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Winona, Sugar Loaf
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Franklin's Tower 

Winona, Sugar Loaf 


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Elevation: 1,200'
Page Views: 3,055. Good page?   
Administrators: Kris Gorny, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Frank Hessler on Jun 14, 2010

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What's New
  Print a Mini-Guide with routes

Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event 

Routes are to the left of the blue on the rock.

Description 

Sugar Loaf is an iconic place in Winona, MN. It is lit up at night all year round so you can see it for miles. It can be crowded some days but this is mostly due to local foot traffic. Most people that go up to Sugar Loaf are not there to climb.


Getting There 

At the intersection of Mankato Ave and Highway 61 in Winona, head south on 43 to a quick right hand turn to E Lake Blvd to a quick left on Sugar Loaf Road, next take a left on W Burns Valley Road, go past fire hydrant on the right side of the road and there are steps that lead to a water tank. Go up around the water tank on the right hand side. There is one approach that goes straight up a class 4 scramble or 30 feet past that is the easier approach which is a trail leading to the top.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Winona, Sugar Loaf:
Franklin's Tower   5.7     Sport, 45 feet   
Browse More Classics in Winona, Sugar Loaf

Featured Route For Winona, Sugar Loaf
Clip the low bolt and proceed to each thereafter until you top out and clip the chains, can also be top roped

Franklin's Tower 5.7  MN : Winona, Sugar Loaf
There are a lot of good holds for hands and really good feet for most of the route. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in MN


Comments on Winona, Sugar Loaf Add Comment
Show which comments —
By S. Stember
From: St. Paul, MN
Aug 24, 2012

who has more information about this place? how many routes are there?

By JimmyHann
Nov 26, 2012

There are 5 sets of bolted anchors and 2 lead routes (3 if you decide to link up from right to left). Routes range from 5.4-5.9 depending how you choose to climb them. The climbing here is not the best quality if you are an experienced climber looking to sport climb. Nonetheless if you are new to climbing and looking to experience top rope climbing outside this is a great destination, and the view is spectacular.

The 3 left most anchors can be easily free soloed (5.4ish) by an experienced climber to set TRs. The right 2 anchors can be lead or you can scramble up the backside (fith class)to set TRs.

The Winona State University Outdoor Education & Recreation Center makes regular use of the sugar loaf during the school year.