Keechelus Ridge Rock Climbing

Take exit 54 off i-90, go north (cross i-90) toward the Gold Creek sno park area and take the next available right. This is Road 4832 which will lead you east, parallel to i-90. 

Take this road for 4 miles. It will turn to gravel and go uphill. Near the end of the 4 miles, there is a relatively sharp (~90 degree) left turn, followed shortly by a trailhead, followed immediately by a fork. Take the prominent left fork then go another 3.25 miles until you see a small spur road to your left, followed immediately by a small parking area to your right.

(Note: if you haven’t gone the 3.25 miles and you see a similar location with a spur road and a small parking area, you are in the wrong spot. Pay attention to the mileage! Just past the parking area, there is a big turnout which people have clearly used for car camping and a great view of Rainier on a clear day. If you see those things, you’re in the right spot.)

Park in the parking area, cross the road and hike up the spur road for about 15 minutes until you get to a wide flat area with a great view. Just as the road levels off and starts going slightly downhill, look for a cairn and a small but obvious trail leading right (north) into the forest: hike this trail for another 10 minutes to a rocky area.  Many people mistakenly turn downhill at the first rocky area and end up bushwhacking.  Instead, stay on the good trail past that first rocky area - the trail reenters the forest and goes steeply up hill for another minute or two.

At the 2nd rocky area the main trail makes a sharp right turn.  Stay on this obvious trail as it skirts the south side of the rock formation, until you come to the top of West Wall.

The gravel road is in decent shape -- mostly wide, shallow potholes.