Washington · Rock climbing · Index

Beetle Bailey Slab

Beetle Bailey Slab in Washington has 18 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

Beetle Bailey SlabPhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
18 routes
5.6 – 5.11b
Trad · Sport

Is Beetle Bailey Slab open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It doesn't name Beetle Bailey Slab, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Best time to visit Beetle Bailey Slab

Best months: July–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.

  1. Jan

    42° / 31°

    20 wet · 4 snow

  2. Feb

    47° / 32°

    17 wet · 2 snow

  3. Mar

    52° / 34°

    19 wet · 2 snow

  4. Apr

    59° / 38°

    18 wet

  5. May

    66° / 44°

    16 wet

  6. Jun

    69° / 48°

    13 wet

  7. Jul

    77° / 52°

    7 wet

  8. Aug

    77° / 52°

    7 wet

  9. Sep

    71° / 48°

    11 wet

  10. Oct

    58° / 41°

    16 wet

  11. Nov

    47° / 36°

    20 wet · 2 snow

  12. Dec

    41° / 32°

    20 wet · 5 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Baring, WA, 5.4 mi away at 770 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Closures we've recorded since August 2026

  • Campfire Ban in Effect Forest-wide

    Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · Order dated July 21, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 15, 2026 · Forest Service

Beetle Bailey Slab is a climbing area in Washington's Forks of the Sky state park, within the Skykomish Ranger District of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The land is managed by State Park and Recreation, and the slab sits among several other climbing spots, including The Wart and Walking Legend Wall, both about 0.1 mile away. The area has 18 routes, with 12 in trad and 6 in sport. Grades run from 5.6 up to 5.11b, with the median around 5.10b. Among the named routes are Hedge Trimmer at 5.6, Index Archeology at 5.8+, and Metal at 5.11b. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Baring show July and August highs around 77°F with only about seven wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the low 40s and frequent snow days. The Index Town Wall Trail starts about 0.4 mile away, and the Crescent Trail is about 0.7 mile off. Heybrook Lookout, a campground, is about 2.1 miles away, and Anderson Creek offers canoeing about 1.6 miles away.

Routes (18)

Flying Salamanders (Full)FA: A.Wood, G.Shank, D.Taylor5.10aRope Eating MiceFA: Gabe Shank, Doug Taylor, Adam Wood5.10a/bRacer XFA: Darryl Cramer, Terry Lien5.10bEverything HertzFA: Jeff Kljaich, Doug Taylor, Adam Wood, Gabe Shank5.10b/cLarry’s Gaily Colored LycraFA: FA TR Cramer Lein FFA Grafton Gerberding5.10b/cArgentinosaurusFA: Dave Anderson, Bruce Carson, Doug Taylor, Gabe Webster, Adam Wood5.10cCupcake5.10cRide the LightningFA: P1 A. Wood, D. Taylor P2 D. Taylor, G. Shank P3/4 FA A. Wood, J. Mack, S. McAmis5.10c36 Volts to AnywhereFA: p1 A.Wood, G. Shank, D.Taylor p2-3, A. Wood, D. Taylor, M. Rynkiewicz, G. Webster5.10dBeetle Bailey P1FA: FA: Bruce Garrett, Don Heller FFA: D. Cramer, B. Scott5.10dBeetle Bailey P2FA: Bruce Garrett, Don Heller. FFA p2 Terry Lien,Darryl Cramer,Brian Scott. FA var. p2 Byan Burdo5.11aMetal5.11bHedge TrimmerFA: Adam Wood and Gabe Shank5.6Flying Salamanders (Short)FA: Gabe Shank and Jerome Graham5.7Michal's 5.5 (5.8)FA: M Rynkiewicz, Adam Wood, Doug Taylor, Will Buchanan, Doug Teague5.8Index ArcheologyFA: Max Dufford5.8+Behind the TombstoneFA: Doug Taylor, Adam Wood 20195.9Smilodon FatalisFA: Douglas Taylor, Gabe Webster, Gabe Shank5.9

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