Montana · Rock climbing · Gallatin Gateway · Near Emigrant

Canine Cliffs

7 routes
5.8 – 5.12-
Trad · Sport
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Canine Cliffs open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Canine Cliffs, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).

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

Canine Cliffs is a climbing area in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing and hiking destinations, with Sparerib Area and Northern Exposure both about 0.8 miles away, and Storm Castle Mtn just under a mile off. The area has seven climbing routes, six of them traditional and one sport. Grades run from 5.8 up to 5.12-, with the median around 5.10a/b. Among the routes are Rattletrap and Where Beagles Dare at 5.8, Coyote Crack at 5.10a, and Dogleg Arete, the sport route, at 5.12-. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the Big Sky weather station, about 12 miles away, put July highs near 78°F with lows around 41°F, while winter highs stay near freezing. Nearby options include the Gallatin River fishing access about a mile away and Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout, a campground, about 1.2 miles off. Rat Lake Trail, a mountain biking route, is about 1.3 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Hwy191-14 Mm62.4

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Emigrant
  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Canine Cliffs

    Best months: July–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

      30° / 9°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 9°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 17°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 23°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 30°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 36°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 41°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 39°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 33°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 25°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      37° / 16°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 9°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Sky 2wnw, MT, 11.6 mi away at 6,590 ft. The station sits about 700 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (7)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

CLIMB

Sparerib Area

~1 min drive

Sparerib Area in Montana has 9 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

CLIMB

Northern Exposure

~1 min drive

Northern Exposure in Montana has 9 climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Skyline North

~1 min drive

Skyline North in Montana has 13 traditional climbing routes across 12 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Skyline South

~2 min drive

Skyline South in Montana has 28 climbing routes across 21 grades, featuring mixed, sport, and trad styles.

CLIMB

Tango Tower

~2 min drive

Tango Tower in Montana has 8 routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

CLIMB

Fish Face

~2 min drive

Fish Face in Montana has 6 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

CLIMB

The Watchtower - Lower

~2 min drive

Watchtower - Lower, The in Montana has 8 trad climbing routes on 7 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

The Waltz Formation

~2 min drive

Waltz Formation, The in Montana has 18 climbing routes.

CLIMB

Stormcastle

~2 min drive

Stormcastle in Montana has 3 sport climbing routes on 3 distinct difficulty grades.

CLIMB

East Side

~2 min drive

East Side in Montana has 35 climbing routes across 21 grades in mixed, sport, top-rope, and trad styles.