Washington · Rock climbing · Naches

Rainbow Rocks

Rainbow Rocks in Washington has 6 climbing routes with sport and trad options.

6 routes
5.9 – 5.12-
Sport · Trad

Is Rainbow Rocks open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

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

Best time to visit Rainbow Rocks

Best months: March–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.

  1. Jan

    40° / 27°

  2. Feb

    48° / 30°

  3. Mar

    57° / 34°

  4. Apr

    65° / 40°

  5. May

    74° / 48°

  6. Jun

    80° / 54°

  7. Jul

    88° / 60°

  8. Aug

    88° / 59°

  9. Sep

    79° / 51°

  10. Oct

    64° / 40°

  11. Nov

    49° / 32°

  12. Dec

    38° / 26°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yakima #2, WA, 19.8 mi away at 1,142 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.

Rainbow Rocks is a climbing area in Washington's Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, within the Naches Ranger District and the Oak Creek Wildlife Area Complex. The land is managed by State Fish and Wildlife, and the area sits among several other climbing spots, including The Chunkyard, just 0.1 mile away, and Mark's Wall, about 0.8 mile off. The climbing here is sport and trad, with six routes in total. The grades run from 5.9 up to 5.12-, with the hardest being Angle of Refraction at 5.12-. Short Spectrum is the only trad route, at 5.9, and the rest are sport. Chocolate Face is 5.10d, and Black Celebration is 5.11a. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Yakima show May highs around 74°F and September highs near 79°F, while July and August average about 88°F. That station sits roughly 1,300 feet lower than the area, so temperatures at Rainbow Rocks run cooler. Bear Canyon Trail is about 2 miles away, and Windy Point Campground is about 2.5 miles off. Paddlers can reach South Fork Cowiche Creek, about 6 miles away, and the Tieton River, about 6.6 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive