Dragon's Back
- 10 routes
- 5.5 – 5.11a
- Trad · Sport
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Dragon's Back open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. It doesn't name Dragon's Back, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Annual Food Storage Order
Agency closure covering Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · Order 02-00-22-02 · USFS · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Pallet Prohibition Order Butte Ranger District
Agency closure covering Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · Order 01020425-01 · USFS · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Montana BDR Alternative Route
Agency alert covering Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · USFS · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Lost Creek Area - Road Closure
Agency alert covering Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · Order 01020826-02 · USFS · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Dragon's Back is a climbing area in the Butte Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Scarecase Cliffs just 0.2 miles away and Gillette Edge about 1.6 miles off. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Butte show July highs around 81°F with lows near 46°F, while winter highs stay around freezing. Toll Mountain Campground and Delmoe Lake Campground are both about 5 miles away for an overnight stay. BLM 14, a mountain biking route, is about 2 miles off.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Dragon's Back
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.
Jan
32° / 8°
7 wet
Feb
35° / 10°
7 wet
Mar
44° / 19°
9 wet
Apr
51° / 26°
11 wet
May
61° / 34°
13 wet
Jun
70° / 41°
13 wet
Jul
81° / 46°
9 wet
Aug
80° / 44°
8 wet
Sep
69° / 36°
7 wet
Oct
54° / 27°
8 wet
Nov
40° / 16°
8 wet
Dec
31° / 7°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Butte Bert Mooney Ap, MT, 9 mi away at 5,506 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
CLIMB
Scarecase Cliffs
Next door
Scarecase Cliffs in Montana has 5 traditional climbing routes.
CLIMB
Gillette Edge
~3 min drive
Gillette Edge in Montana has 6 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad styles.
CLIMB
The Tracks Bouldering
~3 min drive
Tracks Bouldering in Montana has 16 bouldering routes across 11 grades.
CLIMB
Homestake Pass
~3 min drive
Homestake Pass in Montana has 12 climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades, featuring bouldering pads, mixed, sport, and trad styles.
CLIMB
Split Pinnacle
~4 min drive
Split Pinnacle in Montana has 6 climbing routes with 4 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad options.
CLIMB
Entrance Gully
~4 min drive
Entrance Gully in Montana has 5 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
The West Side
~4 min drive
West Side, The in Montana has 8 climbing routes with bouldering pads.
CLIMB
Warm Up Ridge Area
~4 min drive
Warm Up Ridge Area is a Montana climbing crag with 5 routes on bouldering pads.
CLIMB
Senile Gully
~4 min drive
Senile Gully is a bouldering area in Montana with 2 routes rated 5.11 to 5.12.
CLIMB
Senile Boulder
~4 min drive
Senile Boulder in Montana has 5 bouldering routes across 4 grades.
