Portland Rock Climbs

Check the Clackamas County website at madronewall.com, SaveMadroneWall.org, or CascadeClimbers.com.
Or browse the Madrone Wall web page for more details.
Stay informed!   Attend the meetings!   Be part of the process!  

Exploring and scrambling has been a favorable pursuit in Northwest Oregon since before the turn of the 20th century. In the Columbia River Gorge interest for exploration expanded, in part, because of the building of the Columbia Highway, which began in 1913. Recreational values of northwest Oregon have continued to become focused and energized ever since those early years.
From the early 1950s onward rock climbers have found great interest in the local crags such as Broughton and Rocky Butte. As the rock climbing equipment improved, and as lead climbers broke into new degrees above the 5.9 level, these favorite local crags became great learning grounds for everyone to practice the sport of climbing.

Several local crags have structured governing policy concerning the activity of rock climbing. The land owners and/or governing agencies who oversee these areas strive to bring a degree of beneficial long term multi-purpose use to the site under their care. These three areas are: Carver Bridge Cliff,Privately owned crag with limited access granted to Carver Climbing Club members for $8.  Madrone Wall,Closed at present, but park development through Clackamas County is advancing.   and Beacon Rock.This popular climbing crag has a seasonal Peregrine Falcon closure on the south face aspect from mid-Jan to mid-July.  Browse the link to each section for specific access information and other regulatory guidelines.
Our climbing crags do have certain objective dangers, and climbers should take precautionary measure against exposure to Poison Oak or rock fall.
Be safety conscious and use a helmet while climbing, especially at Beacon Rock. Wearing long pants will help to protect against encounters with poison oak. Learn to recognize the 3-leaf cluster of this very prevalent reddish foliage.
Note:»» The Iron Mountain Crag in Lake Oswego is NOT open to rock climbing. You risk being issued a trespassing citation by the Lake Oswego city police for being on railroad property. Do not climb at that crag.

Rock climbers in northwest Oregon generally seek the local crags from May to September. During this portion of the year mild Pacific marine air often mixes with inland Great Basin hot weather to bring a climber friendly cycle that keeps Northwest Oregon quite comfortable.

• Summer month temperatures average about 70°F to 80°F with occasional short peaks of hot sunny days in July and August in the 90°F to 95°F range. Check the latest forecast at the NOAAWestern US forecast link.
  
• Winter Pacific marine air brings a consistent series of rain showers, starting in late October through March. Cold winter rainy days offer temperatures that average in the 35°F to 50°F range.
• Virtual year-round rock climbing is readily available at Broughton Bluff and eventually the Madrone Wall. Both offer a southwesterly orientation toward the winter sunshine. With a little sunshine each of these crags will quickly dry out, and both crags provide a respite from the notorious howling east winds of the Columbia River Gorge.