187 Crag
- 13 routes
- 5.0 – 5.13b/c
- Sport · Bouldering
- Apr–Oct
- best months
187 Crag is a climbing area in Iowa's Ozark Wildlife Area, on county land. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Hoot Bluff just 0.3 miles away and several others within about 10 miles, making it an easy addition to a day of rock in the area. The routes here run from sport climbing at the 5.0 grade up to 5.13b/c, with bouldering in the V1-2 to V4 range. The most established routes include Persian Hornbeam (5.0), a sport climb done by the Iowa Climbers Coalition, and Last Light (5.13b/c), first climbed by Midwest Rock Violators. Out of Touch (5.11b) and Xenophobe (5.11b/c) are also popular sport options. For timing, late spring through early fall is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from the nearby Cascade, IA weather station show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 75°F, with July warming to about 83°F. Hoot Bluff is the closest neighbor. Upper and Lower Boulders, Quantum Chromodynamics Area and Joinerville (bouldering only) all lie about 9.7 miles away.
- Hoot BluffRock climbing0.3 mi
- Upper and Lower BouldersRock climbing9.7 mi
- Quantum Chromodynamics AreaRock climbing9.7 mi
- Dip BoulderRock climbing9.7 mi
- Joinerville (bouldering only)Rock climbing9.7 mi
- Alcove boulderRock climbing9.7 mi
- Freshman BoulderRock climbing9.7 mi
- Project boulderRock climbing9.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
C: Sun ButtressRock climbing · ~1h 3m drivePhoto: Eric Schmuttenmaer from Downers Grove, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- E: Twin SistersRock climbing · ~1h 3m drivePhoto: Eric Schmuttenmaer from Downers Grove, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- D: Open BibleRock climbing · ~1h 3m drivePhoto: Eric Schmuttenmaer from Downers Grove, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Hoot BluffRock climbing · Next door
- Upper and Lower BouldersRock climbing · ~17 min drive
- Quantum Chromodynamics AreaRock climbing · ~17 min drive
- Dip BoulderRock climbing · ~17 min drive
- Joinerville (bouldering only)Rock climbing · ~17 min drive
- Freshman BoulderRock climbing · ~17 min drive
- Alcove boulderRock climbing · ~17 min drive
Best time to visit 187 Crag
Best months: April–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
27° / 11°
8 wet
Feb
32° / 15°
8 wet
Mar
45° / 26°
9 wet
Apr
59° / 37°
10 wet
May
70° / 49°
12 wet
Jun
80° / 60°
11 wet
Jul
83° / 63°
10 wet
Aug
81° / 60°
9 wet
Sep
75° / 51°
9 wet
Oct
62° / 38°
9 wet
Nov
46° / 28°
8 wet
Dec
33° / 18°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cascade, IA, 10.5 mi away at 814 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
