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: 10,000 ft
GPS: 40.57081, -111.62176
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 100,224 total · 494/month
Shared By: Allen Sanderson on Jul 16, 2007
Admins: Andrew Gram, Nathan Fisher, Perin Blanchard, GRK, D C
Warning Access Issue: Please respect this beautiful area. Stay on established trails and do not trample any vegetation DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: Gate Buttress Area Recreational Lease: Climbs on Church Buttress above vault remain closed DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

There are several crags in the area, two are just below Cecret Lake - Whipper Wall and Creek Side and three that are above Green Stash, Stinky Stash and Cecret Stash. The crags are shadded throughout much of the day making it a nice place to climb on hot days. Unfortunately this can also make them very crowded. More than a few parties can make the crags a zoo as the routes are very close to each other.

The rock is quartzite like that found in Big Cottonwood Canyon but with some bands of non or semi-metamorphosed sandstone on many of the routes. The routes are realitively clean - however there is still some lose rock as such helmets are advised for both leaders and belayers.

There is a mini guide to this area.

Getting There Suggest change

Drive up to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon stopping at the information kiosk and let the nice person giving out trail maps know that you are going up climbing. Continue up the road which eventually turns to dirt. This is now the Albion Basin Road which leads to a camp ground and several day parking lot. You can park at the end of the road at the Cecret Lake Trailhead. However, it is often very busy with hikers as it is the most popular area in the Wasatch. As such, it may be necessary to park in the lower lots or even down at the town of Alta and take the free shuttle van which runs continuously during the weekends.

From the parking lot hike up the Crecet Lake Trail. Just before the switchbacks leading up to the lake and off to the left is the Whipper and Creek Side Walls. One can either diagonal up before the swtichbacks or take the first couple and then head over to the crags. Which ever you take - avoid creating a trail and instead walk on the slabs of rock as to minimize your impact. Please do not mark anything with carins - although this area is in the middle of a ski resort it already has alot of impact.

For the upper crags continue up to the lake and traverse around to the northside. The Green Stash Wall sits a couple hundred fee above the lake and is obvious, Stink Stash and Cecret Stash are around the corner to the west. To get there follow the trail up to Cecret Pass. Just before the pass diagonal off to the left. Again avoid creating a trail and instead walk on the slabs of rock as to minimize your impact. Please do not ascend or descend from Green Stash directly down to Cecret Lake there is already a gully forming from run off hiking it will make it worse.

47 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Cecret Lake Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Cecret Lake

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 49
Rezin Heads
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 26
Stinky Stash
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 66
The Kind
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 50
The Virus
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 61
POLITRICS
Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 45
Cough Your Off
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 39
The Undersir Abules
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 18
Bong Water Drip
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 44
Cardinal Sin
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 84
Girls on Film
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 53
Junk Head
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 68
Anti Hero's
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 30
You're Nicked, Who's Next?
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 42
Ride the Lightning
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 45
Toxic Narcotic
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Rezin Heads Green Stash Wall
 49
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Stinky Stash Stinky Stash Wall
 26
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
The Kind Green Stash Wall
 66
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
The Virus Whipper Wall
 50
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
POLITRICS Creekside Wall
 61
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Cough Your Off Green Stash Wall
 45
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
The Undersir Abules Creekside Wall
 39
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Bong Water Drip Cecret Stash
 18
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Cardinal Sin Creekside Wall
 44
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Girls on Film Creekside Wall
 84
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Junk Head Creekside Wall
 53
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Anti Hero's Creekside Wall
 68
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
You're Nicked, Who's Next? Whipper Wall
 30
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
Ride the Lightning Whipper Wall
 42
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Toxic Narcotic Whipper Wall
 45
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Cecret Lake »

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