Climbing the Gorge's Sandstone Cliffs

The stone is full of cracks and faces, so climbers have plenty of lines to choose from. Most climbs are a single pitch, and some cliffs have large roofs overhead.

The park is known for rock climbing, with over 1,400 established routes. Most routes are aimed at advanced and expert climbers, and the majority are rated 5.9 or harder. Many sport routes fall between 5.10 and 5.12. Because of that, real experience and good safety habits matter before you head up. A guidebook is a practical way to find climbs, and local climbing shops can suggest specific routes.

For a look at the cliffs without a rope, the Endless Wall Trail follows overlooks along a chain of Nuttall sandstone ridges high above the gorge. Covering about 2.8 miles, the loop typically takes one to two hours and gains around 400 feet. The trail is rated easy to moderate, and you can also hike out and back instead.

Climbers can go any time of year, though spring and fall tend to be the best seasons. Visitors may camp primitively on land the park owns, and many private campgrounds sit a short drive from the climbing areas. Visitors can pay for showers at many of those campgrounds.

The Canyon Rim Visitor Center is the main place to get area information and learn about the park's natural and cultural history. Water is available there. Sandstone and red oak were used in its construction so the building blends with the exposed sandstone ledges of the gorge.