All Locations > Washington > South-Central &… > Tieton River

The Bend Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in The Bend

Bend Center 14 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14

Bend North 21 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 25

Bend West 14 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 17

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Elevation:	1,983 ft	604 m
GPS:	46.71777, -120.82976 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	84,317 total · 390/month
Shared By:	andyf on Mar 10, 2007
Admins:	Jon Nelson, Micah Klesick, Zachary Winters, Mitchell McAuslan Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Fire Burn Area Details

It appears that the Rimrock Fire burned through the Tieton. If anyone has updates, please post them in the comments. Until then, consider climbing elsewhere.

Access Issue: Currently closed (2021) due to nesting eagles. Details

Description

Originally dubbed "The Crackhouse," the Bend is a small paradise for 5.10 tradsters. There are scores of fine finger and hand cracks, including some two-pitch routes. There are only a few sport routes, although one of them (Tragically Hip, 5.11c) is one of the best pure arete liebacking routes in the state.

Somewhat remarkably, the Bend was ignored for years by Tieton climbers. The first recorded exploration didn't happen until 1987. Most of the 70 or so routes were developed in a two-year flurry that followed.

Getting There

About a mile west of the Royal Columns, perched above a bend of the river.

Park in a gravel lot next to a metal Quonset hut (Discover Pass required), or on the shoulder of the highway if you don't have a Discover Pass. From the parking area, follow an obvious trail west to a suspension footbridge over the Tieton River, then turn left on the Tieton Nature Trail. After a short distance, take a right fork up to the cliff.

56 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Bend

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 45 ● Eat a Peach Trad Bend North
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 94 ● Ed's Jam Trad 2 pitches Bend Center
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 44 ● Tiers Trad Bend West
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 45 ● Hallowed Ground Trad Bend West
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 45 ● MX Trad 2 pitches Bend Center
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 33 ● Salmon Song Trad Bend West
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 47 ● Reckoning Trad Bend West
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 14 ● Seizure Trad Bend Center
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 52 ● Pure Joy Trad Bend West
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 6 ● Winds of Change Trad Bend North
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 33 ● Living for the City Trad Bend North
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 14 ● C.I.A. (Central Inquisition of A… Sport Bend West
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 15 ● Tragically Hip Sport Bend West
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 6 ● Desperate Trad Bend North
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 9 ● Community Project Trad Bend Center