Oregon · Rock climbing · Dufur

Area 51

47 routes
5.8 – 5.12c
Sport · Trad
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Area 51 open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Barlow Ranger District. It doesn't name Area 51, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Area 51 is a climbing area in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Barlow Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. It sits among several other climbing spots, including Bulo Point and Campfire boulders, within a few miles. The climbing here is a mix of sport and traditional routes, with 47 in total. Sport routes make up 29 and trad 18. The grades range from 5.8 to 5.12c, with the median around 5.10c. A few of the named routes are It Aint Human (5.8 sport), The Eagle Has Landed (5.10a trad), and Death Star (5.12c sport). Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station, at a similar elevation, show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month. Winter brings highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. The Jordan Cutoff Trail starts about a mile away, and the Fifteen Mile campground is under 2 miles off. The Tygh Creek Cut Away hike and the Bulo Point climbing area are also within a few miles.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Area 51

    Best months: June–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

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 15.2 mi away at 3,980 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (47)

Open the Pod Bay Door HAL5.10aProbe5.10aTake Me to Your Leader5.10aThe Eagle Has Landed5.10aYoung Jedi5.10aAdam5.10bAlien Observer5.10bDreamland5.10bErased Memory5.10bFirst Contact5.10bHoss5.10bMen in Black5.10bPonderosa5.10bSolar Flair5.10bUranus Has Rings5.10bVulcan Mind Meld5.10bAlien Invasion5.10b/cAbducted5.10cLuna5.10cMars5.10c/dTo Boldly Bolt where No Man has Bolted Before5.10c/dUFO5.10c/dAlien Autopsy5.10dRocketman5.10dSunspot5.10dWe Are Not Alone5.10dEarth First (We'll Log the Other Planets Later)5.11aShape Shifter5.11aStargate5.11aWar of the Worlds5.11aThe Mothership5.11a/bCattle Mutilation5.11bFriend or Alien5.11bLittle Grey Men5.11bLies and Deception5.11cResistance is Futile5.11cEvent Horizon5.11dBlack Ops5.12-Close Encounters5.12aCrop CirclesFA: Adam McKinley and Matt Spohn5.12cDeath Star5.12cIt Aint Human5.8Cosmic Debris5.9ET (Extra Trad)5.9Out of this World5.9Wormhole5.9Roswell5.9+

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Mt. Hood National ForestPhoto: jared goss, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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