Minnesota · Rock climbing · Crystal Bay Township

Section 13

18 routes
5.6 – 5.11b
Top Rope · Trad
May, Jul–Sep
best months

Section 13 is a climbing area in northern Minnesota, about 2 miles from the Little Marais Postoffice. It sits among a cluster of climbing and backcountry destinations, with Finland Glade and the Superior Hiking Trail both within a mile. The area has 18 routes, with 11 top-roped and 7 traditional climbs. Grades run from 5.6 up to 5.11b, so it works for climbers of different styles and abilities. Among the named routes are Lower Slab (5.6, top rope), Arrowhead Left (5.8-, trad), and Seam's Hard (5.11b, top rope). Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical July highs reach about 76°F with lows near 54°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Wolf Ridge. Winters are severe, with January highs around 19°F. Other climbing is close by at Underbelly Boulder and Picnic Rock, both within about a mile and a half. The High Falls Trail - East hike is roughly 6 miles away, and the Manitou River offers paddling about 6 miles out.

  • Best time to go · May, Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Section 13

    Best months: May and July–September. 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

      19° / 1°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      24° / 3°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      35° / 15°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      46° / 28°

      9 wet

    5. May

      59° / 40°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 49°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 54°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 53°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      65° / 46°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 34°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      36° / 21°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      24° / 9°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wolf Ridge Elc, MN, 3.4 mi away at 1,400 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (18)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Wolf Ridge ELC Area (North Shore)Photo: SteveBenassi, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wolf Ridge ELC Area (North Shore)

~7 min drive

North Shore Minnesota climbing with Lake Superior views and varied difficulty.

Mystical Mountain ZonePhoto: SteveBenassi, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mystical Mountain Zone

~7 min drive

Mystical Mountain Zone in Minnesota has 15 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering top-rope and trad options.

Palisade HeadPhoto: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Palisade Head

~13 min drive

Palisade Head in Minnesota has 80 climbing routes across 30 difficulty grades, offering mixed, sport, top-rope, and trad styles.

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Underbelly Boulder

~2 min drive

Underbelly Boulder in Minnesota has 6 bouldering routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.

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Picnic Rock

~3 min drive

Picnic Rock in Minnesota has 63 climbing routes with 34 difficulty grades.

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Sawmill Creek Dome

~3 min drive

Sawmill Creek Dome in Minnesota has 3 bouldering routes with pads.

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Manitou River ICE (North Shore)

~7 min drive

Premier winter ice climbing on Minnesota's North Shore near Manitou River.

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Shovel Point

~10 min drive

Shovel Point in Minnesota has 22 climbing routes with 14 difficulty grades, offering top-rope and trad climbing.

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Silver Bay Ice

~16 min drive

Winter ice climbing destination in Minnesota with frozen formations.

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Silver Bay, Eleanor Road Side Crag

~19 min drive

Silver Bay, Eleanor Road Side Crag in Minnesota has 8 climbing routes with 4 difficulty grades, offering bouldering, top-rope, and trad.