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Elevation: 5,379 ft
GPS: 40.5727, -111.77699
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 4,286,670 total · 15,677/month
Shared By: Eric Jacobsen on Oct 2, 2001 · Updates
Admins: Andrew Gram, Nathan Fisher, Perin Blanchard, GRK, D C
Warning Access Issue: Gate Buttress Area Recreational Lease: Climbs on Church Buttress above vault remain closed DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

LCC offers primarily quartz monzonite (white granite, essentially) with a few areas of limestone.

Trad, sport, bouldering, and ice climbing are all well-represented here. Most of the climbs are on the sunnier, north side of the canyon, but shade may be found for those hot summer days. In addition, north-facing classic routes are found on the south side of the canyon (see especially Pentapitch Area and Coal Pit Buttress.

On the north side of the canyon, roughly from The Egg past the Gate Buttress, the rock is either owned by or the approaches to the tock cross land owned by the LDS Church. Be considerate when crossing/using these areas.

The Wasatch Resort about one mile up the canyon on the right (south) presents access problems to some of the crags on that side of the canyon as well.

SLCA Annual Fundraiser Suggest change

JOIN US FOR OUR 9TH ANNUAL SALT LAKE CLIMBING FESTIVAL!

Presented by Black Diamond and Momentum Climbing

August 27th-28th, 2022, Solitude Mountain Resort (Moonbeam parking lot), Utah

Tickets: saltlakeclimbingfestival.com

 

CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY. ELEVATE YOUR CLIMBING SKILLS.

A weekend of skills based climbing clinics and festivities brought to you by the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance and fueled by our local guide outfitters, artists, and outdoor industry partners.

 

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT GO BACK TO STEWARDSHIP OF WASATCH CRAGS.

Set in our own beautiful backyard of the Wasatch Front, there are skills-based climbing clinics for both beginner and seasoned climbers. Clinics will run in single and two-day formats, with our base camp, dinner and festivities held at Brighton Ski Resort. 

 

Saturday night only tickets that include dinner, activities, live music, and drinks are also available. For ages 14+ we welcome all ability levels and identities to learn and grow with us as our local climbing community blossoms. 

Be sure to invite your friends! 

Ice Climbing

Suggest change
This is a well known area. The Falcon guide has numerous routes listed, but realistically only 2 that come in real thick (at least that I've seen in the last 7 years of my ice climbing experience). There are a lot of other thin routes throughout the canyon. The 2 main lines are Scruffy Band and the Great White Icicle. The GW Icicle has always got a crowd! Last year I went up there at 10 at night for a late night run up the ice thinking the route would be free. There were still 2 groups just starting up the trail. This wouldn't be too bad, but the route is somewhat narrow, so anyone climbing above you will knock ice on you. So if you're looking for a remote, backcountry experience, this is not the area. Both Scruffy and GW icicle have easy approaches (10-30min) and the routes are moderate in difficulty (WI 2-3). So if you want a close easy climb with a crowd, these are probably good places to climb.

Getting There

Suggest change
From the I-215 beltway around Salt Lake, take the 6200 South exit at the southeast corner of the loop. Follow signs to the ski resorts and Big and Little Cottonwood canyon. Pass the left turn into BCC and continue on Wasatch Blvd (Route 210) for a few more miles. This road leads directly up into LCC. From the south, exit I-15 at 9000 South (Route 209). Head east as 209 becomes 9400 South and eventually hits Wasatch (210) at the mouth of LCC. Turn right and head up the canyon. (camping info#littlecottonwood)

2,080 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Little Cottonwood Canyon Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Little Cottonwood Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V4 6B
 301
Twisted
Boulder
V4 6B
 308
Surfboard
Boulder
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 698
Beckey's Wall
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 415
Squeeze My Lemon
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 853
Pentapitch
Trad 5 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 584
Satan's Corner
Trad 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 660
The Coffin
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 360
After The Fall
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 710
Sasquatch
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 488
The Green Adjective
Trad 3 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 437
Gordon's Hangover
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 503
Mexican Crack
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 359
Bongeater
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 237
Equipment Overhang
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 332
Stiffler's Mom
Trad 12 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Twisted Boulders - Litt… > Secret Garden > Copperhead Boulder
 301
V4 6B Boulder
Surfboard Boulders - Litt… > 5 Mile Boulders
 308
V4 6B Boulder
Beckey's Wall Gate Buttress > Beckey's Wall Area
 698
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Squeeze My Lemon Lizard Head Wall
 415
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Pentapitch Pentapitch Area
 853
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
Satan's Corner Gate Buttress > Dihedrals Area
 584
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 2 pitches
The Coffin Coffin Buttress
 660
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
After The Fall Green Adjective Gully
 360
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Sasquatch Pentapitch Area
 710
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
The Green Adjective Green Adjective Gully
 488
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 3 pitches
Gordon's Hangover Green Adjective Gully
 437
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Mexican Crack Crescent Crack Buttress
 503
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Bongeater Bongeater Buttress
 359
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Equipment Overhang Gate Buttress > Dihedrals Area
 237
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Stiffler's Mom Coal Pit Buttress
 332
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad 12 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Little Cottonwood Canyon »

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