Oregon · Rock climbing · Cascadia

The Great Arch

13 routes
5.7 – 5.11c
Sport · Trad
May–Oct
best months

Is Great Arch, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Willamette National Forest. It doesn't name Great Arch, The, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Willamette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Great Arch is a climbing area in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, within the McKenzie River Ranger District, on Forest Service land. It sits among several other climbing spots in the area, with South East Face just 0.1 mile away and Wolf Rock about 0.3 mile off. The climbing here is largely sport, with one trad route, and the grade range runs from 5.7 to 5.11c. Big Arch Corner is the trad option, a 5.7. Captain Courageous and Forked Route are both 5.10c, and Solstice Party and The Big Bad Wolf push into the 5.11 range. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Santiam Junction show July and August highs around 76°F with lows near 42°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the arch, so temperatures at the climbing area run slightly cooler. For more time outdoors, Carpenter Mountain is about 1.4 miles away, and Trail Bridge Campground is roughly 5 miles off. Paddlers can head to Quentin Creek, about 4 miles away, and Latiwi Creek is a little farther.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit The Great Arch

    Best months: May–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.

    1. Jan

      38° / 24°

    2. Feb

      41° / 24°

    3. Mar

      44° / 26°

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

    5. May

      58° / 35°

    6. Jun

      65° / 38°

    7. Jul

      76° / 42°

    8. Aug

      76° / 42°

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

    10. Oct

      56° / 33°

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

    12. Dec

      36° / 23°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santiam Junction, OR, 13.8 mi away at 3,750 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (13)