Utah · Rock climbing · Moab

Forming Arch

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

Forming ArchPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.9 – 5.12
Trad

Best time to visit Forming Arch

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, 5.7 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.

Forming Arch is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land within the Moab Field Office in Utah. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with several named areas within a short distance. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 70°F in April to 72°F in October, while July highs average near 99°F and January lows dip to about 22°F. Other climbing areas close by include First Switchback, about 0.3 miles away, and Gin & Tectonics and Long Canyon, each under a mile off. For an overnight stay, Gold Bar Group Sites is about 3.2 miles away.

Routes (6)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

First SwitchbackPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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