Plan a Spring Climbing Trip to Cody, Wyoming

Discover a Tremendous Wyoming Bouldering Area in the Wild West

Feb 11, 2009 Alli Rainey

Boulderers should consider Cody, Wyoming as a spring climbing trip destination. This Wyoming rock climbing area has about 1,000 problems. Cody also has great amenities.

Bouldering in Cody, Wyoming might not top every rock climber’s list for spring climbing destinations, but perhaps it should. Situated 50 miles east of Yellowstone National Park's East Entrance, this city of fewer than 10,000 people in northwest Wyoming is home to some of the finest sandstone bouldering Wyoming has to offer. Problems range in grade from V0- to V11+ and include everything from silly one-move wonders to seriously scary ‘n’ steep highballs.

Cedar Mountain: A Bastion of Wyoming Bouldering

Cedar Mountain holds the highest-concentration-per-area of boulders in Cody, and possibly, in the entire state of Wyoming. The aptly named Maze can leave even the most seasoned of Wyoming boulderers wandering about in befuddlement as they try to sort out where, exactly, they stand in relation to the other boulders spilling down the mountainside. Other Cedar Mountain attractions include the first-rate Antelope Boulder, Stonehedge, and the Africa Area, among others of note.

Cedar Mountain has boulders for almost every type of weather Cody can dish out. On windy but sunny days, boulderers should head for Cedar Mountain's Carcass Crag, where shelter can be found even if the wind’s howling. The Antelope Boulder catches lots of sun, but due to its high position on the mountain, it can catch lots of wind as well. The Maze and the other areas on Cedar Mountain's north side offer cooler, shadier conditions.

Sphinx Boulders: Wyoming Bouldering in the Sun

On colder days when Cody’s notorious wind isn’t messing with plans, Rattlesnake Mountain’s Sphinx Boulders provide a sunny bouldering haven. This concentrated boulder garden features boulders that tend to be a little bit sandier by nature than their Cedar Mountain counterparts, with some notable exceptions. Overall, this garden is sure to have something to please everyone, from the low-ball, fun problems on the Toadstool Boulder to the classic area test-piece, The Plague (V10).

Cody Lodging, Cody Restaurants, and the Cody Bouldering Guide

As the gateway to Yellowstone’s East Entrance, Cody, Wyoming is definitely a tourist-friendly town, with all of the expected amenities. Cody’s lodging opportunities include a number of campgrounds and hotels, as well as the reasonably priced Bison Willy’s Hostel. Cody’s downtown strip is packed with art galleries, western-themed shops, and restaurants offering fare ranging from steaks to sushi.

For coffee in the morning and to pick up a copy of the indispensable Cody Bouldering Guide ($18.95), by Mike Snyder (Mike Snyder, 2003), stop by The Beta Coffee House, located at 1132 12th Street. Located across the street from the famous Irma Hotel, this coffee shop can truly provide visiting climbers with the beta, since one of the owners is the guidebook author, and the other is his wife.

Visit the Wild West for a Spring Climbing Trip Adventure

Generally nice weather and an amazing concentration of quality boulder problems make Cody, Wyoming's bouldering a terrific destination for a spring climbing trip. Just be sure to check the weather before heading out, since it can change from blissfully sunny to dismally wintry overnight. As an added bonus, Cody has all of the amenities a person might need, meaning that in the event of bad weather, the traveler will find plenty of entertainment options, from movies, museums, and art shows to restaurants and bars.

The copyright of the article Plan a Spring Climbing Trip to Cody, Wyoming in Rock Climbing is owned by Alli Rainey. Permission to republish Plan a Spring Climbing Trip to Cody, Wyoming in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A Boulderer Tops Out a Problem in Cody, Wyoming	Enjoying Wind-Free Conditions at the Carcass Crag	Cedar Mountain's Bat Cave
Cody's Classic Antelope Boulder	Bouldering at the Sphinx Boulders in Cody