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Cape Disappointment Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Cape Disappointment

Amphitheater, The 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Back Crags, The 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Elephant Ridge 2 / 7 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11

Lewis and Clark Rock 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Monolith Wall 0 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Sands of Time Rock 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Shark's Fin, The 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Stage Rock 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Te Fiti 0 / 0 / 0 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11

Waikiki Crag 2 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Explore this area in 3D

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:	17 ft	5 m
GPS:	46.29457, -124.07441 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	55,816 total · 617/month
Shared By:	Jefferson Ashby on Sep 3, 2018
Admins:	Jon Nelson, Zachary Winters, Mitchell McAuslan Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

A popular campground, this area was formed by the sea. Situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, it is where Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean. It has a multitude of rock formations, most of which are easily accessible. Some are even in the middle of the camps. The rock formations are mostly sea stacks, cliffs eroded into pillars by crashing waves and wind. However, sediment buildup from the Columbia over the last few hundred years has caused these rocks to now be hundreds of feet inland.

The rock is basalt, and while it is often mossy, there are still several faces clean enough to climb. Lots of highball bouldering can be found here, along with some promising, longer face climbs.

Getting There

Cape Disappointment is two miles south of Ilwaco. From Kelso, take Ocean Beach Highway to the tiny town of Naselle. Here, make a left onto SR 401, driving for 12 miles to a junction of Highway 101, where a left turn would take you over the Astoria Bridge. Drive straight through this intersection, continuing on Hwy 101 for 11 miles to the city of Ilwaco and the junction of SR 100.

42 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Cape Disappointment

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

V2+ 5+ 4 ● Jug Hug Boulder Te Fiti
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 6 ● Essence Of Time Sport, TR Monolith Wall
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 5 ● High Nunes Sport Elephant Ridge
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b 5 ● MAGA (Make America Grovel Again) Sport Elephant Ridge
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 6 ● Thong Crack Sport Elephant Ridge
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 5 ● Stop The Steal Sport Monolith Wall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 5 ● Fast And Furious Sport Elephant Ridge