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Black Cliffs
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Dark Side, The 
East Car Body Canyon 
Face Canyon 
Fringe, The 
Green Acres 
Highway Face 
Mid Cliffs 
New Fringe, The 
Populace Wall 
Rodeo Flips Wall 
Short Cliffs 
Tall Cliffs 
West Car Body Canyon 

Rest Day:
Nearby Mountain Bike Rides

Red Cliffs to Sidewinder to Hulls
A nice, fun, short loop perfect for a quick hit after work. Near Boise City, ID
Red Cliff to Bobs to Lower Hulls
A great loop featuring two of the best descents in the lower foothills. Near Boise City, ID
Corrals Trail
A mellow ride that can be used to access Hard Guy or Bob's from either Bogus Basin Rd or 8th St. Near Boise City, ID
Hard Guy to Dry Creek Loop
A long climb that will test your legs and lungs, followed by a drop into a gorgeous shady drainage. Near Boise City, ID
Crestline Trail
A super highway that connects the tops of Kestrel Trail, Red Cliffs Trail, and Lower Hulls Gulch. Near Boise City, ID
Hard Guy
One of the better leg and lung buster ascents in the area. Near Garden City, ID
From MP's sister site: MTB Project

Black Cliffs 


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Seasonal Raptor Closures.


Ryan Flynn first time climbing in the Black Cliffs

Description 

The Black Cliffs provide year round climbing if you don't mind being cold in the winter. Summer days are really hot so spring and fall tend to be the best times a the Black Cliffs. The rock is all basalt. Access is easy and the cliffs usually aren't crowded. The guidebook Boise Climbs by Sandy Epeldi is a great thing to have if you are going to be climbing the Black Cliffs. You can pick it up at REI or Benchmark.


Getting There 

Take Highway 84 to the Gowen Rd/Highway 21 exit. Take Highway 21 towards Lucky Peak. The cliffs will be on both sides of the river. Park in the parking lots and choose a trail up.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Black Cliffs:
Toddler   5.6     Sport, TR, 40 feet   Short Cliffs
Fat Ankles   5.7     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Mid Cliffs
Little Nest   5.7     Trad, Sport, 60 feet   Populace Wall
Stems and Jammies   5.8     Trad, 60 feet   Populace Wall
Sweet Adene   5.8     Sport, 55 feet   Populace Wall
White Wash   5.9     Sport, 55 feet   Populace Wall
Ajax   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   Mid Cliffs
Trimmed Bush   5.10a     Trad, 40 feet   Short Cliffs
Perception vs. Reality   5.10a     Sport, 55 feet   Populace Wall
Mystery Route   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Short Cliffs
Circumciser   5.10b     Sport, 75 feet   Tall Cliffs
Pabst Smear   5.10b     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   West Car Body Canyon
Stone Tools   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 40 feet   The New Fringe
Thursday Knights   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   West Car Body Canyon
Macabre Roof   5.10b     Trad, 50 feet   East Car Body Canyon
Fairway to Heaven   5.10b     Sport, 50 feet   Green Acres
The Garden   5.10c     Trad, 50 feet   Green Acres
Lights Out   5.11a     Sport, 60 feet   Face Canyon
Bologna Pony   5.11a     Sport, 40 feet   Short Cliffs
Unknown Leon   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Short Cliffs
Browse More Classics in Black Cliffs

Featured Route For Black Cliffs
Cory at the 'jug' on his send of Lights Out.

Lights Out 5.11a  ID : Black Cliffs : Face Canyon
Starts out with easy stemming to the high first bolt, then goes left onto the arete for the rest of the way. One hard move passing the first bolt is followed up with fun jug pulling for the next couple bolts. After the third bolt the business begins, with fun crimps and sidepulls the rest of the way....[more]   Browse More Classics in ID


Photos of Black Cliffs Slideshow Add Photo
More climbing in the Black Cliffs

More climbing in the Black Cliffs

Ryan Flynn working a route at the Black Cliffs

Ryan Flynn working a route at the Black Cliffs


Comments on Black Cliffs Add Comment
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By bheller
From: SL UT
May 22, 2010

Some of my best days at the black cliffs were on sunny cold winter days on the south facing cliffs and blistering hot days spent hiding in the shade on the north facing cliffs. The north and south sides have entireley different approaches. Consult Epeldi's book for the best published info for the south side approaches. The black cliffs can be a really fun place to climb, but it is by no means a destination. Out of the 100's of climbs, most are boringly similar. There are a handful of standouts though. The area is composed of numerous crags that are in close proximity. Digging in my memory for the standout sport climbs...Bologne Pony 10d-short cliffs, Unknown Leon 11a-short cliffs, Jet Screamin Hooter Queens 11b-tall cliffs, Pictures of Lily 11b-west car body canyon, Men Who Pause 11d-scary canyon, Beef Curtain 10d-scary canyon, Boise Gun Fighter 11d-scary canyon, The Groveller 11d-the dark side, Chassin a Snake 11d-the dark side, Sexual Underground 11c-easter island, Ehrlichman 12c-the nixon head, Watergate 13a-the nixon head.