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Elevation: 7,600 ft
GPS: 45.83796, -110.93689
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 64,163 total · 543/month
Shared By: Orphaned User on Aug 11, 2014
Admins: GRK, Zach Wahrer

Description Suggest change

Wolverine Bowl is a beautiful sub-alpine limestone area located just south of Ross Pass in the Bridger mountain range. This area offers an excellent summertime option close to Bozeman with it's great temperatures and excellent rock. The entire crag starts to go into the shade between 11:45 and 2:00, which make it a great later start crag as well.

The area is characterized by the stunning, well weathered blue Madison limestone that populates southwestern Montana. Most of the routes here are very typical to the Bozeman style which offer highly technical, slightly overhanging to slightly off vertical routes that will not only test your technique but your endurance as well. There are many longer routes at Wolverine so a 70m rope is highly recommended for most of the crags and a rack of 16 quickdraws will not go unused on quite a few routes. Although all most all of the modern routes in this area are completely bolted there are still some older mixed routes that require gear. They will likely not be mentioned in this guide for the time being, but will possibly be added in the future.

Being that this area is in a sub-alpine to alpine environment, proper planing for a day up at Wolverine is important. Having at least two liters of water, extra clothing and sustaining food is definitely important due to the high elevation of the area. Bear spray might also not be a bad idea. It is also important that you bring and wear a helmet. Some of the crags at this area are protected but rock fall can be frequent in drainages in between them due to snow thawing and mountain goats (especially in the spring). Please be aware and be safe.

Also given that this is a newer area, there is still development going and some of these newer routes may be a bit dusty still. If you get on a new route that is a little dirty, do your part and give it a little once over on your way down. The community will thank you for it! Please also comment on route's quality and grades if you think they should be different.

*And a note to developers, please be courteous of the people that are using this area to climb for recreation. If you are developing a route that at all has a danger of releasing rockfall anywhere close to anyone please clean it when there is little to no people up there. This will make for a more enjoyable and safer experience for everyone. Thanks!

Getting There Suggest change

From Main street in Bozeman, drive to N Rouse Ave and follow it north out of town. N Rouse will turn into MT-86. Keep following this 18.7 miles out of town and turn left onto a dirt road at the sharp bend at Bracket Creek and follow it 1.7 miles until you hit the obvious first parking lot on your left. Park here. Continuing up the hill and past the gate leads towards access for Ross Pass/Peak.

From the parking lot it is a 1 hour hike to Wolverine (45min if hiking quickly). The lower angle hike, beautiful views, and wild flowers along the trail make it quite enjoyable.

Leaving the parking lot, stay left on the trail and up two switchbacks. This will quickly bring you to an old fire road. Follow the fire road for about a quarter mile until you reach an obvious forest service sign that says "Trail" pointing right. Follow this trail for 3/4 of a mile until you reach the largest meadow on the trail. The trail you are following will cross the creek. DO NOT CROSS THE CREEK! Instead, follow the beaten foot path right through the meadow leading to a cairn at the top of the hill before the trees. From here, its just 30 min up a well beaten-in trail to reach the large scenic meadow below Wolverine. This meadow is the starting point for all approach descriptions to each area. The climbers trail cuts across the meadow leading straight to the base of the Lower Replica.

46 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Wolverine Bowl

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 15
Boy Scout Hand Grenade
Sport, Alpine
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 13
What We Do in the Shadows
Sport, Alpine
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 21
Eat Pray Kill
Sport, Alpine
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 9
You're My Cup of Tea
Sport, Alpine
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 33
The Beat Connection
Sport, Alpine
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 13
Swan Song
Sport, Alpine
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 29
Hate Street Dialogue
Sport, Alpine
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 20
Single Synapse Rat Brain
Sport, Alpine
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 8
Pato Peligro
Sport, Alpine
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 12
Hippy Killin' Conundrum
Sport, Alpine
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 9
Herbert's Route
Sport, Alpine
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 11
Stud Finder
Sport, Alpine
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 11
Eggs, Milk, and Flower (Pancake…
Sport, Alpine
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 6
Marceline
Sport, Alpine
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 5
Summer Blues
Sport, Alpine
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Boy Scout Hand Grenade Bud Wall
 15
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, Alpine
What We Do in the Shadows Lower Replica
 13
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport, Alpine
Eat Pray Kill Bud Wall
 21
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport, Alpine
You're My Cup of Tea Denmark
 9
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport, Alpine
The Beat Connection Bud Wall
 33
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport, Alpine
Swan Song Lower Replica
 13
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
Hate Street Dialogue Lower Replica
 29
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
Single Synapse Rat Brain Summer Triangle (aka…
 20
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, Alpine
Pato Peligro Summer Triangle (aka…
 8
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport, Alpine
Hippy Killin' Conundrum Bud Wall
 12
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport, Alpine
Herbert's Route Lower Replica
 9
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Stud Finder Summer Triangle (aka…
 11
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Eggs, Milk, and Flower (Pan… Summer Triangle (aka…
 11
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Marceline Tree House
 6
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport, Alpine
Summer Blues Summer Triangle (aka…
 5
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport, Alpine
More Classic Climbs in Wolverine Bowl »

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