Suggested Page Improvements to Kootenai Canyon

**Feb. 20, 2019 : Here's a short update on the current status of Kootenai climbing. For now, the area is still closed, but the owners, the Western Montana Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund are working diligently on a climbing management agreement. It's a complex process for everyone involved, and we want to make sure all the details are in place before the owners open the area. To be clear, it is NOT the owners' intent to keep Kootenai closed, but they want to make sure there's a solid plan for climbing that protects both them, WMTCC and the Access Fund. Everyone involved appreciates your continued patience as we work through this process. 

**As of October 2018 Kootenai climbing is temporarily closed while legal issues are discussed and finalized. Please respect this temporary request as climbing here while closed will result in it's permanent closure.

Granite sport and trad climbing, mostly single pitch but some multipitch too. Routes range from 5.6 to 5.13, and everything from crack climbing to steep roofs.This is the closest crag to Missoula and has very short approaches, nothing over 15 mins. The south side of the canyon is shady in the summer, the north side can get very hot. Something climbable in most seasons.

April 17, 2019: The Western Montana Climbers Coalition expected to announce the Thursday, April 18, opening of Kootenai Canyon climbing, but a few issues still need to be sorted out. Please do not climb at Kootenai on Thursday. If you do, you'll be asked to leave. The opening will be announced as soon as possible when all issues are resolved. **Feb. 20, 2019 : Here's a short update on the current status of Kootenai climbing. For now, the area is still closed, but the owners, the Western Montana Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund are working diligently on a climbing management agreement. It's a complex process for everyone involved, and we want to make sure all the details are in place before the owners open the area. To be clear, it is NOT the owners' intent to keep Kootenai closed, but they want to make sure there's a solid plan for climbing that protects both them, WMTCC and the Access Fund. Everyone involved appreciates your continued patience as we work through this process. Granite sport and trad climbing, mostly single pitch but some multipitch too. Routes range from 5.6 to 5.13, and everything from crack climbing to steep roofs.This is the closest crag to Missoula and has very short approaches, nothing over 15 mins. The south side of the canyon is shady in the summer, the north side can get very hot. Something climbable in most seasons.

Climbing on private land is a privilege, not a right.  First Buttress, Second Buttress, Identity Wall, Sick Bay, Shuffle Buttress, Practice Rock, Spiderhang Buttress, adjacent rock outcrops, and access to Diving Board Wall and Outermost Limits in Kootenai Canyon are on private land. Please be respectful and a good steward of the property. Failure to follow the rules could lead the owners to ask you to leave the property.For now, all bolting is suspended, pending review of current route development.Do not access the tops of the cliffs by either trails or climbing. Routes such as Iron Monger and the Corner will now offer rap stations to return to the ground. To clarify, there is no walk off or setting up top ropes from the top of the cliff. Lower or rappel only on all routes.No camping.No fires.No slacklining.Please pack out both human and pet waste, along with any trash you produce or find.Please remove personal quickdraws at the end of the climbing season and, on a daily basis, clean routes that are no longer in use.Limit group size, do not "project" on busy days and do not monopolize popular routes, such as 11th Commandment and The Tempest.No commercial guiding, including programs run by non-profit organizations.Be mindful of erosion and use only existing trails to already established climbs. Stay off closed trails, especially the first trail leading up to the west end of First Buttress, and obey "No Trespassing" signs.As with any climbing area, be respectful, polite and helpful, especially to new climbers and those not familiar with the area.A stick clip is recommended for those not familiar with the area.For now, the area above the Corner on the First Buttress is closed due to erosion. That means that High Wire and Town Pump are closed until further notice.Finally, please understand that if any climbing-related lawsuits are filed, the canyon will be closed to climbing.-----------------------------Granite sport and trad climbing, mostly single pitch but some multipitch too. Routes range from 5.6 to 5.13, and everything from crack climbing to steep roofs.This is the closest crag to Missoula and has very short approaches, nothing over 15 mins. The south side of the canyon is shady in the summer, the north side can get very hot. Something climbable in most seasons.

Climbing on private land is a privilege, not a right.  First Buttress, Second Buttress, Identity Wall, Sick Bay, Shuffle Buttress, Practice Rock, Spiderhang Buttress, adjacent rock outcrops, and access to Diving Board Wall and Outermost Limits in Kootenai Canyon are on private land. Please be respectful and a good steward of the property. Failure to follow the rules could lead the owners to ask you to leave the property.<p>For now, all bolting is suspended, pending review of current route development.<p>Do not access the tops of the cliffs by either trails or climbing. Routes such as Iron Monger and the Corner will now offer rap stations to return to the ground. To clarify, there is no walk off or setting up top ropes from the top of the cliff. Lower or rappel only on all routes.<p>No camping.<p>No fires.<p>No slacklining.<p>Please pack out both human and pet waste, along with any trash you produce or find.<p>Please remove personal quickdraws at the end of the climbing season and, on a daily basis, clean routes that are no longer in use.<p>Limit group size, do not "project" on busy days and do not monopolize popular routes, such as 11th Commandment and The Tempest.<p>No commercial guiding, including programs run by non-profit organizations.<p>Be mindful of erosion and use only existing trails to already established climbs. Stay off closed trails, especially the first trail leading up to the west end of First Buttress, and obey "No Trespassing" signs.<p>As with any climbing area, be respectful, polite and helpful, especially to new climbers and those not familiar with the area.<p>A stick clip is recommended for those not familiar with the area.<p>For now, the area above the Corner on the First Buttress is closed due to erosion. That means that High Wire and Town Pump are closed until further notice.<p>Finally, please understand that if any climbing-related lawsuits are filed, the canyon will be closed to climbing.

Climbing on private land is a privilege, not a right.  First Buttress, Second Buttress, Identity Wall, Sick Bay, Shuffle Buttress, Practice Rock, Spiderhang Buttress, adjacent rock outcrops, and access to Diving Board Wall and Outermost Limits in Kootenai Canyon are on private land. Please be respectful and a good steward of the property. Failure to follow the rules could lead the owners to ask you to leave the property.For now, all bolting is suspended, pending review of current route development.Do not access the tops of the cliffs by either trails or climbing. Routes such as Iron Monger and the Corner will now offer rap stations to return to the ground. To clarify, there is no walk off or setting up top ropes from the top of the cliff. Lower or rappel only on all routes.No camping.No fires.No slacklining.Please pack out both human and pet waste, along with any trash you produce or find.Please remove personal quickdraws at the end of the climbing season and, on a daily basis, clean routes that are no longer in use.Limit group size, do not "project" on busy days and do not monopolize popular routes, such as 11th Commandment and The Tempest.No commercial guiding, including programs run by non-profit organizations.Be mindful of erosion and use only existing trails to already established climbs. Stay off closed trails, especially the first trail leading up to the west end of First Buttress, and obey "No Trespassing" signs.As with any climbing area, be respectful, polite and helpful, especially to new climbers and those not familiar with the area.A stick clip is recommended for those not familiar with the area.For now, the area above the Corner on the First Buttress is closed due to erosion. That means that High Wire and Town Pump are closed until further notice.Finally, please understand that if any climbing-related lawsuits are filed, the canyon will be closed to climbing.

Climbing on private land is a privilege, not a right.  First Buttress, Second Buttress, Identity Wall, Sick Bay, Shuffle Buttress, Practice Rock, Spiderhang Buttress, adjacent rock outcrops, and access to Diving Board Wall and Outermost Limits in Kootenai Canyon are on private land. Please be respectful and a good steward of the property. Failure to follow the rules could lead the owners to ask you to leave the property.For now, all bolting is suspended, pending review of current route development.Do not access the tops of the cliffs by either trails or climbing. Routes such as Iron Monger and the Corner will now offer rap stations to return to the ground. To clarify, there is no walk off or setting up top ropes from the top of the cliff. Lower or rappel only on all routes.No camping.No fires.No slacklining.Please pack out both human and pet waste, along with any trash you produce or find.Please remove personal quickdraws at the end of the climbing season and, on a daily basis, clean routes that are no longer in use.Limit group size, do not "project" on busy days and do not monopolize popular routes, such as 11th Commandment and The Tempest.No commercial guiding, including programs run by non-profit organizations.Be mindful of erosion and use only existing trails to already established climbs. Stay off closed trails, especially the first trail leading up to the west end of First Buttress, and obey "No Trespassing" signs.As with any climbing area, be respectful, polite and helpful, especially to new climbers and those not familiar with the area.A stick clip is recommended for those not familiar with the area.For now, the area above the Corner on the First Buttress is closed due to erosion. That means that High Wire and Town Pump are closed until further notice.Finally, please understand that if any climbing-related lawsuits are filed, the canyon will be closed to climbing.Granite sport and trad climbing, mostly single pitch but some multipitch too. Routes range from 5.6 to 5.13, and everything from crack climbing to steep roofs.This is the closest crag to Missoula and has very short approaches, nothing over 15 mins. The south side of the canyon is shady in the summer, the north side can get very hot. Something climbable in most seasons.

Granite sport and trad climbing, mostly single pitch but some multipitch too. Routes range from 5.6 to 5.13, and everything from crack climbing to steep roofs.This is the closest crag to Missoula and has very short approaches, nothing over 15 mins. The south side of the canyon is shady in the summer, the north side can get very hot. Something climbable in most seasons.