Wyoming's Best Rock Climbing Routes

For adventurous climbers looking to stray from the crowds, Wyoming offers opportunities that very few other states can match. From blue collar off-width climbing in Vedauwoo, to remote sport-climbing in Ten Sleep, to long and exciting alpine routes in the Wind River Range and Grand Tetons, Wyoming is as rugged as they come. It’s true that the climbing areas here are more remote than those in Colorado or California for example, but the trade-off is far less suitors to contend with and a more authentic wilderness experience. The terrain is rugged, the approaches are long, and only the Grand Tetons are within one hour of an airport. Still, the climbing in Wyoming is so good that we can’t help but encourage you to make the trip. 

Bouldering and Sport Climbing

Wyoming is better known for alpine and trad climbing, but the state actually offers up a plethora of good boulders and sport climbs as well. Lander is the most notable of these locations—it features close access to Sinks Canyon (which has a wealth of good bouldering and sport climbing on three different kinds of rock), and also is near to Wild Iris, a popular sport climbing and bouldering area on solid, pocketed limestone. Sinks Canyon is an impressive array of sandstone, granite, and limestone boulders, as well as tall limestone sport walls. Wild Iris has shorter walls, but also features a wealth of awesome sport climbs and cool boulder problems. Since it is a bit higher higher in elevation, Wild Iris is a better choice for summer climbing. Sinks, meanwhile, is great in the shoulder seasons. You can often be climbing in a t-shirt when it’s puffy weather just a few miles away in town. Vedauwoo also has a smattering of funky boulder problems and is the closest destination to Denver International Airport. If you have wheels and time, think about checking out Ten Sleep Canyon—it’s in the middle of nowhere, but its vertical limestone walls are out of this world.

Must-do route: More Funky than Gunky

Guidebook: Lander Sport Climbs by Steve Bechtel
 

Alpine Climbing

The Wind River Range and Grand Teton National Park are two of the best alpine climbing areas in the United States. Dizzying exposure and marginal weather combine with remote backcountry to make these climbing areas as real as they come. That said, they are not only for seasoned veterans: the Tetons feature a number of approachable moderates and a selection of superb guide services help less experienced climbers reach some of the country’s dreamiest summits. Not to be missed are Wolf’s Head and Pingora in the Wind River Range’s Cirque of the Towers, and virtually all of the peaks in the Grand Tetons!  

The airport in Jackson is the closest access point to these areas and is a beautiful place to visit in its own right. Most of your alpine climbing in Wyoming has to occur during the summer; quick and capable climbers can get away with some spring and fall days and expert climbers find world-class ski mountaineering throughout the winter.

Must-do route: The Grand Teton’s Owen Spalding

Guidebook: A Climber's Guide to the Teton Range by Leigh Ortenburger

Trad Climbing

Devil’s Tower National Monument, which shoots up out of the Wyoming prairie to an elevation of over 5,000 feet, is one of the most unique rock formations in the country. With literally hundreds of parallel cracks running high into the sky, it is a premier location for trad climbing. The most popular route is Durrance, which can get crowded but is a superb off-width climb that goes all the way to the summit. Before heading to Devil’s Tower, make sure to check with the park service for possible closures—sections of the monument can be closed when prairie falcons are nesting. Interestingly, Devil’s Tower was the first National Monument in the United States, established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. 

If thrashing your way up a sharp crystal covered off-width crack with taped up hands and a carrhart bodysuit is your idea of a good time, then Vedauwoo is the place for you. There are few other places in the world with such a consistent and dense concentration of high quality off-width climbs.  Although off-widths are about as difficult and painful as rock climbing gets, the novelty alone makes it worth a visit to this truly western climbing area outside of Laramie. Located only a few hours from Denver, this is the closest Wyoming location to a major international airport and a great place to start your climbing trip. If something a little less masochistic suits your fancy, there also is a lot of good bouldering and hand cracks here too. And you can climb here eight months a year.

Must-do route: Edward’s Crack