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Elevation: 7,226 ft
GPS: 48.7862, -116.71652
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 20,663 total · 148/month
Shared By: Scott Coldiron on Oct 7, 2012
Admins: Mike Engle, Eric Bluemn

Getting There Suggest change

32 miles (a little over an hour drive) from Coolin, ID and about 2-1/2 hrs from Spokane:
Take Hwy 2 North to Priest River,ID. Drive North on Hwy 57 (towards Coolin) for 22 miles and turn rt. on Dickensheet Hwy. Drive 5 miles to Coolin and turn rt. on East Shore Road/Cavanaugh Bay Road. Drive 22 miles to Lion's Head Campground. Set your trip odometer to zero at the main entrance to the campground. Continue past the campground for 4.1 miles and turn right onto Idaho State Forest Road #44 (small sign). At 6.6 miles, you will pass the intersection with road #43. Continue straight on 44. At 9.8 mi. you should get a pretty good view of Lion's Head straight ahead. At 10.2 mi. You will cross Abandon Creek and come to a T-junction. Turn right and drive 0.3 miles to a big switchback- park here.

From the hairpin turn, follow the trail Southeast until the flagged climbers path takes off uphill to the left. Follow the pink flagging. The trail will go steeply uphill for 15 minutes- don't miss the turn to the right.
The trail will tend right and uphill for about 15 more minutes, then contour more gently toward Lion's Head. The trail will bring you to the bottom of the talus field below Lion's Head West Peak. Get your bearings here so you can find the trail upon your return (not so easy in the dark, but there are a few cairns and two large snags that make good landmarks). The Lion's Head trail is quite good, and the bushwacking is horrible, so if you aren't on an obvious trail, backtrack and try again.

Description Suggest change

On the imposing North Face of Lion's Head lies the Inland Northwest's best technical alpine climb, Lion Tamer (5.10c, 6 pitches). It takes the obvious line of weakness up the middle of the face.
The South side has some easier stuff in the 5.4 to 5.8 range and there are also moderate climbs going up the East buttress. The West Face Wall is a really beautiful wall with much good climbing potential. The routes here are 3 pitches or so, and they will be in the sun throughout the afternoon. It's a warm and sunny spot to climb if conditions are too cold for a North Face attempt.

7 Total Climbs

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Location: Lion's Head Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Lion's Head

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 6
East Buttress
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
Catacombs
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
Lion Tamer
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a C1
 5
Circle of Life
Trad, Aid, Alpine 5 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
East Buttress N Face
 6
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
Catacombs W Face
 5
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
Lion Tamer N Face
 14
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Circle of Life N Face
 5
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a C1 Trad, Aid, Alpine 5 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Lion's Head »

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