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Wyoming · Rock Climbing
Hoback, Wyoming sits in the canyon country south of Jackson, and the rock climbing here has a personality to match the region — rugged, a little rowdy, and worth the drive. Rodeo Wall is the main event, a concentrated crag that packs a solid lineup of routes into one accessible area.
15 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 15 spots
Hoback, Wyoming sits in the canyon country south of Jackson, and the rock climbing here has a personality to match the region — rugged, a little rowdy, and worth the drive. Rodeo Wall is the main event, a concentrated crag that packs a solid lineup of routes into one accessible area. The route names alone tell you something about the local sense of humor: Bulldoggin', Rodeo Queen, Cowgirls Wear Chaps Only, 8 Second Ride. These aren't routes named by committee. The wall leans toward sport climbing and draws climbers who want real movement on real rock without the circus of more famous Wyoming destinations. Routes like Betty Tendon Blaster and Quickdraw McGraw suggest the climbing gets technical and sustained in places, while Middle Route and Alive in Wyoming round out a list that gives visiting climbers options across a range of styles. Hoback Canyon itself is a working landscape — the highway runs through it, the river runs alongside it — so this isn't a wilderness approach situation. You park, you walk, you climb. That accessibility is part of the appeal, especially for climbers who want to maximize time on rock rather than on trail.
Rodeo Wall is the primary crag in the area, and it's where you'll find the bulk of the 15 listed routes, including Redman, Buck Dancer, Thelma, Louise, and Copenhagen. It's a single concentrated wall rather than a sprawling multi-sector area, so you can sample a good range of routes in a single day.
The route names like Betty Tendon Blaster and 8 Second Ride suggest the wall has some demanding lines that will challenge intermediate to advanced climbers. That said, Middle Route implies a more moderate option exists. If you're a newer leader, it's worth researching specific grades before committing to the drive, since Hoback doesn't have the volume of beginner terrain you'd find at a larger destination crag.
Cowgirls Wear Chaps Only
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
Rodeo Wall
Wyoming climbing area with varied routes and accessible rock.
Variation
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
Buck Dancer
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
Goat Cave, The
~19 min drive
Wyoming cave climbing with overhanging terrain and natural shelter.
Thelma
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
McFlatus Roof Area
~19 min drive
Steep roof climbing in Wyoming with technical overhang sequences.
Louise
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
Hoback Shield Right
~19 min drive
Shield granite climbing on featured faces in Wyoming's Hoback area.
I Against I
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
Hoback Shield Left
~20 min drive
Classic Wyoming shield climbing in scenic Hoback Canyon.
8 Second Ride
A worthwhile stop near Wyoming.
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Rock climbing
Hoback, Wyoming
Late spring through early fall is generally the usable window in this part of Wyoming. Snow can linger into May at elevation, and early-season conditions in the canyon can be cold and wet. Summer mornings are typically the best bet before afternoon heat builds, though Hoback Canyon can also see afternoon thunderstorms in July and August. Fall — September into October — often brings stable weather and cooler temps that are ideal for harder climbing.
Rodeo Wall appears to be primarily a sport climbing area based on the route list, so a standard sport rack with a dozen or more quickdraws, a 60-meter rope, and a belay device covers the basics. Bring more draws than you think you need if you're projecting longer routes like Quickdraw McGraw. Helmets are always worth it on canyon walls where rockfall from other parties is possible.
Hoback Canyon runs along US-191/89 south of Jackson, and Rodeo Wall is accessible from the highway corridor. Approaches in this canyon tend to be short rather than long trail hikes. Check current conditions before heading out, as the canyon road can be affected by rockfall or seasonal closures, and parking pullouts along the highway have limited space.
