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Potash Road

Submitted By: Tradkelly on Dec 2, 2001
Administrators: Andrew Gram, Perin Blanchard
Latitude: 38.5751  Longitude: -109.5858 
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Somewhere along Potash Road...


Description 

An excellent mix of trad and sport lines, often with routes very close together (some contrived sport routes do exist, but this is not the norm) and the ability to belay from your car or with only a very short walk in make the Potash Road crags a must-climb for any visitor. They are also an excellent introduction to some of the more committing desert climbs in the region. You won't find some of the tower climbing, the mudpiles, or the splitter cracks of other areas, but instead flakes, slabs, nubbins, edges, and other features abound.

Well over a hundred routes exist in the Wall Street area alone, and dozens of others on the other roadside crags and in side canyons. Routes range from 5.4 TR slabs to at least 5.12+, with most being in the .10-.11 range but also with many moderate classics (.8-.9s).

Please use the restroom facilities at either the Jaycee Campground (3.9 miles in) or at the "Indian Writing" sign (5 miles in). Use caution with the anchors and rock, and rap when necessary to preserve the rock and anchors; and watch for poison ivy in the summer! Watch for speeding potash-haulers and 4x4s, as well as tourons watching you and not the road, and be sure to park out of the way.


Getting There 

Potash Road (Utah highway 279) is less than five minutes from downtown Moab, and the approach to many of the routes is zero. From Moab drive North on 191 (the main drag) for 1.3 miles past the bridge over the Colorado River (or 1 mile South from Arches NP) and turn South on 191, marked with signs for Potash and 279. All distances to crags are measured from this intersection.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Potash Road:
30 Seconds Over Potash   5.8     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Wall Street
Seibernetics   5.8+     Trad   Wall Street
Potstash   5.9     Sport, 60 feet   Wall Street
East Of Wrath   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Wall Street
Bad Moki Roof   5.9     Trad   Wall Street
Steel Your Face   5.9+     Sport   Wall Street
Flakes of Wrath   5.9+     Trad, TR   Wall Street
Nervous in Suburbia   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Wall Street
El Cracko Diablo   5.10a     Trad   Wall Street
Lucy in the Sky with Potash   5.10a     Trad   Wall Street
Another Roadside Distraction   5.10b     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Wall Street
Frogs of a Feather   5.10c     Trad   Wall Street
Eat the Rich   5.10c     Trad, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Wall Street
Big Sky Mud Flaps   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Wall Street
Baby Blue   5.11a     Trad   Wall Street
Astro Lad   5.11a     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Wall Street
Static Cling   5.11a/b     Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Wall Street
Skeletonic   5.11d PG13     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 75 feet   Wall Street
Dark Horse   5.12a     Sport, 70 feet   Wall Street
Knapping With The Alien   5.12-     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   Wall Street
Browse More Classics in Potash Road

Featured Route For Potash Road
Tony Bubb gets a good rest on 'Baby Blue (11-)' on Potash Rd. Photo by Jenny Schillinger, 2003.

Baby Blue 5.11a  UT : Moab Area : ... : Wall Street
This route is located approximately 100' left of '30 Seconds Over Potash' on Wall Street. The route climbs a finger crack in a narrow, left facing dihedral. Eight feet below the chains the dihedral vanishes, leaving a splitter finger crack. This is a great route for the aspiring 5.11 crack climber. There are numerous face holds and good stemming rests. Excellent....[more]   Browse More Classics in UT


Photos of Potash Road Slideshow Add Photo
Puffball-mushrooms in the desert.<br />Photo by Blitzo.

Puffball-mushrooms in the desert.
Photo by Blitzo.


Kyle Copeland with snugglebear chalk bag.<br />Photo by Todd Gordon.

Kyle Copeland with snugglebear chalk bag.
Photo by...



Comments on Potash Road Add Comment
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By Anonymous Coward
Mar 13, 2004

Great hangout, bring suntan lotion, watch for speeding semi trucks, and have fun.

Load up on food and water in town and take a left one you head west over the river.

Remember to watch where you camp, cause you might get a ticket if you are in the wrong spot.

By Andy Laakmann
Site Landlord
From: Jackson Hole, WY
Mar 30, 2009

Kudos to Sam Lightner Jr. / ASCA for replacing virtually every piece of steel on Potash. Most popular anchors are now sporting fat, modern, and painted hardware.