All Locations > Washington > Northwest Region > Hwy 20 & N Cascades NP

Upper Skagit Valley Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Upper Skagit Valley

Diablo Wall 0 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 8

Newhalem Town Crags 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Ryan's Wall 0 / 34 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 34

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Elevation:	574 ft	175 m
GPS:	48.68021, -121.24295 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	78,065 total · 613/month
Shared By:	Jon Nelson on Aug 2, 2015
Admins:	Jon Nelson, Zachary Winters, Mitchell McAuslan Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closure March 1st to approximately July 15th each year; climbing outside approved CMAs strictly prohibited Details

Sport climbing outside the four established climbing areas (Diablo Crag, Newhalem East and West, and Town Crags) within North Cascades National Park Service Complex is prohibited. As outlined in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area General Management Plan, sport climbing is only allowed in designated climbing management areas and park staff will review any proposed new climbing management areas. Learn more at nps.gov/noca/learn/news/tem…

Peregrine falcons select nest sites on cliffs in the Upper Skagit Valley, including the Climbing Management Areas of Newhalem West (Ryan’s Wall) and Newhalem East. As required in the NPS Superintendent’s Compendium, these areas will be closed to all public from March 1st to July 15th of each year, or until the young falcons have fledged or NPS staff have determined that nesting will not occur on a specific wall during this period. Access Fund, Washington Climbers Coalition and NPS partner on a volunteer raptor monitoring program to determine nesting activity. Learn more at accessfund.org/news-and-eve… and check back for updates.

Description

The Upper Skagit Valley area includes multiple cragging areas near the Skagit River, from about Newhalem up to Ross Lake in the North Cascades. Though there are enough routes now for multiple visits, the general area holds huge potential for further development. The rock is mostly solid gneiss (metamorphosed granitic rock), offering quality trad, sport, and bouldering.

Getting There

Head to the town of Newhalem on Highway 20, just east of I-5, north of Everett, south of Bellingham, and just west of the Diablo dam. Some crags are here, near town, and some are further up HW 20.

43 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Upper Skagit Valley

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

5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 74 ● Cold Beer in the River Sport 3 pitches Ryan's Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 51 ● Kate Moss Sport Ryan's Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 29 ● Domestic Bliss Sport Ryan's Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 63 ● Luna Park Sport Ryan's Wall
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 14 ● Cherche La Femme Extension Sport Ryan's Wall
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 37 ● Serendipity Sport Ryan's Wall
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 19 ● Hull Yeah Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 8 ● Shiny Yellow Crane Sport Diablo Wall
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a 17 ● Business Before Pleasure Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 8 ● Lockjaw Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 31 ● 12c for a day Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 14 ● Gainfully Unemployed Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 15 ● Breaking the Law Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 22 ● Highway 99 Sport Ryan's Wall
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 21 ● Cinnamon Groove Sport Ryan's Wall