Idaho · Rock climbing · Clayton

Central Idaho

Central Idaho is an Idaho climbing crag with 17 routes across 12 grades.

17 routes
5.7 – 5.13a/b
Trad · Alpine · Sport

Is Central Idaho open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Sawtooth National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Sawtooth National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Central Idaho

Best months: June–August. 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

    29° / 4°

    12 wet

  2. Feb

    35° / 7°

    12 wet

  3. Mar

    42° / 14°

    14 wet

  4. Apr

    49° / 21°

    12 wet

  5. May

    60° / 30°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    69° / 35°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 39°

    6 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 37°

    5 wet

  9. Sep

    70° / 31°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    55° / 24°

    9 wet

  11. Nov

    39° / 14°

    12 wet

  12. Dec

    28° / 6°

    14 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley Rs, ID, 22.7 mi away at 6,495 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.

Central Idaho is a climbing area in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, part of the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the recreation area's ranger district, and the surrounding land is overseen by the Forest Service. The climbing here is a mix of trad and alpine routes, with a few sport options. There are 17 routes in total, and the grade range runs from 5.7 up to 5.13a/b. Alpine routes include Sky Pilot at 5.7 and Solitude at 5.13a/b, while trad climbers can try The green iguana at 5.8 and Andre the giant at 5.10c. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Stanley, which sits about 1,100 feet lower, show July and August highs around 80°F with lows near 37 to 39°F and only five or six wet days a month. Winter is cold, with January highs around 29°F and lows near 4°F. Several other destinations lie within a few miles. French Creek is about 1.6 miles away, and Holman Creek Campground is about 3.9 miles off. The Old Sawmill Slabs climbing area is about 4 miles away, and Holman Creek is about 3.8 miles away.

Routes (17)

Challis Pallis(1)

Die Another Day5.10a

Grand View Canyon(1)

El Sendero Gloominoso5.10a

Middle Fork of the Salmon(1)

Cliffside Camp Crack5.9

Rearing stallion peak(1)

Sky Pilot5.7

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The dam buttressPhoto: tinosa, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Roundabout BoulderPhoto: Fredlyfish4 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Roundabout Boulder

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Redfish Lake BoulderingPhoto: treegrow, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Redfish Lake Bouldering

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The towers at 202Photo: tinosa, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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11-route climbing area in Idaho with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

The. Old sawmill slabs

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