Iowa · Rock climbing · Dundee

Devil's Backbone

2 routes
5.10c – 5.11b
Trad
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Devil's Backbone is a climbing area in Backbone State Park in Iowa, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The nearest town is Forestville, about 2 miles away. The park's climbing areas sit close together, with Backbone East and Drive In Wall both about 0.1 mile from the Backbone Trail, which makes it easy to string a hike and a climb into one outing. The climbing here is trad, with two routes listed: Monster Crack at 5.10c and Devil's Hideaway at 5.11b. Both are traditional climbs, and the grades put them in the 5.10 to 5.11 range. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Manchester show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days from December through February. Backbone Lake is about a mile away for fishing, and the Maquoketa River Water Trail is roughly 5 miles off for paddling.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Devil's Backbone

    Best months: April and June–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.

    1. Jan

      26° / 8°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    2. Feb

      31° / 12°

      8 wet · 6 snow

    3. Mar

      44° / 24°

      10 wet · 4 snow

    4. Apr

      58° / 35°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      70° / 47°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 58°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 61°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 58°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 49°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 37°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 26°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      32° / 15°

      9 wet · 6 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Manchester #2, IA, 11.2 mi away at 990 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (2)