Outermost Limits
- 7 routes
- 5.8 – 5.12a
- Trad · Sport · Mixed
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Outermost Limits is a climbing area in the Bitterroot National Forest of western Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The name makes it clear that this is a single crag rather than a long route. Several other climbing areas sit right beside it, including First Buttress, Second Buttress and Identity Wall, each about a tenth of a mile away. The climbing here runs from 5.8 up to 5.12a, with trad routes making up most of the options. Of the seven routes listed, the hardest is 5.12a and the easiest is 5.8, and the area has a mix of trad and sport climbing. The route named Outermost Limits is a mixed climb at 5.8. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach the mid-80s with lows in the upper 40s, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Stevensville. Winter is cold, with January highs around 35°F. Charles Waters Campground and Larry Creek Group Camp are both within 4 miles. Kootenai Creek is a hike about 2.6 miles away.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Outermost Limits
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.
Jan
35° / 19°
9 wet · 3 snow
Feb
38° / 21°
8 wet · 2 snow
Mar
50° / 26°
9 wet · 1 snow
Apr
58° / 32°
9 wet
May
68° / 39°
10 wet
Jun
75° / 45°
10 wet
Jul
85° / 49°
6 wet
Aug
84° / 47°
6 wet
Sep
74° / 40°
7 wet
Oct
58° / 32°
8 wet
Nov
43° / 25°
9 wet · 1 snow
Dec
33° / 19°
9 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stevensville, MT, 3.5 mi away at 3,375 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: djembayz, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)The Heap
~37 min drive
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Second Buttress
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Second Buttress in Montana has 10 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.
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First Buttress
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First Buttress in Montana has 32 climbing routes across 17 difficulty grades.
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Identity Wall
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Identity Wall in Montana has 14 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.
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Kootenai Canyon
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Kootenai Canyon in Montana has 4 climbing routes with sport and trad options.
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Sick Bay
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Sick Bay in Montana has 6 sport climbing routes with 6 distinct difficulty grades.
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Bass Creek
~5 min drive
Bass Creek in Montana has 8 climbing routes with 5 difficulty grades, offering mixed, sport, top-rope, and trad styles.
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Big Creek/McCalla Ridge
~9 min drive
Big Creek/McCalla Ridge in Montana has 13 climbing routes across 12 grades.
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Lower Crags
~15 min drive
Lower Crags in Montana has 8 climbing routes with bouldering pads, sport, and trad.
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Sweathouse Creek Crags
~16 min drive
Sweathouse Creek Crags in Montana has 1 climbing route.
