All Locations > Utah > S Central Utah > Capitol Reef > Fruita Area

The Castle Area Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Castle Area

Capitol Reefer T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 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:	6,103 ft	1,860 m
GPS:	38.29887, -111.26433 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,108 total · 16/month
Shared By:	GRK on Aug 22, 2020
Admins:	Perin Blanchard, GRK, David Crane, Nathan Fisher Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Permit Required Details

Permits are required for climbing and bouldering within Capitol Reef Nat'l Park.
Updated (2024) NPS permit information here: home.nps.gov/care/planyourv…

Description

The Castle is a prominent sandstone crop in Capitol Reef National Park. This is the hard to miss formation across from the visitor center. The Castle environs have endless potential for climbing, but are relatively undeveloped and it is unknown if there are any routes on The Castle itself. This cropping is made up of three primary layers, a sandstone layer at the base, called Moenkopi, a middle gray-green layer is known as the Chinle Formation and the top layer, including the Castle, is known as Wingate Sandstone and is believed to have formed about 200 million years ago!

Camping can be found at the Fruita Campground near the visitor center, this a nice place to camp, with the Fremont River running by and plenty of trees to provide shade. The campground is popular and often fills on weekends and holidays.

This area designates climbing on the areas and walls surrounding the Castle.

Getting There

Found at 38.29866°N / 111.26329°W. Locate the Capitol Reef Visitor Center, 11 miles east of Torrey on Utah State Road 24. Park at the visitor center and then walk back across the road, or park along the shoulder of the road near the bridge over the Fremont River. Find a place to cross the river and head for the low red buttes. Follow a wash that approaches some gray ridges. Hike up these ridges towards the cliffs of the Castle. This approach climbs about 500’ in a little under a mile and will take many people only about half an hour.