Utah · Rock climbing · Dutch John

Flaming Gorge

Near Dutch John

21 routes
5.7 – 5.12a
Bouldering · Trad · Sport

Is Flaming Gorge open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Ashley National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Flaming Gorge

Best months: May–June and August–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

    37° / 13°

    4 wet · 4 snow

  2. Feb

    40° / 15°

    4 wet · 3 snow

  3. Mar

    50° / 24°

    6 wet · 3 snow

  4. Apr

    57° / 30°

    6 wet · 2 snow

  5. May

    67° / 38°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    79° / 45°

    5 wet

  7. Jul

    87° / 52°

    5 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 52°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    75° / 43°

    6 wet

  10. Oct

    61° / 32°

    5 wet · 1 snow

  11. Nov

    46° / 22°

    4 wet · 3 snow

  12. Dec

    36° / 13°

    4 wet · 4 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Flaming Gorge, UT, 10.5 mi away at 6,244 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Flaming Gorge Fall Prescribed Burn

    Ashley National Forest · Order dated October 7, 2026; seen Oct 7, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

  • Flaming Gorge Reservoir Water Levels

    Ashley National Forest · Order dated May 25, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

Flaming Gorge is a climbing area in Utah's Ashley National Forest, within the Flaming Gorge Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the area sits among a cluster of nearby hiking routes, campgrounds and paddling waters, so it works well as a base for a longer outing. The climbing here is a mix of styles, with 21 routes in total, including 10 boulders, 6 trad climbs and 4 sport routes. Grades run from 5.7 to 5.12a on the YDS scale, and from V0 to V9+ on the V scale. Some of the standouts are Jesse's FCFA (5.7, trad), Please Don't Rain (5.8, trad) and Who's Your Daddy? (5.12a, sport). For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable, with typical averages from a nearby weather station in Flaming Gorge of highs around 67°F in May and 75°F in September. That station sits about 1,450 feet lower than the gorge, so temperatures up high run cooler. Winter brings typical highs in the upper 30s and several snowy days each month from December through February. The closest places to pair with a visit are the Hideout-Carter Creek hike at under 2 miles and the Canyon Rim and Red Canyon (Ashley National Forest) campgrounds, both within 3 miles. The Moose Pond Scenic Byway is about 3.4 miles away.

Routes (21)

Cedar Springs Overlook Wall(2)

Jesse's FCFA5.7Please Don't Rain5.8

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

East Battle ShipPhoto: Carpenter, Kenneth, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Battle Ship

~32 min drive

East Battle Ship is a Utah climbing crag with 6 routes across 6 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

Roadside Formation (Red Fleet State Park Area)Photo: Carpenter, Kenneth, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Roadside Formation (Red Fleet State Park Area)

~33 min drive

Roadside Formation in Utah has 10 routes across 9 difficulty grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad climbing.

Central Battleship FormationPhoto: Carpenter, Kenneth, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Central Battleship Formation

~33 min drive

Central Battleship Formation in Utah has 8 routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Wild MountainPhoto: MJPlante1, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wild Mountain

~1h 3m drive

Wild Mountain in Colorado has 2 climbing routes with mixed and sport styles.

Scout LakePhoto: John Sowell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Scout Lake

~1h 24m drive

Scout Lake in Utah has 11 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Sheep Creek - Windy RidgePhoto: Carpenter, Kenneth, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sheep Creek - Windy Ridge

~20 min drive

Sheep Creek - Windy Ridge in Utah has 3 sport climbing routes.

Castle LakePhoto: John Sowell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Castle Lake

~1h 24m drive

6 climbing routes at Castle Lake in Utah, mixed and trad, 4 difficulty grades.

ShredderPhoto: Carpenter, Kenneth, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Shredder

~17 min drive

Shredder in Utah has 10 routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Picturesque WallPhoto: John Sowell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Picturesque Wall

~1h 24m drive

Picturesque Wall in Utah has 7 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades.

Flat Head

~15 min drive

Flat Head is a bouldering area in Utah with 6 routes.