Washington · Rock climbing · North Bend

Substation

Substation in Washington has 19 sport climbing routes across 10 grades.

SubstationPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
19 routes
5.6 – 5.11a
Sport

Is Substation open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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, 4.6 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

Substation is a sport climbing area in Washington's Iron Horse State Park, within the Snoqualmie Ranger District of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The land is managed by State Park and Recreation, and the area sits among several other climbing spots, including Write-off Rock and Obelisk Boulder, both about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is all sport, with 19 routes spread across a range from 5.6 to 5.11+. The median grade is 5.10b, and the hardest route is Stick Boy at 5.11+. Among the named routes are Homo Erectus (5.6), Lovey-Dovey (5.10a) and Chain Smokin' (5.10c). Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the Cedar Lake weather station, about 4.6 miles away, show July and August highs around 70°F with only eight or nine wet days a month, while winter brings highs near 39°F and regular snow days. Hall Creek Trail and Zig Zag Trail are both about 0.4 mile away. Tinkham Campground is about 5 miles off, and the Cedar River offers paddling about 5 miles away.

Routes (19)

Lovey-DoveyFA: Brian Burdo5.10aBwana Be Your ManFA: Bryan Burdo (1994)5.10bNamby-PambyFA: Brian Burdo5.10bSubliminalFA: Brian Burdo5.10bChain Smokin'FA: Curtis Gibson & Dale Fleshman (2001)5.10cSavannah Daydreamin'FA: Mack Johnson & Brad Albro (July 2000)5.10cSlippery When WetFA: Bryan Burdo5.10cYou're Only Nice to Me When You're WetFA: Bryan Burdo5.10cSubversiveFA: Bryan Burdo5.10dYou're Only Nice to Me When I Tie You UpFA: Bryan Burdo5.10dStick BoyFA: Mike and Laura Orr5.11+Hangover HelperFA: Bryan Burdo5.11aHomo ErectusFA: Bryan Burdo, 19945.6Glob JobFA: Bryan Burdo, 19945.7Rug MonkeyFA: Bryan Burdo, 19945.7Turf SafariFA: Bryan Burdo (1994)5.7Glom Don5.8-Hurly-BurlyFA: Bryan Burdo5.9Primordial Blues5.9

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Write-off RockPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Write-off Rock

~0 min drive

Write-off Rock is a Washington climbing crag with 7 routes.

Obelisk BoulderPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Obelisk Boulder

~0 min drive

Obelisk Boulder in Washington has 12 bouldering routes across 4 grades.

Deception CragsPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deception Crags

~0 min drive

Deception Crags in Washington has 5 sport climbing routes on 5 difficulty grades.

Lean-To BouldersPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lean-To Boulders

~0 min drive

Lean-To Boulders in Washington has 13 bouldering routes across 8 grades.

Mt WashingtonPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mt Washington

~0 min drive

Mt Washington in Washington has 4 sport climbing routes ranging from 5.11 to 5.12a.

Deception WallPhoto: Sam Howzit, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deception Wall

~0 min drive

Deception Wall in Washington has 18 sport climbing routes across 12 difficulty grades.

Shakespeare WallPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Shakespeare Wall

~0 min drive

Shakespeare Wall in Washington has 5 sport climbing routes.

We Did RockPhoto: Sam Howzit, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

We Did Rock

~0 min drive

13 sport climbing routes at We Did Rock in Washington, spanning 9 difficulty grades.

Hall Creek RockPhoto: Sam Howzit, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hall Creek Rock

~1 min drive

Hall Creek Rock in Washington has 6 sport climbing routes across 4 difficulty grades.

AmazoniaPhoto: bgreenlee, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Amazonia

~1 min drive

Amazonia is a Washington climbing crag with 15 routes, 7 grades, sport and trad.