All Locations > Iowa

Pictured Rocks Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Pictured Rocks

Bouldering 0 / 0 / 0 / 36 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 36

Sport/TR/Trad 7 / 65 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 73

Elevation:	849 ft
GPS:	42.2085, -91.102 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	216,066 total · 1,166/month
Shared By:	Jon Lauters on Jan 4, 2008 · Updates
Admins:	Raud Page Updates (admin only)

Description

Pictured Rocks is the most popular climbing area in eastern Iowa. It is often busy on fall and spring weekends. During the Fall and Spring, there are classes from the University of Iowa on Sunday that top rope. During summer and early fall, the trees provide lots of shade on most walls. Windy Point often gets wind as the name implies. The rock quality is better for Pictured than other locations due to the amount of traffic the routes receive, but this also has caused polishing on a lot of routes. Due to the nature of the rock, after a good rain, the rock will drip for up to a few days after the rain depending on weather conditions.

Please click the link below to report any problems with bolts:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ6COVoWHjyZyK9MO0DKx_QaZuUx2IbDWdzdHEvc-WN0iITA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Getting There

Take 151 towards Monticello, get off at exit 65, and turn south on 38. Follow the signs to Pictured Rocks county park by turning left on 190th Street and follow this past Camp Courageous. The road will turn to gravel after the camps. This gravel road is the access road for the park. Once you get to the bottom of the hill, turn left. This will take you slightly uphill to a turn around with parking areas. You will see a picnic shelter and primitive restroom facilities.

The main trail to the climbs is beyond the picnic shelter. There is no longer camping at this park which is managed by Jones County, Iowa.

ORIENTATION: Getting to know Pictured Rocks
Collin's Wall is right at the parking lot. Gumby Wall is left of Collin's Wall, it is the wall and detatched pillar which can be seen right before you take your left into the parking lot on the left side. Chicago Wall can be reached by goin to the right instead of left. The rest of the walls are accessed from the main trail as you walk farther into the park.

109 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Pictured Rocks

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

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 106 ● Tarzan Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Shiprock
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 58 ● Whipper Snapper Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Mild Iowa Wall
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 58 ● Mild Iowa Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Mild Iowa Wall
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 62 ● Jugular Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Mild Iowa Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 59 ● Schoolio Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13 64 ● Over The Counter Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Shiprock
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 47 ● Virgin Lemonade Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Wild Iowa Wall
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 53 ● Three Strikes No Balls Sport, TR Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b 63 ● Hope for a Boner Sport Sport/TR/Trad > A Wall
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 48 ● Silk Road Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Shiprock
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 50 ● Tazmanian Devil Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 27 ● Border Town Donkey Show Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Windy Point
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 36 ● Bird in Hand Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Wild Iowa Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 24 ● Super Fly Sport Sport/TR/Trad > A Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 57 ● Flash Sport Sport/TR/Trad > Comic Gallery