Iowa · Rock climbing · Ely

West Bluff

12 routes
V0-1 – V4-5
Bouldering
Apr, Jun
best months

West Bluff is a bouldering area within Palisades-Dows State Preserve in Iowa, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Dows just 0.1 mile away and The Last Portage about half a mile off. Palisades Kepler State Park is 0.8 mile away, so the preserve makes a compact base for exploring several climbing areas in a short stretch. The climbing here is all bouldering, with 12 routes spread across the area. Grades run from V0-1 up to V4-5, and the Midwest Rock Violators are credited with the first ascents of several of them. Cosmic Horizons and Sagittarius Triplet are the easiest, while Rainbow Airglow is the hardest. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Cedar Rapids show May highs around 74°F and September highs around 77°F, with July peaking near 86°F. Other options close by include the Adt - Iowa - K - Seg 1 hike about 6 miles away and the Sycamore Loop at a similar distance. Paddlers can head to Big Creek, roughly 9 miles off, and anglers will find Coralville Lake about 9.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun

    Best time to visit West Bluff

    Best months: April, June and August–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

      30° / 13°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 17°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 27°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      63° / 38°

      11 wet

    5. May

      74° / 50°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 63°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 61°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      77° / 53°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 42°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      48° / 29°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 19°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cedar Rapids #1, IA, 11.4 mi away at 813 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (12)