Drive In Wall
- 7 routes
- 5.7 – 5.12b
- Trad · Top Rope
- Apr, Jun–Oct
- best months
Drive In Wall is a climbing area in Backbone State Park in Iowa, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits among several other climbing spots and trails in the park, including Backbone East, Devil's Backbone and the Backbone Trail, all within about a tenth of a mile. The area has seven routes, five of which are trad and two top rope. Grades run from 5.7 up to 5.12b, with the hardest being the top-rope "Bride of Nemesis" at 5.12b. "Stairway to Heaven" is a 5.7 trad route, and "Lefty and Poncho" is a 5.10b trad route. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Manchester put May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days. 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 Drive In Wall
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.
Jan
26° / 8°
9 wet · 7 snow
Feb
31° / 12°
8 wet · 6 snow
Mar
44° / 24°
10 wet · 4 snow
Apr
58° / 35°
11 wet · 1 snow
May
70° / 47°
13 wet
Jun
79° / 58°
12 wet
Jul
82° / 61°
10 wet
Aug
80° / 58°
10 wet
Sep
74° / 49°
9 wet
Oct
61° / 37°
9 wet
Nov
45° / 26°
8 wet · 2 snow
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.
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