result, the right half of the crag has a detestable chainlink fence over it. Luckily the best climbs remain open.

HISTORY
Between 1893 and the 1930s, the columns were exposed by quarrying operations that provided rocks for the building of the Willamette Street and Shelton McMurphey House in Eugene. Material was moved by horse pulled wagons as well as narrow gauge railroad to the local construction sites. The remaining wide bowl of rock became popular for rock climbing around the 1940s. 

Getting There Suggest change

Located in Downtown Eugene at 2nd and Lincoln. The approach is 30sec from your car.

32 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Skinner Butte (aka The Columns) Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Skinner Butte (aka The Columns)

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 49
Main Chimney
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 51
Fat Crack
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 33
Bat Crack
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 29
Speed Crack (aka Sign Crack)
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 13
Second Column Left Jam
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 13
New Chimney
TR
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 23
Forthright
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 12
Second Column Right Jam
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 32
Hard Lieback
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 20
Left Ski Track
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 11
Right Ski Track
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 9
Grass Crack
Trad
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 19
Limp Dick
Trad, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 10
First Column
TR
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 11
Satisfaction
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Main Chimney
 49
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Fat Crack
 51
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Bat Crack
 33
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Speed Crack (aka Sign Crack)
 29
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Second Column Left Jam
 13
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
New Chimney
 13
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
Forthright
 23
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Second Column Right Jam
 12
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Hard Lieback
 32
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Left Ski Track
 20
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Right Ski Track
 11
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Grass Crack
 9
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Limp Dick
 19
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, TR
First Column
 10
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c TR
Satisfaction
 11
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad, TR
More Classic Climbs in Skinner Butte (aka The Columns) »

Sun & Shade Suggest change

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading