Main Wall
- 52 routes
- 5.6 – 5.12d
- Sport · Trad · Bouldering
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Main Wall open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Ottawa National Forest. It doesn't name Main Wall, so check the source for the area it covers.
Temporary Road Closures
Agency closure covering Ottawa National Forest · Order 09-07-00-26-01 · USFS · Ottawa National Forest
Spring Road Conditions
Agency alert covering Ottawa National Forest · USFS · Ottawa National Forest
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Agency alert covering Ottawa National Forest · USFS · Ottawa National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Ottawa National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Main Wall is a climbing area in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest, within the Ontonagon Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits about 0.4 miles from the Backside (aka Assland) climbing area, making it easy to pair with another day on the rock. The climbing here is sport-based, with 37 sport routes among the 52 routes listed. Trad routes add 12 more, and two boulder problems round out the mix. The YDS grades run from 5.6 up to 5.12d, with the median at 5.10d. A few of the named routes include Welcome to the 906 at 5.6, Sloth-Like Reflexes at 5.9, and Golden Heart Direct at 5.12d. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 76°F with lows near 53°F, while January highs average only 22°F. The Canoe-Sturgeon River hike lies about 1.9 miles away, and the N C T Spur to Sturgeon Falls is about 2.9 miles off. Paddlers can head to the Silver River, about 4.4 miles away, and Sturgeon River Campground is about 7.8 miles from the wall.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Main Wall
Best months: June–August. 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
22° / 6°
19 wet
Feb
25° / 7°
15 wet
Mar
37° / 14°
12 wet
Apr
49° / 27°
13 wet
May
64° / 39°
13 wet
Jun
72° / 49°
12 wet
Jul
76° / 53°
11 wet
Aug
74° / 52°
11 wet
Sep
67° / 45°
14 wet
Oct
53° / 34°
16 wet
Nov
38° / 24°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 13°
19 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Watton 2wsw, MI, 10.7 mi away at 1,394 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Routes (52)
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