Wyoming · Rock climbing · Laramie

John's Tower

John's Tower in Wyoming has 29 climbing routes with bouldering pads, sport, and trad.

29 routes
5.6 – 5.12a
Trad · Bouldering · Sport

Is John's Tower open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

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

Best time to visit John's Tower

Best months: May–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

    33° / 12°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    35° / 15°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    44° / 21°

    8 wet

  4. Apr

    51° / 28°

    11 wet

  5. May

    60° / 36°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    73° / 46°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    81° / 52°

    11 wet

  8. Aug

    79° / 49°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    72° / 43°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    56° / 31°

    8 wet

  11. Nov

    43° / 23°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    34° / 14°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Laramie 4se, WY, 9.7 mi away at 7,390 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.

John's Tower is a climbing area in the Laramie Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Wyoming, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Little John's Meditation Boulder just 0.1 mile away and North Corner and The Heap each about 0.2 mile off. The area is a compact hub of trad routes, with a few boulders and a single sport route to round it out. The climbing here runs from about 5.6 up to 5.12 on the YDS scale, with the median grade around 5.10. Trad is the dominant style, and the routes are well named, including Champagne and PBR at 5.6, Steppin' Out at 5.8, and The Day Saver at 5.12. The boulders, Little John's Meditation Boulder and The Heap, sit close by. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Laramie show July highs around 81°F with lows near 52°F, while winter highs stay in the low 30s. That station sits about 965 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures at the tower run cooler. For a longer stay, Vedauwoo Campground is about 2.8 miles away, and Pole Creek Group Campground is about 4.1 miles off. The Blair Trail and Regolith Trail are both within a mile.

Routes (29)

30 is the new 50 AKA Slim PickinsFA: Oliander Jax Nusuphlea, August 26, 20175.10Burning MonFA: (Probably FA) Cory Fleagle / Liz Donley, 7/3/115.10Seventeen PantomimesFA: Pete Takeda, Bob Scarpelli5.10Yellow BellyFA: Wade Griffith, Bob Scarpelli5.10Double Dippin'FA: Skip Harper, 19965.10cUltra VioletsFA: Bob Scarpelli and Mike Nicsich, 19805.10dBlood ClotFA: Some non-local5.11Iron Maiden a.k.a. Blood DriveFA: Andy Johnson5.11Jamminy CrackitFA: Skip Harper, et al.5.11-Burning ManFA: Wade Griffith, Bob Scarpelli5.11aHouse of CardsFA: Jim Brink, Paul Heyliger5.11aRoofinitFA: Harper and Thomas, '965.11a/bRose HipsFA: Pete Takeda, John Dickey, Bob Scarpelli5.11dThe Day SaverFA: Cedar Wright and Nelissa Milfeld5.12Married On MorphineFA: Pete Takeda and Jen Hanft5.12-Iron CrossFA: Aaron Ramras5.12aSoul FireFA: Wade Griffith, Nicole Korfanta5.12aChampagne and PBR5.6Taco FillingFA: Rob Kelman / Jim Brink ( July 2005 )5.6BeckerFA: Rick Horn and Keith Becker, 19595.7Big House5.8It's Bloody SolidFA: Harper, Jurkowitsch, and Mallamo ('96)5.8Steppin' OutFA: Wade Griffith, Nicole Korfanta5.8Right of Vowel Movement5.8+Diagonal Crack5.9Fun HouseFA: Wade Griffith, Mark Jenkins5.9Vowel Movement5.9-Corridor CrackV2-3Chocolate HotdogFA: Brad JacksonV6-7

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