Idaho · Rock climbing · Almo

Checkered Demon

Checkered Demon in Idaho has 11 climbing routes across 10 difficulty grades.

Photo: cifraser1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

11 routes

5.8 – 5.13c

Sport · Trad · Bouldering

Is Checkered Demon open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for City of Rocks National Reserve.

As of Oct 25, 11:30 am MDT · Source: NPS · City of Rocks National Reserve. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Checkered Demon

Best months: April–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
35° / 16°
8 wet
Feb
39° / 19°
7 wet
Mar
48° / 27°
6 wet
Apr
55° / 33°
7 wet
May
65° / 41°
9 wet
Jun
75° / 50°
6 wet
Jul
86° / 59°
5 wet
Aug
85° / 57°
6 wet
Sep
74° / 48°
5 wet
Oct
60° / 35°
5 wet
Nov
45° / 24°
6 wet
Dec
35° / 17°
8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rosette, UT, 22.9 mi away at 5,685 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Checkered Demon is a climbing area in City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho, managed by the National Park Service. The reserve's land unit makes the climb a natural fit for anyone exploring this corner of Idaho's park system. The climbing here draws on a variety of styles, with 11 routes spread across sport, trad and bouldering. The grades run from the low 5.8s up to a 5.13c on Gigantor, and a couple of V3 boulders round out the options. That gives climbers a full range of challenges, from easier trad routes like Face Shot and Houser Arete to the more difficult sport routes such as Luna 12 and the hardest, Gigantor. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Rosette, Utah, put May highs around 65°F and September highs around 74°F, while July and August climb into the mid-80s. Other spots sit right alongside. Demon Daze Boulder and Elephant Rock - North are each about 0.1 mile away, and the Register Rock hike is about half a mile off. Flaming Rock Trail is roughly 0.6 mile away for anyone wanting to pair a climb with a walk.