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: 4,257 ft 1,298 m
GPS: 46.7274, -113.2311
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 90,244 total · 545/month
Shared By: Dronocian on Apr 22, 2011 · Updates
Admins: GRK, Zach Wahrer

Description Suggest change

This area consists of large grey and blue Limestone fins. The climbing tends to be vertical or lower angle, with lots of the classic limestone pockets, jugs, and heavy on the crimps. Tends to be a bit steeper than it's neighbor Mulkey Gulch. The rock can be extremely solid or total choss depending on which side of a fin you are on, although there is plenty of great rock and good climbs to choose from. This area is a tight canyon so it can get rather cold in the winter, late fall, or early spring. On the other hand, the middle of summer can be extremely hot, but chasing shade can always find something climable. Probably the best conditions are in late spring through early fall.

Camping can be found at Bearmouth RV Park on the frontage road near Exit 138. This RV Park has RV and tent camping and a camping cabin all on the banks of the Clark Fork River. The bathrooms have hot showers, tent sites have water nearby, RV sites have water & electric hookups, there are picnic tables and fire rings, prices are reasonable. A small store and reopening the motel rooms is planned for 2012. Check out the website for more information bearmouthrvpark.com.

There is also camping about 18 miles away at Beavertail Hill State Park just off of I-90 at Exit 130. If you want to extend your stay in the area, drive the Pintler Scenic Route beginning in Drummond and check out Philipsburg and Georgetown Lake. Visit Garnet Ghost Town, about 15 miles from the RV Park. Ride your bike on the frontage road from Bearmouth RV Park to Drummond (32 miles round trip) or make it a 100 mile round trip ride up to Helmville and the Nevada Reservoir. There is great fishing on the Clark Fork River. The closest beer, food, and gas can be found to the east in Drummond, MT, but as Drummond is a small ranching community options are limited. Missoula, which lies 45 miles to the west has a much wider variety of options

Getting There Suggest change

From Missoula, take I-90 East towards Drummond. After about 35 miles you will come to the Bearmouth exit (#138), take this and go left under the interstate then turn right. Continue down the frontage road on the north side of the river, for about 15-20 miles. You will pass Bear Gulch and Mulkey Gulch before Rattler Gulch. Look out for the signs on the left and right sides of the road. Once you get to Rattler Gulch Rd., take a left and continue on the dirt road for a few miles until you come to the limestone right off the road. The majority of the routes are before the main sign which is before the yellow cattle guard. Look for the pullout on the left side of the road as you approach the area from the south and spot the main, visible buttress (with Orange Peel). This is the closest and nicest area to warm up. Conversely, park up by the area signs where there is a small pullout for the more scattered and obscure climbing if coming from the north.

47 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Rattler Gulch Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Rattler Gulch

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 37
Snake Eye
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 42
Don't Put Your Hand In It
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 38
Orange Peel
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 36
St. Louis Direct
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 21
Steppin' Out
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 37
Shredder
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 21
Mummy Dick
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 19
The Sleeper
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 10
Left of Center
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 25
The Cannon
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 20
Puppy Teeth
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 8
Center Route
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 12
Vicious Little Dog
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 9
Me and the Devil
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 8
AOB
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Snake Eye Sidewinder Buttress
 37
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Don't Put Your Hand In It Sidewinder Buttress
 42
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Orange Peel Sidewinder Buttress
 38
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
St. Louis Direct Rock In Between
 36
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Steppin' Out Shredder Wall
 21
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Shredder Shredder Wall
 37
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Mummy Dick Style Wall
 21
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
The Sleeper Divers Wall
 19
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Left of Center Style Wall
 10
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
The Cannon Divers Wall
 25
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Puppy Teeth Shredder Wall
 20
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Center Route Style Wall
 8
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Vicious Little Dog Shredder Wall
 12
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Me and the Devil Divers Wall
 9
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
AOB Shredder Wall
 8
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Rattler Gulch »

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