Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 6,331 ft
GPS: 42.04237, -113.71938
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 12,785 total · 95/month
Shared By: Matt Schroer on Mar 19, 2013
Admins: GRK, Mike Engle, Eric Bluemn
Warning Access Issue: (1) Weather Wall, Yellow Wall, & all the crags north of Twin Sisters are CLOSED. (2) No trash cans. (3) Highlining temporary ban in place for CIRO and CRSP DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: Currently closed to all climbing (as of 2013) DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Twin Sisters Closed to Climbing by the US government.  Area listing and information left for historical purposes.

The Twin Sisters are without a doubt the most spectacular formations found within the City of Rocks National Reserve, and they deserve mention, as the history here is abundant, both culturally and within the climbing community. Unfortunately for climbers, all climbing activities on the sisters have been banned since 2000, when a court decision decided to uphold the NPS's closure under the reserve's comprehensive management plan.

The Twin Sisters are two dramatic granite spires that mark the high points of a mile-long rock ridge that is separated from the rest of the reserve by about 2 miles. The north spire (~500 feet tall) is composed of the 28 million year old Almo Pluton granite, while the south spire (~600 feet tall) is comprised of the 2.5 billion year old Green Creek Complex granite and represents some of the oldest exposed rock on the continent.

The cultural history of the Twin Sisters is rich. Between 1843 and 1882, nearly 250,000 immigrants traveled through City of Rocks on the California Trail, using the Twin Sisters as a major landmark on their journey. Prior to receiving their current name in 1848, immigrant journals mentioned the formations under various names, including "Steeple Rocks", "Twin Mounds", "Twin Buttes", "Two Dome Mountain", and others. Inconclusive ethnographic information also hints at the formations being of important spiritual value to the area's Native American groups.

The earliest known climbing ascents on the Twin Sisters were completed in the 1960's by the renowned and visionary Lowe party, which included Greg, Jeff, and George Lowe. The Twin Sisters house some of the longest and highest quality rock in the City of Rocks, ranging from historical, Yosemite-esque crack lines to highly technical face routes. I invite others with more (personal) knowledge of these routes to add them here 1) for future reference, in case the climbing ban is ever lifted and 2) for posterity's sake, as I, for one, enjoy following the early history of North American climbing.

Sources:

"City of Rocks, Idaho: A Climbers Guide" by David Bingham, 2009

"Administrative History: Twin Sisters" Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Pacific West Region, 2011

"Etched in Stone: The Geology of City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park, Idaho" by Kevin R. Pogue, 2008

Getting There Suggest change

The Twin Sisters are impossible to miss and are visible from many vantage points within the reserve. From the main City of Rocks dirt road, take the westward dirt road at the split that occurs just north of Register Rock.

5 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Twin Sisters Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Twin Sisters

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 4
The Lowe Route
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R
 5
Straight Edge
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Lowe Route N Twin Sister
 4
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Straight Edge N Twin Sister
 5
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R Trad
More Classic Climbs in Twin Sisters »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading