Washington · Rock climbing · North Bend

Gritscone

Gritscone in Washington has 15 climbing routes across 10 grades, featuring bouldering pads, sport, and trad.

GritsconePhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
15 routes
5.0 – 5.11b
Sport · Trad · Bouldering

Is Gritscone open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It doesn't name Gritscone, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Best time to visit Gritscone

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

    39° / 32°

    19 wet · 5 snow

  2. Feb

    42° / 32°

    17 wet · 4 snow

  3. Mar

    46° / 33°

    20 wet · 4 snow

  4. Apr

    51° / 36°

    19 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    59° / 42°

    17 wet

  6. Jun

    63° / 46°

    15 wet

  7. Jul

    70° / 51°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    71° / 52°

    8 wet

  9. Sep

    64° / 47°

    12 wet

  10. Oct

    54° / 41°

    17 wet

  11. Nov

    44° / 36°

    20 wet · 2 snow

  12. Dec

    39° / 31°

    20 wet · 5 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cedar Lake, WA, 6.2 mi away at 1,560 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

Gritscone is a climbing area in Washington's Snoqualmie Ranger District, part of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It sits within the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area, on land managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. Three other climbing areas and a trail lie right beside it, making this a compact cluster of boulders, sport and trad routes. The climbing here runs from easy to intermediate. Among the 15 routes are A Little Crack Makes Me Laugh, a trad climb at 5.0, and Rough Cut, a sport route at 5.11. Needle Magnet is a sport 5.7, and So Funny I Forgot to Rope Up 5.7 is another sport climb with a similar grade. The area also has a boulder problem. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cedar Lake run to highs around 70°F in July and August, with fewer wet days than the rest of the year. Winters there are cold and snowy, with highs near 39°F and about five snow days a month from December through February. Tinkham Campground is about 3.4 miles away, and the Cedar River offers paddling about 4.8 miles out. Rhino Boulders and the Climbing Access Loop Trail are both within a tenth of a mile.

Routes (15)

A Little Crack Makes Me LaughFA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.0UnknownFA: Unknown, 2019 or 20205.10-Booty SquirrelFA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.10cRough CutFA: Bryan Burdo 20005.11A Girl's Best FriendFA: Bryan Burdo, Sarah Leonard 20005.11bSo Easy I Forgot to Laugh5.5The BeginningFA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.6Needle MagnetFA: Bryan Burdo 20005.7Pete's Possum PalaceFA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.7Snaffle BafflerFA: Bryan Burdo 20005.7So Funny I Forgot to Rope Up 5.7FA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.7Timber MagnateFA: MJ & Quynh Le 20205.799 GritFA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.8+Chica RapidaFA: Bryan Burdo, Leland Windham, Sarah Leonard 19995.9Magnetic AnomalyFA: Bryan Burdo 20005.9

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