Missouri · Rock climbing · Lesterville

Upper Cliff

Upper CliffPhoto: Wikipedian Kbh3rd, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.5 – 5.10a
Trad
Mar–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Upper Cliff is a climbing area in Missouri, about 2.4 miles from the town of Monterey. It sits right next to the Johnson Shut-Ins, with the EM: Johnson Shut-Ins climbing area just 0.1 mile away, making it an easy addition to a visit to that part of the state. The area has six trad routes, all rated between 5.5 and 5.10a. The easiest is Beginner Chimney at 5.5, and the hardest is Electric Green Bikini at 5.10a. The median grade is 5.7, so climbers looking for a range of options will find it here. For a change from the rock, the Horseshoe Glade Trail is 0.5 mile away and the Black River Trail System is 0.7 mile away. Paddlers can head to the East Fork Black River, about 3.6 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Upper Cliff

    Best months: March–June and August–October. 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

      40° / 21°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 25°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      55° / 33°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      66° / 44°

      11 wet

    5. May

      74° / 54°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 63°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 67°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 65°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 57°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 46°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 35°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 26°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Potosi 4 Sw, MO, 24.6 mi away at 1,105 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

EM: Johnson Shut-InsPhoto: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

EM: Johnson Shut-Ins

Next door

EM: Johnson Shut-Ins in Missouri has 6 routes spanning 6 difficulty grades.

A: Picnic AreaPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

A: Picnic Area

~19 min drive

A: Picnic Area is a Missouri climbing crag with 26 routes.

B: Upper Picnic AreaPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

B: Upper Picnic Area

~19 min drive

B: Upper Picnic Area is a Missouri climbing crag with 16 routes across 7 grades.

C: The Front RangePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

C: The Front Range

~20 min drive

C: The Front Range is a 11-route climbing area in Missouri with bouldering pads.

G: North MountainPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

G: North Mountain

~20 min drive

G: North Mountain is a Missouri climbing crag with 8 routes spanning 8 difficulty grades.

D: The PorchPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

D: The Porch

~20 min drive

D: The Porch is a Missouri climbing area with 13 routes on 9 grades.

EM: Elephant Rocks SPPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

EM: Elephant Rocks SP

~20 min drive

EM: Elephant Rocks SP is a Missouri climbing area with 10 routes on 7 grades.

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River Left

~36 min drive

7 traditional climbing routes at River Left in Missouri.

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Hiker's Wall

~37 min drive

Hiker's Wall is a bouldering crag in Missouri with 5 routes.

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Splitter Crack Wall

~37 min drive

Splitter Crack Wall in Missouri has 6 traditional climbing routes on crack and face holds.