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Elevation: 4,473 ft
GPS: 36.12916, -115.4866
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 30,761 total · 134/month
Shared By: John Hegyes on Apr 22, 2005 · Updates
Admins: Luke EF, Larry DeAngelo, Justin Johnsen, Aaron Mc
Warning Access Issue: Red Rock RAIN AND WET ROCK: The sandstone is fragile and is very easily damaged when wet. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Flight Path Area on Bridge Mountain has at least ten quality routes rated from 5.6 to 5.10-, mixed and trad. Most of the routes are broken up into a couple smaller areas, where groups of four routes share common belay/rappel anchors. This is ideal if you'd like to lead up a moderate route and then set up top roping on several more difficult ones. The routes face east and only get sun in the morning. Nearby routes exist to the north in Gemstone Gully and to the south in Stick Gully.

There are a number of new climbs on the upper tiers/ledges of this area on the left side of the Flight Path area (Raptor Tower). The new climbs up high are varied in both quality as well as style, which makes for a fabulous day of climbing and adventure. Some of the routes here have a few spots of questionable rock down low, but don't judge the climbs until you've gotten up past the first 10-20 feet; they mostly get very high quality and fun the rest of the way up and several are really fabulous climbs. It is in a beautiful location and several of the climbs take one to the summit of Raptor Tower which gives amazing views of the both the loop road as well as the titillating Stick Gully found behind.

Getting There Suggest change

From the Pine Creek parking lot, the Flight Path Area is located on Bridge Mountain, well to the right of Straight Shooter Wall.  The preferred way (as outlined in the climbing guide) has been closed by the BLM to allow regrowth in the burn area.   The 'new' (hopefully temporary) access is further down the Pine Creek trail.  

After leaving the parking area, walk about 15 minutes and start looking right (well before reaching Brass Wall) for a climber's path that heads uphill on red sand/rock.  This path is eroded, trek poles are helpful.  Once you reach the height of land you'll see a recently installed barbed wire fence.  Take a left and follow the fence uphill (towards the Straight Shooter Wall) to its end, then take a right and head Northeast along the base of the cliffs.  The angle of the slope here is unforgiving and loose, which makes this part of the approach tedious.  After about 10 minutes you'll cross a wash with a very large boulder, and a few minutes past this reach the left end of the Flight Path area. This approach takes about 45 minutes.

For the routes found on the upper tiers/ledges, there are four ways to reach them:

1. The fastest way is to climb the dirty gully directly above the Idaho routes. Solo (or rope up) any of the Idaho named routes and then begin to climb the gully directly above. Easy scrambling gives way to a dirty and chossy chimney which is best climbed delicately if using the interior feature of the chimney, or it can be stemmed on good rock. This leads to a final very exposed 5th class move which involves stepping across from atop a pedestal to a dead vertical face with decent feet and a large sturdy boulder atop just within arms reach. Good holds are found atop the boulder or around the right side of the boulder. Once here, a final 30 foot continuation up the broken-up gully leads to Falcon Ledge.

2. Climb "Doin' the Good Drive" or "Car Talk" and from the bolted anchors, traverse over on exposed 4th class terrain directly above and to the left of "Commuted Sentence." The traverse eats up small cams.

3. Climb "Commuted Sentence" and top out on the ledge.

4. Climb the first pitch of "Raptor Tower" to gain Falcon Ledge.

25 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Flight Path Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
More Classic Climbs in Flight Path Area »

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