Montana · Rock climbing · Bynum

Blackleaf Canyon

8 routes
5.10a/b – 5.12a
Sport · Mixed
May–Sep
best months

Is Blackleaf Canyon open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Rocky Mountain Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Rocky Mountain Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Blackleaf Canyon is a climbing area in Montana's Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, within the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the canyon makes a compact base for sport climbing, with several areas close together and a range of routes from about 5.10a/b to 5.12+. The best time to go is summer, when typical July and August highs reach about 80°F and lows sit near 44°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station. That station sits roughly 1,400 feet lower, so temperatures on the canyon's walls run cooler. The area's routes include Uplift, a mixed climb at 5.10a/b, and Bodhisattva, a sport route at 5.12+. Other nearby climbing areas are Main Wall - West End, about 0.2 miles away, and Dentist Area, about 0.3 miles away. Cow Creek, a hike roughly 0.7 miles off, is the closest trail.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Blackleaf Canyon

    Best months: May–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

      37° / 9°

    2. Feb

      38° / 10°

    3. Mar

      44° / 17°

    4. Apr

      53° / 27°

    5. May

      63° / 33°

    6. Jun

      69° / 41°

    7. Jul

      80° / 46°

    8. Aug

      80° / 44°

    9. Sep

      70° / 37°

    10. Oct

      56° / 27°

    11. Nov

      44° / 18°

    12. Dec

      37° / 11°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blackleaf, MT, 12.8 mi away at 4,235 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (8)