Colorado · Rock climbing · Lyons

South Formation

South Formation in Colorado has 15 climbing routes across 10 difficulty grades.

15 routes
5.7 – 5.13b
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Best time to visit South 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.

  1. Jan

    44° / 15°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    45° / 17°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    53° / 25°

    5 wet

  4. Apr

    60° / 31°

    8 wet

  5. May

    68° / 41°

    10 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 49°

    8 wet

  7. Jul

    87° / 55°

    8 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 53°

    8 wet

  9. Sep

    76° / 45°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 34°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 24°

    4 wet

  12. 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.

South Formation is a climbing area on county land in the Billings unit of Colorado, about 14 miles from the Waterdale weather station that records typical averages. It sits among several other climbing areas, with Tomato Rock and Button Rock (aka Pinewood Rock) each about 0.1 mile away. The most comfortable months for climbing are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the Waterdale station, which sits lower than the formation, run to highs near 68°F in May and 76°F in September. July highs average about 87°F, and winter highs stay in the mid-40s. Other places close by include the Northwest Formation, also about 0.1 mile away. Mountain bikers can head to Nelson Loop, roughly 1.3 miles off, and hikers to the Night Hawk Trail, about 1.6 miles away.