Oregon · Rock climbing · Stevenson · Near Mount Hood Villages

Northwest Face

19 routes
5.7 – 5.12a
Trad · Mixed
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Northwest Face open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

As of · Source: USFS · Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Northwest Face is a climbing area in Oregon's Beacon Rock State Park, within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The land is managed by State Park and Recreation, and the area sits among several other climbing and hiking spots, including the West Face, North Forest Boulders and Beacon Rock Trail, all within about a tenth of a mile. The climbing here is trad, with one mixed route, and the grade range runs from 5.7 up to 5.12-. The Pioneer (Spike) Route is the easiest at 5.7, and Siege Tactics is the hardest at 5.12-. Burning Calves and Fireballs are both around 5.10, and Head Case is a mixed route at 5.10d. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Bonneville Dam weather station show July and August highs around 79 to 80°F with only four or five wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the low 40s and rain on most days. Nearby, the River to Rock Trail and Beacon Rock Trail are both about 0.1 mile away. Paddlers can head to Hamilton Creek, about 3.7 miles off, and Eagle Creek Overlook offers camping roughly 4.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Beacon Rock Moorage Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Trailhead Taproom & Outdoor Store

    Bar

    On your way back · 2 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsIan Poellet, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Harlow House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 19 mi from Mount Hood Villages

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

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

    Best time to visit Northwest Face

    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

      43° / 34°

      21 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      47° / 36°

      18 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      53° / 38°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 42°

      18 wet

    5. May

      67° / 48°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 52°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 57°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 57°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 53°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 47°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 40°

      20 wet

    12. Dec

      42° / 35°

      22 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonneville Dam, OR, 3.4 mi away at 62 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (19)

The StowawayFA: Bryan Smith, August 20205.10Forbidden SlabFA: Rovert McGown5.10+Burning CalvesFA: Jeff Thomas, Adam Baylor 20145.10aCharted Waters5.10aBatten Down the Hatches5.10bFireballsFA: Shane Polizzano, Tymun Abbott: 3/15/20085.10bSmoke SignalsFA: Andrew Leiner & Jim Opdyke, April 19995.10bDorian's DilemmaFA: Shane Polizzano, Dorian Parker 6/4/20095.10cRed Sky at Night5.10cFalse ProfitsFA: Andrew Leiner & Chris Hill (1999)5.10dHead CaseFA: Shane Polizzano, Matt Chalmers, Tymun Abbott, 11/5/20075.10dThe Steamboat Captain's DreamFA: July 2018 Topher Dabrowski; April 1999 Andrew Leiner & J. Opdyke Pitch 15.10dFull Steam AheadFA: Topher Dabrowski & Stephen Shostek July 20205.11aSiege TacticsFA: Shane Polizzano, Tymun Abbott: 6/30/20085.12-Gitmo Love MachineFA: Shane Polizzano, Dave Sowerby, Tymun Abbott 6/1/20095.12aPioneer (Spike) Route5.7Pleasure CruiseFA: Topher Dabrowski, Laura Williams July 20205.8Stone SoupFA: Eric Linthwaite and others (see topo)5.9GenesisFA: Jeff Thomas and Jim Opdyke5.9+

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