Northwest Formation
5-route climbing area in Colorado with sport and trad options.
- 5 routes
- 5.9 – 5.11d
- Sport · Trad
Best time to visit Northwest Formation
Best months: May–June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
44° / 15°
4 wet
Feb
45° / 17°
4 wet
Mar
53° / 25°
5 wet
Apr
60° / 31°
8 wet
May
68° / 41°
10 wet
Jun
80° / 49°
8 wet
Jul
87° / 55°
8 wet
Aug
84° / 53°
8 wet
Sep
76° / 45°
7 wet
Oct
63° / 34°
5 wet
Nov
51° / 24°
4 wet
Dec
43° / 16°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Waterdale, CO, 14 mi away at 5,230 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Northwest Formation is a climbing area on county land in the Billings unit of Colorado, about 0.1 mile from Tomato Rock and Button Rock (aka Pinewood Rock). The land is managed by the county, and the surrounding area is dense with climbing spots, including South Formation, all within a short distance of each other. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Waterdale run to highs around 68°F in May and 76°F in September, with lows near 41°F and 45°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the formation, so temperatures here run a little cooler. Beyond the climbing, Nelson Loop offers mountain biking about 1.3 miles away, and Night Hawk Trail is a hike about 1.6 miles off.
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