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: 1,825 ft
GPS: 30.5053, -98.8182
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 280,559 total · 1,316/month
Shared By: Steve Marr on Sep 15, 2006
Admins: mattm, Matt Richardson, Tommy Blackwell
Warning Access Issue: Rule changes for pets and trail closures 30 minutes after sunset DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

At 1825 feet, the Main Dome is the largest single feature at Enchanted Rock, home to the largest concentration of routes, and sees the most traffic (both climbers and hikers). It dominates the parking area, and is the first dome you see when approaching along Highway 965 from Llano. There is a small bouldering area on the front side (southeastern side) of the dome, but the majority of the climbs are found in Echo Canyon (between the Main Dome and Little Dome) and on the Backside. Echo Canyon in home to great single pitch areas such as the Orange Peel, Motorboat Rock, and the Triple Cracks areas. The Backside contains the longest climbs in the park, and consists of predominately bolted slab routes. Some of the areas such as Cave-In, Smorgasbord, and the Central Latitudes are pretty obscure and require a little exploration to find. Consequently they offer the most solitude. The Echo Canyon and Backside areas can get crowded, especially on weekends.

When you don't feel like climbing, Main Dome offers a couple of interesting diversions. The first is the summit trail that climbs to the top of the dome from the parking area. This trail is usually clogged with hikers on any given day. The views from the top of the dome are impressive. Once at the top of Main Dome, you can explore the Enchanted Rock Cave (also known as The Fissure) - a cave-like feature formed by a deep crack in the top of the dome. The Fissure is approximately 1500 feet long and has multiple entry and exit points. Often wet, bring a good pair of shoes and a light if you want to explore it. From the top of the dome, look for a depression lined with trees towards the Backside, and then follow the painted arrows down to the entrance.

Getting There Suggest change

To reach the climbing areas on the main dome, follow the park road to a turn around with a gazebo at the end. From the gazebo, take the stairs down to the creek, and follow the obvious trail that leads toward the dome. Approximately a third of the way up the dome, the trail splits: the summit trail branches right while the Echo Canyon Trail goes left. Follow the Echo Canyon trail over the saddle between the two domes and down a rocky draw. There are several large boulders and a small interpretive board with a map of the park at the base of the draw. Two climbersÂ’ trails (marked with colored arrowheads) branch off from the right side of the boulders and lead to the Echo Canyon areas: the green trails heads up the Triple Cracks area while the purple trail leads to Throne Rock, Orange Peel, and Motorboat. To reach the Backside, follow the trail through the boulders that loops around the entire dome. Use the blue trail to access the News Wall and the yellow trail to access the Cheap Wine Wall and Devils Slide area. The trail continues to Freshman Mountain and Buzzards Roost.

126 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Main Dome Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Main Dome

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V5 6C
 6
Frogatron Direct
Boulder
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 51
Texas Flakes
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 53
Harder Than it Looks
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 59
Smorgasbord
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 214
Sweat
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 45
Dome Driver
Trad 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 46
The Kracken
Sport 2 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 128
Mark of the Beast
Sport 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 109
Pro Sweat
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 55
Ripple
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
 30
Stranger Than Friction
Trad 2 pitches
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a R
 4
Texas Radio
Trad, TR 2 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 4
Standing Wave
Trad, TR
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 15
Ding Dongs and Taco Sauce
Trad, TR
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a X
 5
Gravitron
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Frogatron Direct Main Dome South > Dairy Farm / Frog Pon…
 6
V5 6C Boulder
Texas Flakes Smorgasbord Wall
 51
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad
Harder Than it Looks Devil's Slide
 53
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Smorgasbord Smorgasbord Wall
 59
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Sweat News Wall
 214
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Dome Driver Cheap Wine Wall
 45
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 3 pitches
The Kracken Cheap Wine Wall
 46
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 2 pitches
Mark of the Beast Devil's Slide
 128
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 3 pitches
Pro Sweat News Wall
 109
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Ripple Cheap Wine Wall
 55
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Stranger Than Friction Shield
 30
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 Trad 2 pitches
Texas Radio Shield
 4
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a R Trad, TR 2 pitches
Standing Wave Main Dome South > Center Wave
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, TR
Ding Dongs and Taco Sauce Main Dome South > Frontside Boulders
 15
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Trad, TR
Gravitron Shield
 5
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a X Trad, TR
More Classic Climbs in Main Dome »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading