6) Middle Earth
Versatile Washington crag with routes for multiple skill levels.
- 7 routes
- 5.6 – 5.11a
- Sport · Trad · Mixed
Is 6) Middle Earth open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Tonasket Ranger District. It doesn't name 6) Middle Earth, so check the source for the area it covers.
Sinlahekin Fire Closure Terminated on Tonasket Ranger District
Agency closure covering Tonasket Ranger District · Order 06-21-09-26-15 · USFS · Tonasket Ranger District
Colville National Forest Terminates Fire Public Use Restrictions
Agency alert covering Colville National Forest · Order 06-21-00-26-14 · USFS · Colville National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Tonasket Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit 6) Middle Earth
Best months: May–September. 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
29° / 16°
Feb
33° / 19°
Mar
41° / 26°
Apr
51° / 32°
May
60° / 41°
Jun
67° / 46°
Jul
77° / 52°
Aug
77° / 52°
Sep
68° / 44°
Oct
52° / 33°
Nov
36° / 25°
Dec
28° / 16°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tonasket 11ne, WA, 1.3 mi away at 3,434 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Middle Earth is a climbing area in the Tonasket Ranger District of Colville National Forest in north-central Washington, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, including Burge Boulders and Burge Mountain (Tonasket), all within about a tenth of a mile. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tonasket show July and August highs around 77°F with lows near 52°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The area has seven routes, with sport climbing making up most of them. Grades range from 5.6 to 5.11a, and the hardest is The Dark End of the Street. There and Back Again is the only trad route, at 5.7. Nearby, National Forest Development Road 260 offers cross-country skiing about 2 miles away, and Antoine is a hike about 5 miles off. For camping, Tonasket RV Park is about 9 miles away and Bonaparte Lake Campground is about 10 miles away.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
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Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)West Side
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Photo: BLM Oregon & Washington, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)East Side
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