Idaho · Rock climbing · Almo

Shark's Fin Rock

Shark's Fin Rock in Idaho has 6 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

6 routes

5.6 – 5.13a

Sport · Trad · Mixed

Best time to visit Shark's Fin Rock

Best months: April–June 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
40° / 21°
6 wet
Feb
44° / 24°
6 wet
Mar
54° / 30°
7 wet
Apr
60° / 34°
8 wet
May
69° / 41°
9 wet
Jun
78° / 48°
6 wet
Jul
86° / 57°
4 wet
Aug
86° / 56°
4 wet
Sep
77° / 47°
4 wet
Oct
64° / 37°
5 wet
Nov
49° / 28°
6 wet
Dec
39° / 21°
6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Oakley, ID, 13.8 mi away at 4,559 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.

Shark's Fin Rock is a climbing area in Castle Rocks State Park in Idaho, managed by State Park and Recreation. It sits among a cluster of named climbing areas, with Fence Line and Heffalump just 0.1 mile away and Taco Cave 0.2 mile off. The area has six routes, with grades ranging from 5.6 to 5.13a. Sport routes dominate, with three in that style, and the climbing includes both trad and mixed styles. Sorta Handy, a 5.6 trad route, and Chumming, a 5.13a sport route, are two of the routes on the list. For timing, typical averages from the nearby Oakley weather station suggest late spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons. June highs run around 78°F with lows near 48°F, and September is similar at 77°F and 47°F. July and August are warmer, with typical highs of 86°F, and winter highs stay around 40°F. Nearby, the Backyard Boulders Return Route is about 0.6 mile away for a hike. Almo Creek Trail is roughly 3 miles off, and Independence Lakes Campground lies about 6 miles away.