All Locations > Utah > Southeast Utah > San Juan County > Indian Creek

Hurt Locker Area Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Hurt Locker Area

L › R R › L A › Z

	Court Jester, The T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Dream a Little Bigger, Darlin' T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Enemy Invasion T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Everybody Hurts T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Go Ask Alice T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
	Grenade Launcher T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Hall of Mirrors T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Hip Power T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Hurt Locker, The T 5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
	IED T 5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
	Locktite T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Master Lock T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Pop and Lock T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Short Circuit T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Small-Time Hero T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

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:	5,791 ft	1,765 m
GPS:	38.0675, -109.53651 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	11,743 total · 136/month
Shared By:	Devin Fin on May 6, 2019 · Updates
Admins:	slim, Cory N, Perin Blanchard, GRK, David Crane, Nathan Fisher Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Limited Toilet Facilities! Raptor Closures! Details

2026 Raptor Avoidance Areas. blm.gov/announcement/blm-an…

For questions regarding climbing routes and avoidance areas please contact Jeremy Martin, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at the BLM Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1500.

Limited toilet/port a potty facilities: Have poop plan! Visit: facebook.com/friendsofindia…
saltlakeclimbers.org/news/2…

Access Issue: RAIN, WET ROCK and RAPTOR CLOSURES: The sandstone around Moab is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Also please ask and be aware of Raptor Closures in areas. Details

WET ROCK: Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN MOAB during or after rain.

RAPTOR CLOSURES: please be aware of seasonal raptor closures. They occur annually in the spring. Indian Creek Raptor Closure walls include: Echos, The Wall, Far Side, Original Meat, Tenderloins, Second Meat, First Meat, Selfish, Six Star, Cliffs of Insanity, Public Service Wall, Disappointment Cliffs, Fin Wall, Broken Tooth, Cat Wall, Slug Wall, Reservoir Wall, Critic’s Choice.

Description

The Hurt Locker is a south facing crag that gets all day sun. A few parties have come and left their mark here by adding an assortment of routes. Jay Smith and Jim Donini were some of the first to travel to this wall targeting the tallest lines and adding assortment of routes, most over 100' tall with one shorter exception, Hurt Locker. The wide climbers Devin Fin and Pamela Pack later added some wide routes and chimneys to the right side of the crag such as Dream a Little Bigger Darlin' (incorrectly given 5.12 in Creek Freak) and a few others. After Creek Freak was published, Nate Sydnor, Joe Stern, and Herb Crimp had their way with the shorter finger cracks on this wall and even a nice slab route.

While this crag has been established for a while, visitors need to treat lightly. The ground is quite unstable here, look carefully for lightly traveled trails and follow them. The routes are still shedding quite a bit. In any given day, you will likely see something come off of each route you do. Helmets are recommended and trusting crimps is not recommended.

The Crag can be thought of in 3 sections. From left to right:

Left: Power Wall to the Gigantic downed pillar - Lock and Load to Locktite.
Middle: Downed pillar to Hurt Locker - The Court Jester to Hurt Locker
Right: Short Circuit to Dream a Little Bigger Darlin'

Getting There

Continue past the Supercrack area for several miles on 211 as it winds its way along the cliffs. The large parking area can be found on the left side of the road just after a sharp left curve that goes into a long straightaway. The lot is several hundred yards before a fence and cattle guard, about a half mile before the reservoir, and a mile or so before the Beef Basin road junction. It's the same parking for Scarface, Power Wall, Wall Mart, and Old Crusty.

There are two approaches from your car:

1. Follow the base of the cliff from Power Wall if you go there first to climb.

2. Follow the trail towards Power Wall but take the fork the right. Follow this trail, cross the first wash and then take a left into the second wash you cross (it's technically the same wash). A few hundred feet later take a left on a smaller second wash joins this wash that follows the base of the cliff. Walk up this wash along the cliff base until you are beneath the 5.9 called Short Circuit (it's obvious from the wash). Keep walking until the wash begins the gain elevation and you see the large carin on the left. It's obvious but its further than you think. Then pick your way up the super loose gully aka "established climber trail" (ca. 25 minutes)

15 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Hurt Locker Area Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Hurt Locker Area

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

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 12 ● Short Circuit Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 7 ● Hip Power Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 9 ● Dream a Little Bigger, Darlin' Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 4 ● Enemy Invasion Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 4 ● Hall of Mirrors Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 4 ● Pop and Lock Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 4 ● The Court Jester Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a 6 ● The Hurt Locker Trad