Montana · Rock climbing · Townsend

Nude Beach SW Face

12 routes
5.8 – 5.11b
Sport
May–Jun, Aug–Sep
best months

Is Nude Beach SW Face open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Nude Beach SW Face is a sport climbing area in the Townsend Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with Nude Beach, Nude Beach Cove and Bukowski Buttress all about 0.1 mile away. The area has 12 sport routes, with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.11b. The median grade is 5.10a/b. Among the named routes are Hemingway at 5.8, Howard at 5.11b, and Willbilly at 5.10c/d. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Helena show July highs around 86°F with lows near 55°F, while winter brings highs in the low 30s and regular snow days from December through February.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit Nude Beach SW Face

    Best months: May–June and August–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

      32° / 14°

      7 wet · 6 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 17°

      6 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      48° / 25°

      7 wet · 4 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 32°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      66° / 41°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 49°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 55°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 53°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 45°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 34°

      7 wet · 2 snow

    11. Nov

      43° / 23°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      33° / 14°

      7 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Helena Rgnl Ap, MT, 19.2 mi away at 3,828 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.