Washington · Rock climbing · Skykomish

Half Moon Crag

Half Moon Crag in Washington has 5 climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.

5 routes
5.6 – 5.10b
Alpine

Is Half Moon Crag open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It doesn't name Half Moon Crag, 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 Half Moon Crag

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

    32° / 25°

    20 wet

  2. Feb

    35° / 26°

    17 wet

  3. Mar

    40° / 29°

    20 wet

  4. Apr

    46° / 33°

    19 wet

  5. May

    53° / 38°

    17 wet

  6. Jun

    60° / 43°

    14 wet

  7. Jul

    68° / 50°

    8 wet

  8. Aug

    69° / 51°

    7 wet

  9. Sep

    63° / 47°

    10 wet

  10. Oct

    49° / 38°

    16 wet

  11. Nov

    38° / 30°

    19 wet

  12. Dec

    32° / 24°

    20 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stampede Pass, WA, 34.7 mi away at 3,959 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. 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

Half Moon Crag is an alpine climbing area in Washington's Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, within the Skykomish Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the crag sits among a cluster of climbing spots in the Skykomish backcountry, with River Boulder about half a mile away and The Grotto roughly 0.7 miles off. The area's five routes are all alpine in style, ranging from 5.6 to 5.10b. Artic Rose is the easiest at 5.6, and Asymptotic is the hardest at 5.10b. The routes were first climbed between 1987 and 2004, with David Whitelaw among the names most often attached to the early ascents. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Stampede Pass weather station put July and August highs around 68 to 69°F with lows near 50°F and only seven or eight wet days a month, while winter highs sit around freezing. Grace Lakes Trail and Grace Lakes Cat Track are about a mile away, and the Tye River offers paddling a little over 2 miles off. For an overnight, Evergreen Mountain Lookout is about 9 miles away.

Routes (5)