Oregon · Rock climbing · Rhododendron · Near Mount Hood Villages

French's Dome

31 routes
5.4 – 5.13a
Sport · Trad
Jun–Sep
best months

Is French's Dome open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Zigzag Ranger District.

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

French's Dome is a climbing area in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Zigzag Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among a cluster of trails, campgrounds and other climbing spots in the Zigzag region. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. That station sits roughly 1,500 feet below the dome, so temperatures up high run cooler. The climbing here is mostly sport, with 30 sport routes and one trad route among the 31 listed. Grades range from 5.4 to 5.13a, with China Side at 5.11a and Psoriasis at 5.13a. The Sandy River Trail #770 is less than a mile away, and McNeil Campground and Riley Horse Campground are each about a mile off. The Swine (aka Enola Hill) climbing area is about 5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    McNeil Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.0 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsIan Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Philip Foster Farm

    Museum

    Museum · 24 mi from Mount Hood Villages

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Mount Hood Villages
  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit French's Dome

    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, 8.8 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (31)

Static Cling5.10aDirty Deeds (aka Silver Streak)5.10bYellow Brick RoadFA: 1966: Bill Cummins, Steve Heim, Jan Cummins5.10bCrankenstein5.11+China Side5.11aGolden ShowerFA: Tristan Burnham, Becca Tarbox, Doug Plorde 6/1/205.11aLow Voltage5.11aChina SyndromeFA: Vance Lemley, Tom Kingsland, 1986?5.11bJackie ChanFA: David Sowerby/Tymun Abbott5.12aRoad HeadFA: Bolts EJ, FA EJ5.12aRoad KillFA: David Sowerby/Tymun Abbott5.12aRoad Rage5.12aPump-O-Rama5.12a/bRoad Face5.12a/bDark Syndrome5.12bHigh Voltage, AKA 'Rhoid RageFA: Hermann Gollner5.12bThe Dark Side (AKA The Siege)FA: DS5.12bBSDFA: Dave Sowerby5.12b/cPhilanthropyFA: Phillip Hranicka5.12cUncle RickFA: Austin Bullard - 8/175.12cFrench's DoughnutFA: Matt Spohn Aug. 2011 (Bolted by Ryan Palo 2009)5.13aPsoriasisFA: Phillip Hranicka (Bolted by Dave Sowerby)5.13a[Redacted]5.4Giant's Direct5.5Giant's Staircase5.6Do it AgainFA: Bill Price, Tim Olson - 19905.7Alpha Centauri5.8Emerald City5.8Straw Man5.8Tin Tangle5.8Balloon KnotFA: Becca Tarbox and Tristan Burnham5.9

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