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Elevation: 5,000 ft 1,524 m
GPS: 36.2169, -115.36439
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 12,377 total · 123/month
Shared By: SenorDB on Feb 13, 2017 · Updates
Admins: Luke EF, Justin Johnsen
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Description Suggest change

Lake Mead Buttress is the last big cliff in the La Madre Mts on the east end. It's the 800' dark grey limestone cliff that looms up large at the west end of Lake Mead Blvd, which is how it got the name. Also of interest here is a large beautiful agave roasting pit on the slope just below the cliff.

Getting There Suggest change

Lake Mead Buttress can be seen very prominently from the west end of Lake Mead Blvd. Park on Kettle Ridge Drive (36.20486, -115.35282). Walk west to Lake Mead Blvd, turn right and follow the road or sidewalk and take a left on the first road. As of Dec 2024, this is a dirt road for construction access. Be respectful!

Walk the road for 1 minute and drop off right into the wash. Look for cairns out right for the trail (36.20754, -115.35484). Follow this to the intersection with the Cleod 9 mountain bike trail. Turn left and follow this to the junction with the signed Secret Menu Trail. Go right on Secret Menu until you reach a faint cairned climbers path up a ridge below the buttress (36.21176, -115.36446). Follow this up past another mountain bike trail to a split at the base of the wall. Left for Contagion thru West Side Story, right for Anti-vax Crack thru Booster Shot.

17 Total Climbs

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Location: Lake Mead Buttress Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Lake Mead Buttress

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 40
● Land Before Time
Sport 6 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
● La Madre Flu
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 7
● West Side Story
Sport 7 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 53
● Patient Zero
Sport 8 pitches
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 154
● Contagion
Sport 6 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 23
● Herd Immunity
Sport 5 pitches
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 8
● Anti-Vax Crack
Sport 5 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 16
● Tectonic Tango
Sport 6 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 11
● Killer Nano Robot Infection
Sport 4 pitches
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 4
● Mutation
Sport 2 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 15
● Super Spreader 35
Sport 5 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 4
● Booster Shot
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Land Before Time
 40
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 6 pitches
● La Madre Flu
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● West Side Story
 7
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport 7 pitches
● Patient Zero
 53
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport 8 pitches
● Contagion
 154
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport 6 pitches
● Herd Immunity
 23
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport 5 pitches
● Anti-Vax Crack
 8
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport 5 pitches
● Tectonic Tango
 16
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport 6 pitches
● Killer Nano Robot Infection
 11
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport 4 pitches
● Mutation
 4
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport 2 pitches
● Super Spreader 35
 15
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport 5 pitches
● Booster Shot
 4
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Lake Mead Buttress »

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Photos

Walk off descent beta 2. The bolted anchors are on the left wall on an exposed edge when you get cliffed out
Walk off descent beta 2. The bolted anchors are…
 3
Desert Bighorn Sheep perched on our descent
Desert Bighorn Sheep perched on our descent
 3
Walk off descent beta 1
Walk off descent beta 1
 3
LMB right side routes
LMB right side routes
 3
Walk off descent beta 3. Looking from below
Walk off descent beta 3. Looking from below
 2
Rope is on unknown 5.10. fun climbing but questionable rock. Tread lightly. The alternative descent rappel is the gully feature 15 feet right of the rope. This route needs to be properly cleaned
Rope is on unknown 5.10. fun climbing but quest…
 1
The many different ways to approach and descend. This will continue to change as the housing development progresses
The many different ways to approach and descend…
 1
The white line is the location of Lake Mead Buttress Original Route and the yellow line is the descent.
The white line is the location of Lake Mead But…
 1
Lake mead buttress on the left. Most climbs are on the face
Lake mead buttress on the left. Most climbs ar…
 1
Alternative descent rappel anchor: **This anchor no longer exists.** A new anchor was installed where you see the climber about 15 feet above. No longer necessary to do any sketchy downclimbing. 60m rope gets you down. lots of big loose blocks; be careful
Alternative descent rappel anchor: **This ancho…
 1
Our ill-advised route up. Yellow is the climb, green is the descent hike. Follow the directions for descent on the Lake Mead Buttress page. There is a rap station, indicated on this photo, that takes you the final few feet down. A 60m is sufficient.
Our ill-advised route up. Yellow is the climb,…
 3
Approximate descent route. The two bolts literally came out of nowhere when we were just about to sacrifice some gear and rap down.
Approximate descent route. The two bolts litera…
 1

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