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Cliff Dr.

Michigan > Upper Peninsula > Copper Country

Description

Secluded, 20-150+ ft. grey basalt cliff outcroppings. Awesome climbing experience in the isolated Keweenaw Peninsula. Great beginner crags and a handful of classics for the seasoned vet. Be aware of the private property boundaries along Cliff Drive. Watch for poison ivy and ticks. These two nasties are not pervasive but present. Loose dogs can get skunked, porcupined, or picked up by the sheriff. Some of the approaches and/or climbs might be vegetated due to a lack of traffic. Fall colors are amazing. Hopefully the Aurora Borealis will put on a show if you're camping in the Keweenaw.

*Guidebook for this area exists - Published in the past by Michigan Technological University - Ridge Roamers Climbing Club; "Climber's Guide to the Keweenaw".

*If someone is/knows the First Ascent parties please contact Big-Time-Small-Timer.

There are approximately 66 known and documented routes at Cliff Drive.

Areas are listed in order as you would come across them driving northeast along Cliff Dr.

- Ice Fall Area (19 routes)
- Diamond Block (3 routes)
- Overkill Roof (Unknown)
- Brave Words Block (2 routes)
- Free to Roam Block (1 route)
- J.C. Area (17 routes)
- Obsession Area (20 routes)
- Tower Area (4 routes)

Getting There

Head to da U.P. eh! From Houghton, drive north on US 41 past Calumet and into Ahmeek to a left turn onto Cliff Drive. Hiking approach time 15-40 minutes, depending on going to the base or top of climbs/cliffband. Make sure to park as best you can off the road and not be a traffic hazard.

For more information contact Down Wind Sports

Routes from Left to Right

V1-2 5
 1
● Spider Jug
Boulder
V2 5+ PG13
 1
● Countin Cards
Boulder
V4- 6B PG13
 1
● Garlic Head
Boulder
V1-2 5 PG13
 1
● Offwidth Trainer
Boulder
V4 6B
 1
● Copper Fingers
Trad, Boulder
V1-2 5
 1
● Diamond Back
Boulder
V2 5+
 1
● Underlog
Boulder
V2+ 5+ PG13
 1
● Logcentric
Boulder
V1 5
 1
● Natural log
Boulder
V0+ 4+
 2
● Floater
Boulder
V2 5+
 1
● It's Overhead Dudeee
Boulder
V2-3 5+
 1
● Spider Crack
Boulder
V3+ 6A+
 3
● Drug Test Arete
Boulder
V1 5
 2
● Brisk Walk
Boulder
V2 5+
 2
● Slow Run
Boulder
V2 5+
 1
● Prow
Boulder
V2+ 5+
 2
● Cracked Eggs
Boulder
V3 6A
 9
● Bubblewrap Grips
Boulder
V0+ 4+
 4
● Egg Slab Left
Boulder
V2+ 5+
 3
● Egg Slab Right
Boulder
V0 4
 4
● Egg Slab Arete
Boulder
V2-3 5+
 1
● Eggshells
Boulder
V1 5
 3
● Duck train
Boulder
V5 6C
 1
● Patina Crimp Pinch
Boulder
V2 5+
 2
● The Quacker
Boulder
V2 5+
 3
● Walked up to a lemonade stand
Boulder
V0 4
 1
● Lightbulb change
Boulder
V1 5
 2
● Lip Traverse
Boulder
V2- 5+
 3
● For the love of moss
Boulder
V8 7B
 1
● Mossy Overhang
Boulder
V4 6B
 6
● Sweet Mossy Moses
Boulder
V5+ 6C+
 1
● The Green Sea
Boulder
V1 5
 6
● Old Mossy Left
Boulder
V1 5
 6
● Old Mossy Right
Boulder
V3+ 6A+
 2
● Barefoot Bandit
Boulder
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
 1
● Rope-burn
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
● Last Call For Alcohol
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 3
● Dandruff
Trad, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
● Primavera
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
● Ice Fall
Trad, TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 6
● Lie Detector
Trad, TR
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 1
● Stoned Cold Liar (AKA Old Dirty…
TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
● Exothermic
TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 5
● Rated P.G.
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 5
● Tip Toes
TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
● King Slab
Trad 2 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 6
● Batteries Not Included
Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 2
● God Jam'it
Trad
V6 7A
 1
● A Diamond in the Choss
Boulder
V1+ 5
 1
● Salt and Pepper
Boulder
V5 6C PG13
 3
● Sarlacc Pit
Boulder
V4 6B PG13
 2
● Stoned Brain
Boulder
V2 5+ PG13
 3
● Big Ass Flake
Boulder
V4 6B
 3
● Finger Lichen Good
Boulder
V3 6A
 2
● Sacred Moss
Boulder
V3 6A PG13
 1
● Welcome to the Rabbit Hole
Boulder
V3 6A
 3
● Sap Temple
Boulder
V2 5+
 1
● Birch Polypores
Boulder
V1+ 5
 2
● Hot off the thumbpress
Boulder
V2-3 5+
 3
● Twenty-year-old Trembling
Boulder
V4 6B
 3
● Yooper Trooper
Boulder
V5 6C
 3
● Sooper Trooper
Boulder
V6 7A
 2
● Off-Kilter
Boulder
V1 5
 7
● Porcupine
Boulder
V1 5
 5
● Dog Bowl
Boulder
V2 5+
 8
● Bolete
Boulder
V5 6C
 3
● Thunder Chicken Express
Boulder
V5 6C
 2
● Thunder Chicken
Boulder
V6-7 7A+
 1
● Church of the Cosmic Chicken
Boulder
V5 6C
 1
● Cosmic Charlie
Boulder
V1 5
 3
● Cosmic Slab
Boulder
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 2
● Butt Rest
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
● Three Roofs
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 1
● The Grinder
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
● Free To Roam Tower
Trad
V4 6B
 3
● dead collector
Boulder
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 1
● Knife Edge
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
● Tobacco Road
Trad, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 18
● J.C. Superstar
Trad, TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 2
● Brown Eyed Woman
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 9
● Attack of the Killer Bees
Trad, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 1
● Dancing On a Thread
Trad
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 1
● Off the Scale
Sport, TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 5
● Obsession Direct
Trad, Sport, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 10
● Obsession
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 5
● Shit Hooks
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 2
● Stupid Human Tricks
Trad, TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 5
● Catholic Girls
TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
● Faceless Wander
TR
V1 5 R
 2
● Termite Tower
Boulder
V2 5+ PG13
 2
● Termite Terrace
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Spider Jug
 1
V1-2 5 Boulder
● Countin Cards
 1
V2 5+ PG13 Boulder
● Garlic Head
 1
V4- 6B PG13 Boulder
● Offwidth Trainer
 1
V1-2 5 PG13 Boulder
● Copper Fingers
 1
V4 6B Trad, Boulder
● Diamond Back
 1
V1-2 5 Boulder
● Underlog
 1
V2 5+ Boulder
● Logcentric
 1
V2+ 5+ PG13 Boulder
● Natural log
 1
V1 5 Boulder
● Floater
 2
V0+ 4+ Boulder
● It's Overhead Dudeee
 1
V2 5+ Boulder
● Spider Crack
 1
V2-3 5+ Boulder
● Drug Test Arete
 3
V3+ 6A+ Boulder
● Brisk Walk
 2
V1 5 Boulder
● Slow Run
 2
V2 5+ Boulder
● Prow
 1
V2 5+ Boulder
● Cracked Eggs
 2
V2+ 5+ Boulder
● Bubblewrap Grips
 9
V3 6A Boulder
● Egg Slab Left
 4
V0+ 4+ Boulder
● Egg Slab Right
 3
V2+ 5+ Boulder
● Egg Slab Arete
 4
V0 4 Boulder
● Eggshells
 1
V2-3 5+ Boulder
● Duck train
 3
V1 5 Boulder
● Patina Crimp Pinch
 1
V5 6C Boulder
● The Quacker
 2
V2 5+ Boulder
● Walked up to a lemonade stand
 3
V2 5+ Boulder
● Lightbulb change
 1
V0 4 Boulder
● Lip Traverse
 2
V1 5 Boulder
● For the love of moss
 3
V2- 5+ Boulder
● Mossy Overhang
 1
V8 7B Boulder
● Sweet Mossy Moses
 6
V4 6B Boulder
● The Green Sea
 1
V5+ 6C+ Boulder
● Old Mossy Left
 6
V1 5 Boulder
● Old Mossy Right
 6
V1 5 Boulder
● Barefoot Bandit
 2
V3+ 6A+ Boulder
● Rope-burn
 1
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 Trad, TR
● Last Call For Alcohol
 4
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Dandruff
 3
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
● Primavera
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Ice Fall
 5
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
● Lie Detector
 6
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
● Stoned Cold Liar (AKA Old D…
 1
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c TR
● Exothermic
 1
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
● Rated P.G.
 5
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Tip Toes
 5
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
● King Slab
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 2 pitches
● Batteries Not Included
 6
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport 2 pitches
● God Jam'it
 2
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● A Diamond in the Choss
 1
V6 7A Boulder
● Salt and Pepper
 1
V1+ 5 Boulder
● Sarlacc Pit
 3
V5 6C PG13 Boulder
● Stoned Brain
 2
V4 6B PG13 Boulder
● Big Ass Flake
 3
V2 5+ PG13 Boulder
● Finger Lichen Good
 3
V4 6B Boulder
● Sacred Moss
 2
V3 6A Boulder
● Welcome to the Rabbit Hole
 1
V3 6A PG13 Boulder
● Sap Temple
 3
V3 6A Boulder
● Birch Polypores
 1
V2 5+ Boulder
● Hot off the thumbpress
 2
V1+ 5 Boulder
● Twenty-year-old Trembling
 3
V2-3 5+ Boulder
● Yooper Trooper
 3
V4 6B Boulder
● Sooper Trooper
 3
V5 6C Boulder
● Off-Kilter
 2
V6 7A Boulder
● Porcupine
 7
V1 5 Boulder
● Dog Bowl
 5
V1 5 Boulder
● Bolete
 8
V2 5+ Boulder
● Thunder Chicken Express
 3
V5 6C Boulder
● Thunder Chicken
 2
V5 6C Boulder
● Church of the Cosmic Chicken
 1
V6-7 7A+ Boulder
● Cosmic Charlie
 1
V5 6C Boulder
● Cosmic Slab
 3
V1 5 Boulder
● Butt Rest
 2
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
● Three Roofs
 4
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● The Grinder
 1
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
● Free To Roam Tower
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● dead collector
 3
V4 6B Boulder
● Knife Edge
 1
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
● Tobacco Road
 5
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
● J.C. Superstar
 18
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
● Brown Eyed Woman
 2
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR
● Attack of the Killer Bees
 9
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
● Dancing On a Thread
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad
● Off the Scale
 1
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport, TR
● Obsession Direct
 5
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Sport, TR
● Obsession
 10
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
● Shit Hooks
 5
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● Stupid Human Tricks
 2
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
● Catholic Girls
 5
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a TR
● Faceless Wander
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
● Termite Tower
 2
V1 5 R Boulder
● Termite Terrace
 2
V2 5+ PG13 Boulder

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Obsession Area
[Hide Photo] Obsession Area
Some of the Old Milwaukee - Cliff Dr. Climbing Team. Tobacco Road - J.C. Area. T-Nuts on first lead w/ R.K. on belay. Circa Summer 1997.
[Hide Photo] Some of the Old Milwaukee - Cliff Dr. Climbing Team. Tobacco Road - J.C. Area. T-Nuts on first lead w/ R.K. on belay. Circa Summer 1997.
Map of climbing areas along Cliff Dr.
[Hide Photo] Map of climbing areas along Cliff Dr.
Cliff Dr.
[Hide Photo] Cliff Dr.
South-Westish of J.C.
[Hide Photo] South-Westish of J.C.
Lake Superior - Sunset
[Hide Photo] Lake Superior - Sunset
The Keweenaw Peninsula
[Hide Photo] The Keweenaw Peninsula
Copper Harbor Sunset - June 2009
[Hide Photo] Copper Harbor Sunset - June 2009
Angela
[Hide Photo] Angela
Approach trail for the Ice Fall Area from Cliff Drive.
[Hide Photo] Approach trail for the Ice Fall Area from Cliff Drive.
View from top of Ice Falls.
[Hide Photo] View from top of Ice Falls.
Cliff Dr.
[Hide Photo] Cliff Dr.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Bobrunning Running
Madison, wi
[Hide Comment] There is very nice climbing in Keweenaw County. I recommend stopping by Downwind sports in Houghton MI. I stopped there and they were very helpful. They have a printed guide for the area. It will make your climbing experience much easier. The pictures are hand drawn. It will help you find the crag and routes. While you are at Downwind sports purchase something, say thanks. Jun 2, 2010
Alan Johnson
Fraser, MI
[Hide Comment] I guess could not keep this area a secret. I started climbing this area in the early 70s, never thought to document the climbs as there were very few rock climbers around then. I am willing to bet that on many of the named climbs we were first ascents. Did a lot of free climbing, only backed down when I realized no one knew where I was. I remember setting on a ledge belaying my partner when someone from the road shouted up asking how we got up there inan question. May 11, 2020
Alan Johnson
Fraser, MI
[Hide Comment] Never had a route that we thought of top ropping. Once my partner over climbed his ability and could not put in any protection, so I took the rope and gear and free climbed above him till I could drop the rope back down to him. May 11, 2020
Cris Garcia
Michigan
[Hide Comment] Any details about access to this area? Last I heard it may have not been open due to landowners, then again I also heard they didn't mind so long you didn't hurt yourself like an idiot... I'm from southern Michigan so what the hell do I know right? May 13, 2020
Brian Rajdl
Houghton, MI
[Hide Comment] Alan,

Good to see your post here on Mt. Project. My name is Brian Rajdl and I have been climbing at the cliffs since 1996. I am working with some folks to create a descent guidebook, and start working on access issues. I'd love to talk with you about about your time here. We have known that folks have climbed here since the 70's but we could not find any contacts, but we have found some of your pitons! I am writing the history and overview section for the the new guidebook and I would love to talk with you and record some of the history. Here in the UP we are not big on claiming FA's since a lot gets climbed and discovered but not recorded so many lines have already been climbed. We talk about First Experiences instead of FAs. I would love to hear some of your stories! May 21, 2020
Brian Rajdl
Houghton, MI
[Hide Comment] Peregrine falcon nest near Three Roofs, Butt Rest Buttress. Got strafed topping out Three Roofs. 5/21/2020 May 22, 2020
Nicholas K
[Hide Comment] Here is the Cliff Drive Climbing Guide PDF: drive.google.com/file/d/124… May 27, 2020
David Bruning
Evergreen, CO
[Hide Comment] So many more climbs here from my 1999 RR guidebook typed on a typewriter and hand drawn. Dropped a copy of to Bill at DWS in 2005ish Aug 14, 2020