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Elevation: 1,023 ft
GPS: 37.73387, -83.66162
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 66,189 total · 633/month
Shared By: Jason Halladay on Sep 22, 2015
Admins: Shirtless Mike, DrRockso RRG, Luke Cornejo, Billy Simek

Description Suggest change

The Old Zoo is probably best know for a pair of short, classic 5.12a routes right next to each other with each route climbing markedly different from the other. Hippocrite involves big moves on mostly all big good holds. Scar Tissue serves up steeper, more sustained climbing on smaller but still great holds.

This area is a large amphitheater that faces mostly north but because the wall curves, you can chase sun/shade pretty well. Many of the better routes stay dry in rain.

Getting There Suggest change

From the parking area, hike west/southwest towards the river. Apparently there used to be a log crossing over this river but that no longer exists. Take your shoes off, ford the river and find the climber's trail on the other side. Scramble up a very steep, rooty section of trail just right of a side drainage/ravine and continue steeply uphill for another five minutes.
When you reach a small arch at the top of the trail pass through it (or around it to the left) and walk along the base of the wall a short bit and you're there. This area, to the left of the small arch, is the "Old Zoo".

If you go to the right when you reach the small arch, you get to The New Zoo. The New Zoo is a collection of newer routes. The New Zoo area begins with the route Sidewinder (5.12b).

If you continue along the wall beyond the The New Zoo, down the hill and down around the cave area, you get to a newer area called the Bird Cage Sector. The Bird Cage Sector begins with the route Sons of Perdition (5.12a).

25 Total Climbs

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Location: The Old Zoo Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at The Old Zoo

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 258
Put Me In The Zoo
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 173
Chimp
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 264
One Brick Shy
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 95
Armadillo
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 37
Edgehog
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 520
Monkey in the Middle
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 279
Geezers Go Sport
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 121
Cannonball
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 96
Animal Husbandry
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 138
Lynx Jinx
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 357
Hippocrite
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 234
Scar Tissue
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 47
Eye of the Liger
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 18
Spiral Snake
Sport
5.14a/b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b
 5
Zookeeper
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Put Me In The Zoo
 258
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Chimp
 173
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
One Brick Shy
 264
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Armadillo
 95
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Edgehog
 37
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Monkey in the Middle
 520
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Geezers Go Sport
 279
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Cannonball
 121
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Animal Husbandry
 96
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Lynx Jinx
 138
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Hippocrite
 357
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Scar Tissue
 234
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Eye of the Liger
 47
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Spiral Snake
 18
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Zookeeper
 5
5.14a/b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b Sport
More Classic Climbs in The Old Zoo »

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