The Checkerboard Wall Rock Climbing

Approach by descending the Cruise Gully. Halfway between the campground and ranger station on the rim, find a path into the woods which is now marked with a sign indicating the Cruise Gully. Follow the steep gully down past 2 sets of rappels (currently sporting a fixed line at the first) to where it opens out into bushy talus. Checkerboard Wall lies just east, situated midway between the canyon rim and bottom.

From the summit block, one can rappel 80' from slings to the west, or down-climb the last pitch of Maiden Voyage in the same area. A forested ledge leads north across the top of steep gully to some forested gullies which offer access to the rim -the west-most gully is best, and a ramp and ridge to the west of it (4th Class) are another alternative. In recent years, it has become popular to finish by climbing "King Me" up the wall above the gully. It is also possible to rap the gully immediately to the left of Checkerboard Wall with a single 60-meter rope and some downclimbing, in order to link up with a route on North Chasm View. Routes like A Midsummer Night's Dream or Leisure-Summer  make for good warm-weather link-ups to maximize shade.