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3. Pavilion Block Bouldering

Wisconsin > Niagara Escarpm… > High Cliff SP > 1. N Side
Warning Access Issue: Parts of High Cliff are included in the DNR's State Natural Area program so please respect that and do not climb with ropes in areas that are signed as State Natural Areas. BOULDERING IS ALLOWED EVERYWHERE. DetailsDrop down

Description

About a gajillion years ago, a large, house-sized block detached from the main cliffband. On the downhill side of the block, the wall is steep, featured, and pretty good for bouldering. Most of the problems start with difficulty and get easier the higher you go. It's a good thing, as the wall is about 25 feet tall.

A roof splits the right side of the wall and presents the opportunity for some really hard problems. Most established problems start on either side of the long, low roof. The left side of the wall is quite tall and generally unsuitable for bouldering, though The Traverse of the Gods climbs across this section.

The leaf-filled corridor is also included in this area and can be found about 100 yards east of the block. The problems are shorter and provide high quality bouldering with good top outs.

Getting There

Drive to the big parking area near Red Bird's statue and find a set of stone steps beyond the fence directly behind the watchtower. To reach the Overhang, head northeast along the cliff to the next cleft.

Routes from Left to Right

V3+ 6A+
 3
● Bison Lightning
Boulder
V2 5+
 2
● Those are Combines Kickin' Up Th…
Boulder
V2 5+
 2
● Bison Corposantics
Boulder
V1- 5-
 3
● Syzygy
Boulder
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b V3 6A Mod. Snow
 4
● The Traverse of the Gods
Boulder, Snow
V3- 6A
 6
● We're Going Streaking!
Boulder
V1+ 5
 3
● All I Ever Wanted
Boulder
V-easy 3
 5
● Jelly
Boulder
V0-1 4+
 5
● What's the Difference Between Ja…
Boulder
V1 5
 12
● Thrutch and Wiese
Boulder
V2 5+
 9
● Mono Problem
Boulder
V3 6A
 6
● The Hour of Power
Boulder
V2-3 5+
 8
● An Appropriate Name
Boulder
V3-4 6A+
 7
● Harappan Civilization
Boulder
V5 6C
 7
● Over My Head
Boulder
V7 7A+
 1
● Head Honcho
Boulder
V3 6A
 3
● Campus Problem
Boulder
V7-8 7B
 2
● Big Man on Campus
Boulder
V7 7A+
 2
● Hadronox
Boulder
V6 7A
 4
● Aragog
Boulder
V7 7A+
 7
● Formidable Forecast
Boulder
V4 6B
 28
● Calm like a Bomb
Boulder
V1-2 5
 3
● Willie’s crack
Boulder
V3 6A
 5
● The Green Machine
Boulder
V2 5+
 10
● Local On the Eights
Boulder
V7 7A+
 4
● Sexytime Traverse
Boulder
V2 5+
 2
● Vulture Claws
Boulder
V1 5
 14
● Dry Your Eye
Boulder
V1-2 5
 2
● White Bruce Lee
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Bison Lightning
 3
V3+ 6A+ Boulder
● Those are Combines Kickin'…
 2
V2 5+ Boulder
● Bison Corposantics
 2
V2 5+ Boulder
● Syzygy
 3
V1- 5- Boulder
● The Traverse of the Gods
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b V3 6A Mod. Snow Boulder, Snow
● We're Going Streaking!
 6
V3- 6A Boulder
● All I Ever Wanted
 3
V1+ 5 Boulder
● Jelly
 5
V-easy 3 Boulder
● What's the Difference Betwe…
 5
V0-1 4+ Boulder
● Thrutch and Wiese
 12
V1 5 Boulder
● Mono Problem
 9
V2 5+ Boulder
● The Hour of Power
 6
V3 6A Boulder
● An Appropriate Name
 8
V2-3 5+ Boulder
● Harappan Civilization
 7
V3-4 6A+ Boulder
● Over My Head
 7
V5 6C Boulder
● Head Honcho
 1
V7 7A+ Boulder
● Campus Problem
 3
V3 6A Boulder
● Big Man on Campus
 2
V7-8 7B Boulder
● Hadronox
 2
V7 7A+ Boulder
● Aragog
 4
V6 7A Boulder
● Formidable Forecast
 7
V7 7A+ Boulder
● Calm like a Bomb
 28
V4 6B Boulder
● Willie’s crack
 3
V1-2 5 Boulder
● The Green Machine
 5
V3 6A Boulder
● Local On the Eights
 10
V2 5+ Boulder
● Sexytime Traverse
 4
V7 7A+ Boulder
● Vulture Claws
 2
V2 5+ Boulder
● Dry Your Eye
 14
V1 5 Boulder
● White Bruce Lee
 2
V1-2 5 Boulder

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The cleft between the Pavilion Block (right) and the Observation Tower (left, not visible). The abandoned stairs to the rail can be seen in the back.
[Hide Photo] The cleft between the Pavilion Block (right) and the Observation Tower (left, not visible). The abandoned stairs to the rail can be seen in the back.
North end of the Pavilion Block
[Hide Photo] North end of the Pavilion Block
The Pavilion Block <br> <br> (Perhaps better called the Observation Tower Block?) <br> <br> The Park apparently dumps mulched leaves next to this spot.
[Hide Photo] The Pavilion Block (Perhaps better called the Observation Tower Block?) The Park apparently dumps mulched leaves next to this spot.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Mark Hense
Wisconsin/Colorado
[Hide Comment] FINDING THE STAIRS: If this is your first time here to hit the boulder spots, find the parking lot by the tower. All references to 'stairs' you read refer to stairs that exist BEHIND the wood rails surrounding the tower, so go up to and start walking next to the rails and find where you need to climb over. There are actually 4 sets of stairs in this area, below the cliffline. Sep 21, 2015
Doug Hemken
Delta, CO
[Hide Comment] It is also possible (and easy) to start down the Old State Park Road, and take your first right (northeast) once you are below the cliff line. Not as direct, but a little more discreet than hopping the fence. Dec 27, 2020