Utah · Rock climbing · Virgin

Moonlight Buttress

Moonlight Buttress in Utah has 7 climbing routes with mixed and trad styles.

Moonlight ButtressPhoto: Outdoor Craziness, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
7 routes
5.8 – 5.12c
Trad · Mixed

Is Moonlight Buttress open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Zion National Park. It doesn't name Moonlight Buttress, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Watchman Trail closed

    Park closure covering Zion National Park · NPS · Zion National Park

  • Toxic cyanobacteria in rivers, streams, and pools

    Park alert covering Zion National Park · NPS · Zion National Park

  • Large vehicle restrictions on Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway

    Park alert covering Zion National Park · NPS · Zion National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Zion National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Moonlight Buttress

Best months: February–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

    54° / 30°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    58° / 34°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    66° / 39°

    8 wet

  4. Apr

    73° / 44°

    6 wet

  5. May

    83° / 53°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    95° / 62°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    100° / 70°

    5 wet

  8. Aug

    98° / 69°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    91° / 61°

    5 wet

  10. Oct

    78° / 49°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    64° / 37°

    5 wet

  12. Dec

    53° / 29°

    6 wet · 1 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Zion Np, UT, 5 mi away at 4,038 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Moonlight Buttress is a climbing area in Zion National Park in Utah, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of trails and climbing spots in the park, with Angels Landing Trail and Walter's Wiggles each about 0.2 miles away. The area draws climbers to its mix of traditional and mixed routes. There are seven routes in all, ranging from 5.8 to 5.12c, with most falling between 5.10 and 5.11. The Moonlight Buttress (Clean Aid) is the easiest at 5.8, while The Moonlight Buttress (Free) is the hardest at 5.12c. Looney Tunes and Lunar Ecstasy are the two mixed routes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 73°F in April and 78°F in October, while July highs average about 100°F. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the buttress, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Watchman Campground is about 5.8 miles away, and the North Fork Virgin River offers paddling about 8 miles off.

Routes (7)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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