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Elevation: 3,987 ft
GPS: 48.16136, -121.63795
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Shared By: Matt Perkins on Aug 11, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Jon Nelson, Micah Klesick, Zachary Winters

Description Suggest change

The climbing area traditionally called "Darrington" is a collection of granite domes in the Clear Creek and Squire Creek drainages south of the town of Darrington. Other climbing opportunities in the area include the "D-Ton Boulders," in the White Chuck River drainage about twelve miles southeast of town, and a crag and some boulders on the south slope of Spring Mountain, about eighteen miles southeast of town. Whitehorse Mountain, immediately southwest of town, makes an excellent ski outing in early season during years of high snow cover. The mountains in the area near Darrington include Glacier Peak, Sloan Peak, Whitechuck, and Three Fingers. There is plenty to do around here.

The mountain valleys around Darrington have a remote feel and, except along highway 530, cell phones generally do not work. The scenery is fantastic, and the climbing is varied. The area has seen steady climbing activity for nearly fifty years but rarely do any of these destinations become crowded. The granite in Clear Creek and Squire Creek features multiple pitch routes on generally clean granite with many leading to a summit. Bolt protection is common but traditional gear is generally required. The bouldering at D-Ton offers a variety of problems, mostly in shade, with a very short approach. Spring Mountain has climbs from one to seven pitches on heavily featured rock, with boulders in deep woods below the cliff. Just a few of the routes and boulders in the area are featured here.

The town of Darrington is changing. Formerly centered around mining and logging, the town now caters more toward tourism and a recreation economy and, in recent years, locals have opened a coffee shop, a brewery, a pizza place, etc. Snohomish County, the Forest Service, and the town have worked with the Washington Climbers Coalition and other recreation and access oriented groups to preserve access and promote recreational use in the area for hikers, climbers, boaters, and horse people.

On the west slope of Cascades, Darrington receives two or three times the annual rainfall of Seattle. The area is heavily vegetated and trees grow even on top of boulders or granite domes. Many climbs may remain wet for a day or two after a prolonged wet period.

Information on D-Ton Boulders and Spring Mountain is available here on Mountain Project. Information about the climbing in Clear Creek (Green Giant Buttress, Three O'Clock Rock, Exfoliation Dome, and Squire Creek Wall) is here as well. A PDF guide is downloadable at www.mattsea.com/Darr.

Note: Bring two ropes, ideally 70m, as many of the pitches (single and multi) here require full length rappels. 

Getting There Suggest change

Darrington is on highway 530, about 30 miles east of I-5 at the Arlington, Washington exit. All of the climbs discussed here are approached on Forest Service roads, which are generally well maintained but may sometimes be unsuitable for low clearance cars or even blocked altogether by fallen trees or landslides.

The Squire Creek Road (Forest Service 2040) heads out of the old downtown at the west end of the old main street. The Clear Creek Road (Forest Service 2060) departs the Mountain Loop Highway just under three miles from the main intersection with a gas station and mini mart in the center of town. The White Chuck Road (Forest Service 23) departs the Mountain Loop Highway about nine miles from town, just after the turn off at the new White Chuck bridge. Spring Mountain is on the North Fork road, Forest Service 49, which departs the Mountain Loop Highway just before the bridge over the North Fork of the Sauk River.

134 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Darrington

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 12
Concerto in C for Drill and Hammer
Trad, Alpine 14 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 61
Dreamer
Trad 10 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 105
Silent Running
Trad 7 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 85
Total Soul
Trad 8 pitches
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 12
Flight of the Falcon
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 11
Other Side of the Tracks
Trad 5 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 34
Dark Rhythm
Trad 8 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 50
Excalibur
Trad 10 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 7
The Epic Tail of Sir Norbert
Trad 10 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b A0
 16
Slab Daddy
Trad, Aid 22 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 18
Roan Wall - Center Stage
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 11
Snake Charmer
Trad 6 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 23
Ancient Melodies
Trad 10 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
The Page
Trad, Sport 9 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 15
Jacobs Ladder, 5.10b A-1 or 5.11b
Trad 8 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Concerto in C for Drill and… Squire Creek Wall > S Face
 12
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 14 pitches
Dreamer Green Giant Buttress
 61
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 10 pitches
Silent Running Three O'clock Rock
 105
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 7 pitches
Total Soul Three O'clock Rock
 85
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 8 pitches
Flight of the Falcon Squire Creek Wall > Waterfall Basin
 12
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Other Side of the Tracks Spring Mountain > Main Wall
 11
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 5 pitches
Dark Rhythm Exfoliation Dome > Blueberry Hill & Prox…
 34
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 8 pitches
Excalibur Squire Creek Wall > Illusion Wall
 50
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 10 pitches
The Epic Tail of Sir Norbert Squire Creek Wall > Illusion Wall
 7
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 10 pitches
Slab Daddy Squire Creek Wall > Northern Section
 16
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b A0 Trad, Aid 22 pitches
Roan Wall - Center Stage Squire Creek Wall > Waterfall Basin
 18
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
Snake Charmer Exfoliation Dome > Witch Doctor Wall
 11
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad 6 pitches
Ancient Melodies Exfoliation Dome > Blueberry Hill & Prox…
 23
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad 10 pitches
The Page Squire Creek Wall > Illusion Wall
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad, Sport 9 pitches
Jacobs Ladder, 5.10b A-1 or… Exfoliation Dome > Blueberry Hill & Prox…
 15
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 8 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Darrington »

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