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Iowa
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Patagonia Men's Mixed Guide Hoody

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CAMP USA - Cassin X-Dream Mixed Ice Pick

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Mammut Swiss Superdry Climbing Rope - 9.5mm

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Backbone State Park 
Chimney Rocks 
Dubuque 
Gitchie Manitou 
Hoot Bluff 
Indian Bluffs 
Palisades Kepler State Park 
Pictured Rocks 
Silo Ice Climbing 


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Iowa 


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Submitted By: Jon Lauters on Jan 19, 2008

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Striking walls but limestone choss. Mines of Spai...

Description 

Iowa doesn't have a lot of climbing, but we have climbing! The outdoor areas are all on the eastern side of the state.


Getting There 

Head towards the eastern side of the state via I80 or other appropriate means of transportation


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Iowa:
Tarzan   5.7     Sport, 50 feet   Pictured Rocks : Shiprock
Jugular   5.8     Sport, 40 feet   Pictured Rocks : Mild Iowa Wall
Mild Iowa   5.8     Sport, 40 feet   Pictured Rocks : Mild Iowa Wall
The Razor   5.8     TR, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Backbone State Park : Cake Walk and Razor Wall
Over The Counter   5.9 PG13     Sport, 75 feet   Pictured Rocks : Shiprock
Hope for a Boner   5.10a     Sport, 40 feet   Pictured Rocks : A Wall
Virgin Lemonade   5.10a     Sport, 30 feet   Pictured Rocks : Wild Iowa Wall
Three Strikes No Balls   5.10a     Sport, 40 feet   Pictured Rocks : Comic Gallery
Silk Road (aka Somn Somn)   5.10b     Sport, 70 feet   Pictured Rocks : Shiprock
Tazmanian Devil   5.10d     Sport, 30 feet   Pictured Rocks : Comic Gallery
Ghost Dancer   5.11a     Sport, 70 feet   Pictured Rocks : A Wall
Liberal Tendencies   5.11a     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Hoot Bluff
Bird in Hand   5.11b     Sport, 30 feet   Pictured Rocks : Wild Iowa Wall
Super Fly   5.11b     Sport, 70 feet   Pictured Rocks : A Wall
Flash   5.11b     Sport, 50 feet   Pictured Rocks : Comic Gallery
Julie's Kiss   5.11c     Sport, 30 feet   Pictured Rocks : Comic Gallery
Territorial Pissings   5.12a     Sport, 30 feet   Pictured Rocks : Wild Iowa Wall
Soul Ignition   5.12a     Sport, 30 feet   Pictured Rocks : Wild Iowa Wall
Gravity Amp   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Hoot Bluff
Back in the Groove   5.12d     Sport, 30 feet   Hoot Bluff
Browse More Classics in Iowa

Featured Route For Iowa
dead center of the photo (gravity amp is the larger pockets on the right side)

Back in the Groove 5.12d  IA : Hoot Bluff
Its hard all the way up....[more]   Browse More Classics in IA


Photos of Iowa Slideshow Add Photo
Searching for Iowa rock- fast track to nowhere!

Searching for Iowa rock- fast track to nowhere!

where the buffalo roam

where the buffalo roam

View into the Comic Gallery at Pictured Rocks. Flash follows the overhanging arete to the left. Schoolio is on the right, and Tazmanian Devil is on the back wall.

BETA PHOTO: View into the Comic Gallery at Pictured Rocks. Fla...

Detail scan of topo map featuring Indian Bluffs State Wildlife Management Area

Detail scan of topo map featuring Indian Bluffs St...


Comments on Iowa Add Comment
Show which comments —
By Dan Roberts
From: Eastern Iowa
Jul 27, 2010

Looking for old guide books. Preferably midwest, but would be interested in pretty much anything. Thanks and see you at the rocks.

By Sam Daley
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Aug 30, 2010

Anyone know if there is climbing in Decorah?

By Dan Roberts
From: Eastern Iowa
Jan 1, 2011

Yeah some climbing. Most is pretty dirty. Some bouldering near ice cave, the falls, and pulpit rock. Better off driving to Backbone or Lacrosse if you are in the area. Even Mason City claims to have some decent bouldering. Decorah is a mountain bikers haven, but not so much for climbing.

By trisgo
From: Omaha, NE (at the moment)
Sep 23, 2012

Does anyone have any info on Lake Red Rock near Des Moines??