Be sure to scroll down to "GETTING THERE" section for new access directions.
In 2022, a gate was placed by the current land owner of the Honeycombs and the Forest Investment Assoc. ( FIA) conglomerant. This new gate is located one mile up the 4-mile BLM access road into the Honeycombs, discouraging climber access. Most local climbers are now refocusing on the Callahans. But note: we've posted new directions below for easy access into the Honeycombs.
See "GETTING THERE" below for access information.
A collection of small 100 to 175 ft rhyolitc tuff walls and pinnacles east of Glide/Roseburg offering mostly single-pitch sport routes with a handful of multi-pitch summit top-outs. The Honeycombs sit on top a prominent ridge above Honey Creek overlooking the North Umpqua River Valley, 15 minutes from Glide, Oregon. The rock is welded rhyolitic tuff resembling that of Smith Rock, Bucktooth (Redmans) Tooth, and Rattlesnake, but with fewer nubbins and more patina and pockets. Most established routes are currently 5.10 and below, but there is definitely potential for more difficult routes: several faces could feature overhanging thuggery between jug pockets.
The Honeycombs sit on the edge of privately owned land and BLM border, which runs right through the northern end of the North Comb. The South Comb is on private land - be nice, leave no trace, don't block the access road. Peregrine falcons nest on the Forbidden or the west end of the North Comb in early spring and you should avoid climbing at the N.Comb walls west of 'Double Stuff' and 2nd pitches on the Forbidden Comb from February through mid-June (see access note and comments section for more information). The Honeycombs and the rest of Umpqua-area climbing are covered in Greg Orton's Rock Climbing Western Oregon: Umpqua.
Camping up top while on BLM land is free. Follow BLM fire restrictions if camping on upper BLM road. Open fires are allowed outside of fire season. As with any area, practice leave no trace and help remove anything dropped by others. The nearest town is Glide, Oregon with a gas station/mini market, 3 food vendors, and a coffee house. Be sure to stop and support the local community on your way through.
Access Time: Roseburg to Atom Cafe - 20 min; Atom Cafe to Gate - 20 min; Walk-in from gate to Honeycombs - 30 min. Total: approx. 1.5 hr from Roseburg.
From the Atom Bistro & Coffee Bar in Glide, Oregon take North Umpqua Highway 138 east approximately 12 miles (passing the Idleyld Park Store) turning left onto Rock Creek Road.
Follow Rock Creek Road (paved) to the 4.0 mile marker, or continue a little further up Rock Creek Road to several BLM campgrounds.
0.0 At Rock Creek Road 4.0 mile marker turn right, stop and zero your mileage, before continuing on over the bridge. Once you've zeroed continue over bridge and follow the well-travelled gravel road.
0.3 Stay right (straight)
0.4 Stay right (BLM Road 25228 carsonite post)
1.0 Continue on main road left.
1.6 right
2.1 Straight
2.2 Straight, passing under large boulders upslope on left side of the road.
2.8 PAY ATTENTION!! The main road will begin making a steep left climbing turn up loose gravel. Just before, at the bottom of the curve, turn right onto a lesser used road that is easily missed.
4.0 Seasonally closed gate. Back, back-down the road until the road becomes barely wide enough to turn around. Once turned around park off to the side down the road, leaving room for others to do the same.
Walk or ride a bike over mostly level, well-maintained gravel road approximately ½ mile to next gate, and approximately 1.5 miles to the gated Honeycombs spur road.
+½ mile walk From first gate at 4.0, follow the road uphill to a ridge road (this is the steepest section), follow ridge road staying right, until you come to BLM 26241 Spur Road (marked with a carsonite post) where you will continue left on main road to the next gate located at the timbered edge of the clearcut. (approximate walk between gates: 10 to 15 minutes). Also note: you will see the Honeycomb as soon as you top-out onto the ridge road.
+1.5 mile walk (approximate) From the timbered edge gate, continue following main road for about one mile until you come to the one and only spur road on your left, blocked with a yellow gate. Follow this road along the ridge then left dropping into the Honeycombs climbing area. (approximate walk-in from second gate: 20 to 30 minutes).
note: Except in campgrounds, remote camping is free on BLM managed lands. Avoid camping in the privately owned lands. Avoid exposure to fire killed snags, and live trees bordering clear-cuts, especially during high winds.
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Eugene, OR
I've spoken with at least two people who've had issues finding this place. I had a bit of an adventure finding it for the first time last weekend.
The easiest and clearest way I can describe getting there from Hwy 138 is as follows:
Turn left at BLM road 26-2-7. drive approximately four miles, staying on the path most traveled. At 4.1 you will see a yellow gate on the right, blocking a logging road. Park here. Do not block the gate. Jul 23, 2018
Portland, OR
Thanks to the SWOCC for making this place as great as it is already! Aug 7, 2018
Thanks! Apr 30, 2019
Roseburg, OR
As an introduction for anyone visiting Honeycombs for the first time I recommend, very first thing, topping-out on Stone Ship, hiking out the ridge, and rapping down into the Secrete Cleft.
And, while your on top you are likely to see Peregrine in flight. July in particular is a great time to watch the fledged juveniles as they dogfight with each other and passing vultures.
Honeycombs is a great place to climb on hot days when there is always a cool breeze coming up from the river. At the end of the day try the swimming hole directly across highway 138 from where the gravel road meets the pavement. Jun 22, 2019
Montreal, QC
This place has some of the most perfect rock I've ever climbed. It has minimal access concerns outside of the peregrine falcon presence, and locals (thanks Greg!) do a great job of providing information that can keep any attentive climber in the know on where and when not to climb. The blasted road, landings, and surrounding clearcuts are definitely an eyesore but they are very much a part of the culture of this part of Oregon and actually raised trail quality and minimized mosquito levels. The South Comb ridge-top views are breathtaking. I presume the crag remains accessible for most of the year, barring any major snow events. The relatively low elevation and latitude, along with location west of the mountain range, gives it a fairly temperate climate. There are multiple aspects in order to seek sun/shade. It's further from Portland than Smith Rock but approaches are far shorter, there are no crowds, and crag-side camping is free. If doing this, please setup between the gate and the road down to the first landing, as that's BLM and not private land which disallows camping. Other nearby camping options include Swiftwater Park (free, no facilities) and Susan Creek Campground (open May-September, all the facilities, $20/car), both along the gorgeous North Umpqua River. Grocery stores are 40 mins away in Roseburg.
NOTES ON DEVELOPMENT:
The area currently contains 3-4 days worth of beginner- to intermediate-level climbing, including a small selection of multi-pitch routes. As noted by others, there is potential for harder routes as well, mostly on the Forbidden Comb and the southwest aspect of the North Comb. This is also where the falcons tend to congregate. The South Comb's best faces are already developed, or contain potential for only very low-level and highly-vegetated routes, with the exception of a few short, technical sections. If bolting here, please use glue-in or sleeve bolts, as the rock is the same kind of low-medium density volcanic tuff as Smith Rock. I will hopefully get down here regularly over the coming months/years to put up new lines and may be able to drag some other interested developers along with me. See pictures I posted for reference in "What's New". Aug 21, 2019
Eugene, OR
Right now there is a blanket road closure on that road system (controlled by the BLM).
There is a ton of work to be done to get the burnt trees cut and removed from the roadside. The main issue right now is safe access. I think it would be OK to climb, but as winter comes there are going to be a ton of trees that get blown down all over the place.
I know that there will be some logging on the road in the next month and that should hopefully clean it up. That logging will continue into the spring of next year. Oct 21, 2020
Roseburg, OR
The trail up to the Clock Tower saddle is now just a rock wall. Anyone wanting to climb Millennium will need to rappel in from Raptor Bluff by way of the Secrete Cleft.
All trails are in need of future reconstruction.
Peregrines have fledged, all routes open for climbing.
Log trucks may still be using the main road on weekdays. Be aware they have-and will take the right-of-way.
The Access Fund and Landowner are working to place restrooms at the Combs. Logging, slash piles burnt, and tree planting has been completed at the Honeycombs.
This was a total stand replacement fire event, an economic but yet not an ecologic disaster in this ecosystem. May 17, 2021
If considering a visit during the colder months, note that there are very few routes in direct sunlight, and that black streaks indicate seepage (sometimes even active drippage). With the exception of North Comb routes Lost World and Chutes and Ladders, and routes on the Forbidden Comb, pretty much nothing gets afternoon sun. Nov 23, 2021
Roseburg, OR
Eugene, OR
Eugene, OR
Eugene, OR
Eugene, OR
Roseburg, OR
Roseburg, OR
The door will be installed soon! Dec 17, 2023