Climbing Near Clancy, Montana

Small crag with (3) sets of anchors for top roping and one bolted sport route. The anchors are easily reached by scrambling up the back side of the formation. Great crag year round with a large amount of bouldering potential nearby. Routes range from 5.8-5.10d. Routes are 35 - 40 feet in height. Take the Clancy exit (#182) on I-15 a short drive south of Helena. Head west on Lump Gulch Road (Road to Park Lake) for approximately (3) miles. Turn right onto Sheep Mountain road. Happy hour is the first crag you see on your left approx. 75 yards or so in the trees.

Haystack is a slabby roadside outcrop with a good number of easy/ moderate sport lines and a handful of excellent mixed and trad lines. Many of the sport routes are easily top roped by accessing the anchors from the north of the rock formation. This is among the best beginner area in the greater Helena area with a few harder routes to keep things interesting for those climbing 5.10 and up. Continue on Sheep Mountain Road past the turn off for the main parking area. You will get to an intersection where the main road turns left (North) and a private drive continues straight (East). Turn right here onto a two track and park. The crag is located a short 100 yard walk to the south.

A smaller outcrop with several splitter cracks up an overhanging face (~20 degrees). Despite its diminutive stature, the routes are all high quality and would be classics in the area if they were a bit longer. The short hike and accessible top anchors make this a great after work crag to get some mileage and practice jams. Drive up Sheep Mountain Road past the parking area for the Frisbee Golf Course. Take note of the outcrop east of the road (right hand side). Park just past this outcrop or a little farther up the road to avoid damage to your car from wayward disks. Hike downhill around the upper margin of this outcrop, avoid going uphill or dropping into the gullies. After a few minutes you should see the outcrop on your right. If you end up in a steep gully you have gone to far.