Madsen's Buttress
Madsen's Buttress in Washington has 8 routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
- 8 routes
- 5.7+ – 5.13b
- Trad · Sport
Is Madsen's Buttress open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for Wenatchee River Ranger District.
Little Giant Fire Closure Order Reduced on the Wenatchee River and Entiat Ranger District
Agency alert covering Wenatchee River Ranger District · Order 06-17-07-2026-46 · USFS · Wenatchee River Ranger District
Cle Elum River Restoration Area Closure on the Cle Elum Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Gold Creek Restoration Project Area Closure on Cle Elum Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Grouse Creek Aquatic Project Road Closure on the Wenatchee River Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Termination of Stage 1 Public Use Restrictions and Campfire Ban
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · Order 06-17-00-2026-16 · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Wenatchee River Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Madsen's Buttress
Best months: April–June and September–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
34° / 19°
14 wet
Feb
42° / 21°
10 wet
Mar
52° / 26°
9 wet
Apr
61° / 32°
7 wet
May
71° / 40°
7 wet
Jun
77° / 46°
5 wet
Jul
87° / 51°
3 wet
Aug
87° / 50°
3 wet
Sep
78° / 42°
4 wet
Oct
62° / 33°
9 wet
Nov
44° / 26°
13 wet
Dec
34° / 20°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Leavenworth 3 S, WA, 2 mi away at 1,128 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Madsen's Buttress is a climbing area in the Wenatchee River Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with Underhill and the Snow Lakes Trail both about 0.1 mile away. The area has eight routes, seven of which are trad and one sport. Grades run from 5.7+ up to 5.13b, with Madsen's Chimney and The Visor among the standouts. Madsen's Chimney was first climbed by Jim Madsen, and La Bamba is a sport route at 5.12a. Summer is the warmest stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Leavenworth show July and August highs around 87°F with lows near 50°F and only about three wet days a month. Winter is cold, with January highs around 34°F and lows near 19°F. Nearby, Eightmile Group Site offers camping about 2.7 miles away, and Peshastin Creek, a paddling spot, is about 5.7 miles off.
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