Utah · Rock climbing · Moab

First Switchback

First Switchback is a Utah climbing crag with 7 routes across 5 grades.

First SwitchbackPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
7 routes
5.7 – 5.11
Trad · Mixed

Best time to visit First Switchback

Best months: March–May and October–November. 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° / 22°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    50° / 29°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    62° / 37°

    5 wet

  4. Apr

    70° / 44°

    5 wet

  5. May

    80° / 53°

    5 wet

  6. Jun

    93° / 63°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    99° / 70°

    5 wet

  8. Aug

    96° / 68°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    87° / 58°

    5 wet

  10. Oct

    72° / 44°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    56° / 33°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    42° / 24°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Arches Np Hqs, UT, 5.8 mi away at 4,093 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

First Switchback is a climbing area in Utah on Bureau of Land Management land within the Moab Field Office. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Forming Arch about 0.3 miles away and Maverick Buttress and Reptilian Wall each roughly 0.7 miles off. The area is best suited to a day of trad climbing. Seven routes are listed, with six of them trad and one mixed. Grades run from 5.7 up to 5.11, and the median is 5.10+. Van Go is the mixed route at 5.7, and Dr. Yu and No More Tears are two of the 5.11 trad options. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 70°F and October highs around 72°F, while July averages near 99°F. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures here run cooler. For an overnight stay, Gold Bar Group Sites is about 3.3 miles away and William's Bottom Campground about 4.5 miles.

Routes (7)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Forming ArchPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Forming Arch

~0 min drive

Forming Arch in Utah has 6 traditional climbing routes across 4 difficulty grades.

Maverick ButtressPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Maverick Buttress

~1 min drive

Maverick Buttress in Utah has 25 climbing routes across 14 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

Reptilian WallPhoto: runt35, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Reptilian Wall

~1 min drive

Reptilian Wall in Utah has 16 trad climbing routes across 6 grades.

Gin & TectonicsPhoto: logopop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gin & Tectonics

~1 min drive

Gin & Tectonics is a Utah climbing crag with 8 routes.

Long CanyonPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Long Canyon

~1 min drive

Long Canyon in Utah has 20 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering bouldering pads, mixed, and trad.

Priapism PillarPhoto: runt35, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Priapism Pillar

~2 min drive

Priapism Pillar in Utah has 6 routes with 4 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Deadman's ButtressPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Deadman's Buttress

~2 min drive

Deadman's Buttress in Utah offers 12 climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades, featuring mixed and traditional styles.

The ShipyardPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Shipyard

~2 min drive

Shipyard, The is a climbing area in Utah with 8 routes, 6 difficulty grades, and traditional climbing style.

Buttress Two (Bond Buttress)Photo: logopop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Buttress Two (Bond Buttress)

~3 min drive

7 traditional climbing routes at Buttress Two (Bond Buttress) in Utah.

Shady CragPhoto: logopop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Shady Crag

~3 min drive

Shady Crag in Utah has 11 trad routes across 7 difficulty grades.