Mossy Glen
- 12 routes
- V0- – V7-8
- Bouldering
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Mossy Glen is a bouldering area within Mossy Glen State Preserve in northwest Iowa, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The preserve holds 12 boulder problems, all rated on the V scale from V0- up to V7-8, with the median around V3-4. The Midwest Rock Violators are credited with the first ascents of several of the routes. The most comfortable climbing weather comes in late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Elkader show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, with July the warmest month at about 82°F. The North Slope and Croc Bloc climbing areas both sit about 2.5 miles away. For time off the rock, the Ryan Property Trails and Backbone Forest Trails are roughly 8 miles out.
- The North SlopeRock climbing2.5 mi
- Croc BlocRock climbing2.5 mi
- A1 AreaRock climbing2.5 mi
- Forest EquestrianHiking7.8 mi
- Ryan Property TrailsHiking7.8 mi
- Backbone Forest TrailsHiking7.9 mi
- Elk CreekCanoeing8.4 mi
- Backbone LakeLake fishing9.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- The North SlopeRock climbing · ~4 min drive
- Croc BlocRock climbing · ~4 min drive
- A1 AreaRock climbing · ~4 min drive
- She Comes FirstRock climbing · ~5 min drive
- The South SlopeRock climbing · ~5 min drive
- Backbone State ParkRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- Backbone EastRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- Drive In WallRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- Devil's BackboneRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- Windy PointRock climbing · ~1h 4m drive
Best time to visit Mossy Glen
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
26° / 6°
8 wet
Feb
31° / 10°
7 wet
Mar
44° / 22°
9 wet
Apr
59° / 34°
10 wet
May
70° / 46°
12 wet
Jun
79° / 56°
12 wet
Jul
82° / 60°
10 wet
Aug
81° / 58°
10 wet
Sep
74° / 48°
9 wet
Oct
62° / 37°
9 wet
Nov
45° / 25°
8 wet
Dec
32° / 14°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Elkader 6 Ssw, IA, 5 mi away at 788 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
