The Recess
The Recess in Utah has 14 traditional climbing routes across 10 difficulty grades.
- 14 routes
- 5.5 – 5.11b
- Trad
Is Recess, The open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit The Recess
Best months: May–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.
Jan
35° / 15°
9 wet · 8 snow
Feb
38° / 17°
8 wet · 7 snow
Mar
47° / 25°
9 wet · 5 snow
Apr
55° / 30°
9 wet · 3 snow
May
65° / 36°
8 wet · 1 snow
Jun
76° / 43°
6 wet
Jul
84° / 50°
5 wet
Aug
83° / 49°
6 wet
Sep
74° / 41°
6 wet
Oct
59° / 31°
7 wet · 1 snow
Nov
45° / 23°
8 wet · 4 snow
Dec
34° / 16°
8 wet · 7 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Kamas, UT, 13 mi away at 6,481 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Recess is a climbing area in the Heber-Kamas Ranger District of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the forest's central district, about 13 miles from the town of Kamas. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Kamas show July highs around 84°F with lows near 50°F, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and regular snow days from December through March. That station sits well below the climbing area, so temperatures up top run cooler. Soapstone Ponds is just 0.2 miles away, and Shady Dell campground is about 1.8 miles off. Farther out are the North Fork Provo River, roughly 2.1 miles away, and Pine Valley campground at about 3.8 miles.
Routes (14)
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