Montana · Rock climbing · Norris

Bear Trap Boulder

5 routes
V0- – V4
Bouldering
Apr–Oct
best months

Bear Trap Boulder is a bouldering area in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness of Montana, on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Dillon Field Office. It sits within designated wilderness, which sets it apart as a climbing destination in a protected backcountry setting. The area has five bouldering routes, all rated on the V scale from V0- to V4. The easiest is B.T. Downclimb at V0-, and the hardest is Bear Trap Slap at V4. Nails is a V3. The routes are all boulders, so there is no climbing on rock faces here. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 85°F with lows in the mid-50s, while winter brings highs in the upper 30s and regular snow days from December through February. Flying Buttress Boulders is about a mile away, and Winter Wall is about 1.5 miles off. For an overnight stay, Trapper Springs (MT) campground is about 2.5 miles away, and Canaday Boat Launch offers river fishing about 2.4 miles from the boulders.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Bear Trap Boulder

    Best months: April–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

      39° / 24°

      5 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      42° / 24°

      6 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      50° / 30°

      7 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 36°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      66° / 43°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 50°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 57°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 56°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 48°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 39°

      7 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      47° / 30°

      6 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 23°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Norris Madison Pwr House, MT, 6.4 mi away at 4,745 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.