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All Locations > Minnesota

Jeff's World (MN/CA border) Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Jeff's World (MN/CA border)

Browns Bay 1 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Crane Lake DWS 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Crane Lake Wall 3 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5
Emerald Wall 1 / 1 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4
Government Bay 1 / 6 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 7
Grandma' cabin, little vermillion lake 2 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2
Jeff's World (Proper) 1 / 23 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 23
M&M Hill - Crane Lake 4 / 27 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 31
Mooselandia 0 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Namakan DWS 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Secret Lake and Warmup wall 7 / 31 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 37
Serenity Wall 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Sunset Boulders 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Swamp Wall 0 / 10 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11
Vermillion Gorge 0 / 0 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Elevation: 1,122 ft
GPS: 48.265, -92.488 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 41,434 total · 323/month
Shared By: jeffengel on Oct 6, 2007
Admins: Kris Gorny, Chris treggE

Description

Jeff's World is accessed through Crane Lake, MN. You may know of Crane Lake as the gateway to Voyager National park, the BWCAW and Quetico Provincial park, but it is also the gateway to some great single pitch climbing. All on good granite. Some of it is covered with lichens, but there is quite a bit that is very clean. There is bouldering, sport climbing, top roping and trad routes. There is still plenty of undeveloped potential available.

Most of Jeff's World climbing is accessed by water, so a boat or a canoe is a a good thing to have.

Much of the established climbing is actually in Canada and are accessed by first clearing Canadian customs at the port of entry on Sandpoint lake. Sandpoint lake is the next lake north of Crane lake. You can get to the climbing areas on the Canadian side of the boarder without clearing customs. To do that you have to first obtain a Remote Area Boarder Crossing Permit (RABC). With an RABC permit you can travel within 5 miles of the boarder without clearing customs. See the following web site to obtain an RABC permit. They take about 2 months to get.

cbsa.gc.ca/travel/canpass/r…

If you don't have a boat or canoe to get to the climbing areas, there are outfitters that will pick you up at Crane lake and deliver you (and your canoe if you don't want to paddle the 12 miles) to the Canadian climbing areas. These outfitters will also rent boats or canoes. If you really want to get plush, gets some people together and rent a houseboat for the week. Below are some links with more information about Crane Lake outfitters:

visitcranelake.com/index.html
voyagaire.com/
norwaylodge.com/
anderson-outfitters.com/
handbergs.com/
visitcranelake.com/resorts/…
visitcranelake.com/resorts/…

Getting There

To get to Crane Lake from Minneapolis/St Paul, take I-35 to Cloquet. At Cloquet take SR-33 to US -53. US -53 goes all the way to International falls. After passing through Virgina Minnesota you will eventually get to the town of Orr. At Orr turn east on CR - 23 to Crane lake. Its at the end of the road in about 28 miles.

See the beta picture for a satellite view of the crane lake area and all the climbing areas.

133 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

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Classic Climbing Routes at Jeff's World (MN/CA border)

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
● Gary Gnu
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● Poison Ivy
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 3
● Spellbound Arete
TR
Emerald Wall
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 4
● Old Man Smoldering (OMS)
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
● Baby Come Home
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 3
● Crazy
Sport
M&M Hill - Cran… > Willie Wall
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
● Assassin's Creed
Sport 2 pitches
M&M Hill - Cran… > C Section
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 6
● Qisma (kiss-mah)
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 8
● Gargoyle
Sport
Jeff's World (Proper)
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 4
● Blueberry Fortress
Sport
Government Bay
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 4
● Electric Stegosaurus
Sport
Swamp Wall
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 4
● Hotel Catahoula
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 4
● Popcorn
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 4
● Reflections
Sport
Secret Lake and Warmu…
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 3
● Cathedral
Sport
Jeff's World (Proper)
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Gary Gnu Secret Lake and Warmu…
 4
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Poison Ivy Secret Lake and Warmu…
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Spellbound Arete Emerald Wall
 3
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR
● Old Man Smoldering (OMS) Secret Lake and Warmu…
 4
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Baby Come Home Secret Lake and Warmu…
 5
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Crazy M&M Hill - Cran… > Willie Wall
 3
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Assassin's Creed M&M Hill - Cran… > C Section
 4
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
● Qisma (kiss-mah) Secret Lake and Warmu…
 6
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Gargoyle Jeff's World (Proper)
 8
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
● Blueberry Fortress Government Bay
 4
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Electric Stegosaurus Swamp Wall
 4
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Hotel Catahoula Secret Lake and Warmu…
 4
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Popcorn Secret Lake and Warmu…
 4
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Reflections Secret Lake and Warmu…
 4
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
● Cathedral Jeff's World (Proper)
 3
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Jeff's World (MN/CA border) »

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Photos

View from atop Mooselandia wall. Swamp Wall swamp can be seen in the lower left. <br> <br> Photo by Bobby Omann
View from atop Mooselandia wall. Swamp Wall swa…
 2
Hike into Secret Lake/Jeff's World.
Hike into Secret Lake/Jeff's World.
 1
The boat landing for Secret Lake/Jeff's World on Crane Lake.
The boat landing for Secret Lake/Jeff's World o…
 1
Bob on Electric Stegesaurus, 5.11d, Swamp Wall.
Bob on Electric Stegesaurus, 5.11d, Swamp Wall.
 1
Stan on Lakota Son Rise, 5.13a, Secret Lake.
Stan on Lakota Son Rise, 5.13a, Secret Lake.
 1
the Blue Boy Shorts Beta<br> <br> photo by: Sean Foster
the Blue Boy Shorts Beta photo by: Sean Foster
 1
David Lake campsite. It's not bad.
David Lake campsite. It's not bad.
 1
One of MANY boulders up and around Jeff's World. SO MUCH POTENTIAL
One of MANY boulders up and around Jeff's World…
 1
Camping at Secret Lake
Camping at Secret Lake
 1
If you're a lucky one, you'll get to stay with Jeff Engel at his parents' guest cabin and perhaps enjoy this sauna house. yummmmmm
If you're a lucky one, you'll get to stay with…
 1
Zay on Qisma, 5.10c, Secret Lake
Zay on Qisma, 5.10c, Secret Lake
 0
Kurt Hager on Lakota Son Rise, 5.13a, Secret Lake.
Kurt Hager on Lakota Son Rise, 5.13a, Secret Lake.
 0

4 Comments

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Paul Getzke
Bloomington, mn
Paul Getzke   Bloomington, mn
I am very excited about the future of bouldering around the Buyck/Crane Lake area. The entire area is the remains of an ancient mountain range and granite outcrops all over the place. Big boulders are not exactly plentiful, but they are out there to find in the thick northern woods. The region has to be one of the most remote-feeling area in Minnesota and that makes for good adventure bouldering. Car camping is 5 star at Lake Jeanette and also good at Echo Lake. There is very little useful information to be found on the web, but if you keep looking you will find some videos and blogs describing a few of the boulders, but they never say where they really are. I have found quite a few at this point, but will respect "the mystery" until someone decides to post them on this site. I highly recommend this area if you like bouldering and camping in Boundary Waters-like beauty, but also like having the creature comforts of car camping. Mar 18, 2011
Bria Schurke
MN
Bria Schurke   MN
Partners Wanted

Living in and out of Ely this summer and fall..Ive got a car, a canoe and sport and trad gear. Hit me up if you want to climb in the area!

bria.schurke@gmail.com Jun 6, 2016
Sean Foster
Sean Foster  
A taste of what you are in for if you travel to Crane Lake and beyond.


vimeo.com/157768423 Sep 7, 2016
KurtH
KurtH  
Anderson's offers shuttles priced at about $150 for a boat of that holds up to 12 people and 6 canoes to get to the Clearwater Bay of Sandpoint Lake (where the trailhead to Secret Lake begins). This price is one way, so for a trip with 6 people each person would contribute $50 round trip. A good option if you are short on time, otherwise the canoe can take anywhere form 2.5 - 5 hours depending on wind (or longer if it's REALLY windy). Jun 12, 2017

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