Lightning Dome - Left Side
Lightning Dome - Left Side in Idaho has 7 routes with mixed, sport, and trad climbing.
- 7 routes
- 5.6 – 5.10
- Trad · Sport · Mixed
Is Lightning Dome - Left Side open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. It doesn't name Lightning Dome - Left Side, so check the source for the area it covers.
Updated 250 Road Closure
Agency closure covering Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest · USFS · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Grangeville Salmon Road Closure Extension
Agency alert covering Salmon River Ranger District · Order 01-17-01-26-004 · USFS · Salmon River Ranger District
Laird Park Water Unavailable For 2026 Season
Agency alert covering Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest · USFS · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Lightning Dome - Left Side
Best months: April–July and September–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
38° / 25°
Feb
44° / 26°
Mar
51° / 31°
Apr
58° / 36°
May
68° / 43°
Jun
74° / 48°
Jul
85° / 53°
Aug
89° / 51°
Sep
77° / 45°
Oct
62° / 37°
Nov
47° / 29°
Dec
38° / 24°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Kooskia 5 Sse, ID, 17.7 mi away at 2,330 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Lightning Dome - Left Side is a climbing area in Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, within the Salmon River Ranger District. It is managed by the Forest Service and sits among several climbing spots, with the Lightning Dome and Rolling Stone Wall areas each about 0.1 mile away. The area's routes range from trad and mixed climbing to sport climbing. There are seven routes in total, with grades from 5.6 to 5.10. Among them are Black Pine Chimney and Fat Albert at 5.6, and Momentary Lapse of Reason and Two Minutes to Midnight at 5.10. Black Pine Face is a mixed climb at 5.8. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show highs around 68°F in May and 77°F in September. Midsummer runs warmer, with highs in the upper 80s in July and August. The Cougar Creek Trail starts about 0.4 mile away, and the Wikiup Creek Trail is roughly 1.5 miles off. For an overnight stay, Meadow Creek campground lies about 3.7 miles away.
Routes (7)
Fat Albert Area(1)
Midnight Fright Area(2)
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