First Fortress

First Fortress is a climbing area in Blue Mounds State Park in southeastern Minnesota, managed by State Park and Recreation. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, with L-Buttress, South Quarry Area and Bottom Boulders Buttress all about 0.1 mile away. The area has eight routes, split evenly between top rope and trad styles, with grades ranging from 5.1 to 5.10a. Fortress Chimney is a trad route at 5.4, and A Fool and Their Beer Are Soon Parted is a top rope at 5.10a. The easiest route is Unnamed Scramble at 5.1. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Rock Rapids, Iowa, show July highs around 85°F with lows near 62°F, while January highs average about 25°F.