The Refuge
- 7 routes
- 5.11d – 5.13a
- Sport · Bouldering
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
The Refuge is a climbing area in Missouri, about half a mile from the town of Monegaw Springs. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with the Undercut Area, Zig Zag Area and Burns Side all within about a tenth of a mile. That makes it easy to pair with those neighbors on a single visit. The climbing here is mostly sport, with six routes ranging from 5.11d to 5.13a and one boulder problem at V9. Cortez is the hardest of the sport routes, at 5.13a, and Love Letter is the easiest, at 5.11d. The Grandfather Sky and Modern Petroglyph routes are both 5.12a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Osceola show May highs around 77°F and October highs around 70°F, while July averages about 90°F.
Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit The Refuge
Best months: March–May 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.
Jan
42° / 21°
5 wet
Feb
47° / 25°
5 wet
Mar
58° / 35°
7 wet
Apr
67° / 44°
8 wet
May
77° / 55°
9 wet
Jun
86° / 64°
8 wet
Jul
90° / 68°
7 wet
Aug
89° / 66°
7 wet
Sep
81° / 57°
7 wet
Oct
70° / 46°
7 wet
Nov
57° / 34°
6 wet
Dec
46° / 25°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Osceola, MO, 7.8 mi away at 744 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
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Undercut Area
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Undercut Area is a Missouri climbing crag with 10 routes.
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Zig Zag Area
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Zig Zag Area in Missouri has 6 climbing routes spanning 6 difficulty grades.
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Burns Side
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Burns Side in Missouri has 10 sport climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.
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WM: Monegaw Springs
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Missouri climbing at Monegaw Springs with accessible rock formations.
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West End
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West End in Missouri has 15 climbing routes with 12 difficulty grades.
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West Bouldering
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West Bouldering in Missouri has 7 bouldering routes.
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Paddlefish Wall
~11 min drive
Paddlefish Wall in Missouri has 13 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering mixed and sport styles.
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Long Dog Wall
~11 min drive
Long Dog Wall in Missouri has 8 sport climbing routes with 8 distinct difficulty grades.
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Legacy Wall
~11 min drive
Legacy Wall in Missouri has 8 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad options.
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WM: Trapper's Camp
~12 min drive
9-route climbing area in Missouri with mixed, sport, top-rope, and trad styles.