Utah · Rock climbing · Monticello

Disappointment Cliffs

Disappointment Cliffs in Utah has 19 trad climbing routes.

Disappointment CliffsPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
19 routes
5.9 – 5.13a
Trad

Best time to visit Disappointment Cliffs

Best months: March–May and September–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

    42° / 17°

    4 wet · 2 snow

  2. Feb

    49° / 23°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  3. Mar

    59° / 30°

    5 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    67° / 36°

    5 wet

  5. May

    77° / 46°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    89° / 56°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    95° / 63°

    5 wet

  8. Aug

    92° / 61°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    84° / 51°

    5 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 38°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    55° / 26°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  12. Dec

    42° / 18°

    4 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Canyonlands-The Needles, UT, 9.8 mi away at 4,906 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Disappointment Cliffs is a climbing area in Utah on Bureau of Land Management land within the Monticello Field Office. It sits among a cluster of named climbing areas, with 1st Meat Wall about half a mile away and Selfish Wall and 2nd Meat Wall within a mile. The area is a traditional climbing destination. Of its 19 routes, the easiest is an unnamed one at 5.9, and the hardest is Winner Takes All at 5.13a. The median grade is 5.11-. The Suspect, at 5.10+, and Good Boy, at 5.11-, are two of the more commonly climbed routes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 67°F in April to 70°F in October, while July highs average about 95°F. That station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the cliffs, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Indian Creek, a paddling spot, is about 1.8 miles away, and Superbowl Campground is about 2.6 miles off. Davis Canyon and Donnelly Canyon Trail, both hikes, are each about 6 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Fin WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fin Wall

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Original Meat WallPhoto: BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Original Meat Wall

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Sacred Cow WallPhoto: BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sacred Cow Wall

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Lavender Butte/The Happy SubmarinePhoto: katsrcool, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lavender Butte/The Happy Submarine

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Reservoir WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Reservoir Wall

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The BeachPhoto: BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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South SixshooterPhoto: katsrcool, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Pods WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pods Wall

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ScarfacePhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Power WallPhoto: joannapoe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Power Wall

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