Pilot Hill Rock Climbing

Limestone sport climbing. The majority of the climbing (potential, and established) lies in the next major canyon North of Telephone Canyon (where I80 is located). There is additional potential for climbing along another cliff above Laycock Springs (FS703G).

There is currently 15-20 established routes (sport and TR) along the Main Wall, with room for up to a hundred more. The rock is typically vertical or slab, and mostly yielding climbing being 5.11 or easier, however there is potential for several significantly harder lines.

Generally, the routes are short - less than 5 bolts - on reasonably compact and well featured rock. The rock here tends to be pretty sharp, but that is also partly a result of a lack of climbing traffic in the area. Climbing here is generally secluded, with there being a very low likelihood of seeing another climber or person.

In principle, a person could climb here most months of the year, although this might be practically difficult in the winter due to a ~2.5 mile approach (likely featuring a last mile of post-holing through deep snow). There are North, South, East and West aspects to cliffs here, so sunny or shady climbing is possible. There are a few spots throughout the area that are wind sheltered. Spring and Fall would be the best seasons.

This is the same Casper formation limestone as in Rogers Canyon, and as such features a similar character (but without shooting, dumping, and diesel trucks).

It has seen sporadic development for several decades, with most recent period being when Josh Helke spent time here and established a number of top ropes and lead climbs around the early 2000s. Prior to some of Josh's classics, a series of new TRs went in during 2001-2005, with a few remaining as projects to this day. There are also a series of good boulder problems dispersed along the canyon, up to V8 at this time. Sean Bradley and crew provided the foundation here with some of the first bolted sport routes in the Laramie area.