Rocky Butte Natural Area
Portland, Oregon
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Description
Rocky Butte is perhaps Portland's most accessible crag. Although accessible, it is not a beginner-level crag.
The approach for most of the climbs puts you at the top of the crag where you may need intermediate to advanced skills in order to build an anchor with gear, use trees for anchors, rappel, ascend a rope, and even belay from above the climber.
Established anchors often hang over edges where they are hard to access and even more difficult on which to establish a rappel and/or top rope anchor.
There will be red numbered signs on the trees which designate the various wall locations. Park at the gravel pullouts along the street at the numbered sign that is relevant to the area you are looking for.
The cliffs lie just beyond the trees to the Northeast. Most of the climbs here will require that you rappel in, however there are 4th class scrambles in several locations to get up and down.
Parking
park in the dirt on either side of the road next to the college (the giant domes), but don't park in the college parking lot. Parking around the park is restricted in the evening; review parking signage carefully
Hours
Open:
5 AM
Closed:
12 AM
Warning:
Park is closed between 12 AM - 5 AM. There are gates, which may be closed after hours.