Oregon · Rock climbing · Stevenson · Near Mount Hood Villages

West Face

26 routes
5.5 – 5.11b/c
Trad · Sport
Jun–Sep
best months

Is West 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.

West 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 spots and trails, including the Beacon Rock Trail and the River to Rock Trail, all within about a tenth of a mile. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with 19 trad and 7 sport routes among the 26 listed. Grades run from 5.5 up to 5.11b/c, with the median at 5.9. Some of the named routes include Talk'n'LawyerKillerBluez at 5.5, Sweet Jane at 5.9, and Drill's Thrill (aka Heretic's Highway) at 5.11b/c. 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. North Forest Boulders and Northwest Face are both climbing areas about 0.1 mile away. For a change from the rock, the River to Rock Trail and Beacon Rock Trail are also close by.

Around this trail

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

    Beacon Rock Moorage Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 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 West 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 (26)

Time BanditsFA: Wayne Wallace (80's?), bolted and freed by Nate Ball 4/185.10-Piece of CakeFA: Jeff Thomas, Bill Coe5.10aSeparation AnxietyFA: Jeff Thomas, Bill Coe5.10aLay Lady LayFA: FFA June 1977, Bob McGown, Doug Bower5.10bRip CityFA: FA July 9, 1977, Jeff Thomas, Mike Smelsar5.10bScarlet's BegoniaFA: Bryan Smith and Arent Wortel5.10bHard TimesFA: FA July 3, 1977, Jeff Thomas5.10cRagtimeFA: FA with tension Nov. 12, 1976, Jeff Thomas, Willis Krause, FFA 1981, Ted Johnson, Del Young5.10cBoulder Problem in the SkyFA: FA April 4, 1974 Jeff Thomas, Tim Miller; FFA Nov. 11, 1976 after many attempts, Jeff Thomas, Chet Sutterlin5.10dSecure AttachmentFA: Topher Dabrowski, Laura Williams & Tom Purwin May 22, 20215.10dIron Cross (aka On the Move)5.11bDrill's Thrill (aka Heretic's Highway)5.11b/cTalk'n'LawyerKillerBluezFA: March, 2020 - Eric Linthwaite, Geoff Silverman5.5Hazy DazeFA: Bill Coe, Jeff Thomas5.7Ramblin RoseFA: June 12, 2019, FFA Steve Wolford, Levi Evans, & Arent Wortel5.7Tourist CrackFA: Geoff Silverman, Adam Baylor5.7Garden PartyFA: Jeff Thomas & Bill Coe, 20185.8LabyrinthFA: FFA George Zak, Bill Coe 20155.8+Arrested DevelopmentFA: Oct 27, 2018, Topher Dabrowski, Adam Baylor, Steve Wolford5.9MoondogFA: Dave Goldring & Steve Wolford5.9Slow TrainFA: Adam Baylor, Jeff Thomas5.9Sweet JaneFA: June 12, 2019 by Arent Wortel, Levi Evans, and Steve Wolford5.9Tourist AttractionFA: Jeff Thomas, Adam Baylor5.9Waters EdgeFA: Jeff Thomas, Bob Davis5.9Climbswell ButterflakesFA: June 2019 Ujahn Davisson, Bill Coe (Jeff Thomas)5.9-KingpinFA: Adam Baylor and Steve Wolford, June 20185.9+

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Beacon Rock BoulderingPhoto: Kingofthedead, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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North Forest BouldersPhoto: Kingofthedead, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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