Black Cliffs

# Overview Local columnar basalt crags just on the edge of town. Hundreds of routes, a good mix of sport and trad routes. Pretty nice setting in a canyon above the Boise River. # Getting there ## Northeast side of river crags *This is for the more popular crags at the cliffs (populace wall, mid cliffs, etc)* Take Gowen Rd / Hwy 21 out of town. There is a small gravel lot and obvious paved pull out area near where the diversion dam intersects the river. This provides access to Short Cliffs and Mid Cliffs. You can access this from both directions, but at this point the highway splits, so you need to be driving towards Boise to access parking pull outs for other crags. There is a somewhat rough dirt road (passenger car with good clearance can do it) which connects this parking area to the Populace Wall parking area further down the road. Otherwise, you need to drive down past the crags, and flip a u turn to get to parking for Scary / Face / Carbody Canyons. ## Southwest side of river crags *This is for dark side, green acres, etc)* Take Gowen Rd / Hwy 21, but turn right on S Technology Way, heading towards the Micron campus. Follow this past some neighborhoods as it turns to E Columbia Rd, and park on the shoulder near a gate and trailhead for the Historic Oregon Trail. # Description The cliffs are Boise's little climbing gem. Some people love them, some people hate them - but in my humble opinion the cliffs always provide. Most of the routes at the cliffs are under 60ft. There are some fantastic crack climbs, cool techy inobvious sport lines, and lots of beginner friendly trad routes. Many of the sport lines are quite run out with somewhat greasy holds and dubious crux sequences, to the frustration of many newer climbers. You can climb at the cliffs with great conditions year round. Find morning shade on the northeast side of the river, and afternoon shade on the southwest side of the river. Even with a little snow on the ground, a sunny afternoon makes for great climbing at the cliffs in the winter. ***Access Restrictions*** In the spring, many crags at the cliffs are closed due to nesting raptors. It is critical to respect these closures to maintain access at the cliffs. The [Boise Climbers Alliance](https://www.boiseclimbers.org/) works with raptor biologists to provide precise closure guidelines, and they post signs each spring marking closed areas. Please respect all signage about closures and plan in advance! # Guidebooks Boise Climbs by Sandy Epeldi is the most comprehensive guidebook of the area. Dave Bingham's Idaho Underground is a newer book with a section on the cliffs.