Missouri · Rock climbing · Columbia

Main Area

Main AreaPhoto: dippold, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
25 routes
5.6 – 5.11d
Top Rope · Trad · Bouldering
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Main Area is a climbing area in Capen Park, Missouri, on city land. It sits among several other climbing spots, with Walk Down Area about 0.1 mile away and The Drive-In about 0.2 mile away, so it works well as a base for exploring the cluster of boulders and routes in the park. The area has 25 routes, with top rope the most common style. Boulder and trad routes also make up the mix. Grades run from 5.6 to 5.11d on the YDS scale, and the V scale covers V1-2 to V4. Among the named routes are Butt Slammer at 5.6 and Foot Loose at 5.10d, with Ape Man at 5.9 as a boulder. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Columbia show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 68°F, while July averages reach 89°F. WM: Crown Cliffs is about 2.2 miles away, and the Central Regional Office hike is about 3.3 miles away. For paddling, Cedar Creek is about 9.4 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Main Area

    Best months: March–June and September–November. 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

      39° / 23°

      8 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      45° / 26°

      8 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      56° / 36°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      67° / 46°

      11 wet

    5. May

      76° / 56°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      85° / 65°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 69°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 67°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 59°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 47°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 37°

      8 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      44° / 27°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Columbia U Of M, MO, 0.8 mi away at 770 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (25)