Nevada · Rock climbing · Las Vegas

Chess boulder

Chess boulder in Nevada has 5 bouldering routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Chess boulderPhoto: BLM Nevada, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
5 routes
V1 – V8-
Bouldering

Best time to visit Chess boulder

Best months: February–May and October–November. 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

    53° / 32°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    56° / 35°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    64° / 41°

    4 wet

  4. Apr

    70° / 47°

    2 wet

  5. May

    80° / 56°

    1 wet

  6. Jun

    90° / 66°

    1 wet

  7. Jul

    95° / 73°

    2 wet

  8. Aug

    94° / 72°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    87° / 62°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    75° / 50°

    2 wet

  11. Nov

    62° / 38°

    2 wet

  12. Dec

    52° / 31°

    3 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Red Rock Canyon - Spg Mt Rch S, NV, 6.7 mi away at 3,780 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Chess Boulder is a bouldering area on Bureau of Land Management land in Nevada, within the Red Rock/Sloan Field Office. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Shady Lady Boulder, Plumber's Crack and $600 Boulder all about 0.1 mile away. The closest trails are Ash Spring Trail and Calico Loop, each roughly 0.3 mile off. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 70°F and October highs around 75°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. The area has five bouldering routes, all rated on the V scale. Queen's Gambit is V1, Front Mantle is V2, and Stale Mate is V8- with a first ascent by Mike Beck in 1993 or 1994. Red Rock Canyon Campground, about 2.7 miles away, is the nearest place to camp.

Routes (5)

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