Fremont Canyon Climbing 2014-present

Route:

various

Region: Wyoming

Elev: ~5,500 ft

Rock type: Granite

Type:

Date(s): 2014(x1 day), 2020(x3 days), 2021(x10 days), 2023(x3 days)

Partner(s): Eric Schweitzer (2014), Will Starks (2020), Nate Arganbright (2021, 2023)

Fremont Canyon is a climbing area in the middle of Wyoming. The canyon is 150-250 feet deep and composed of high-quality granite, carved out by the North Platte River. To access many of the routes, you fix a rope, rappel from the canyon rim down to the base of the route just above the rushing neon green waters, and climb back up to the rim (either leading, toproping, or toprope soloing). The canyon has several hundred routes, mostly trad and some sport, and ranging from 5.7-5.13. Most routes are single pitch, but there are some routes up to three pitches. The area has a wild and remote feel and you can often feel as if you have the entire amazing place to yourself.

The first time I climbed in Fremont Canyon was in July 2014, on a quick stop on the drive to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. I only got a flavor for the climbing on this quick trip, but I knew someday I would come back. In 2019 I moved to Boulder, putting Fremont Canyon a mere 4.5 hour drive from home (rather than a couple of days as it was when I lived in Washington). I have returned to Fremont Canyon a few times since then, and I plan to return again and again.

On this page, I give photos from climbing in Fremont Canyon, organized by date. At the bottom of the page, I keep a list of the climbs I've done in Fremont Canyon.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING AT FREMONT CANYON

More climbing fun!

Date: July 28, 2014 (Mon)

Partner: Eric Schweitzer

Climbed at: Bridge Area

First trip to Fremont Canyon

I originally posted the following photos on my 2014 Devil's Tower trip report, but added them here when I created this Fremont Canyon page in 2020. These photos were taken during a half-day in Fremont Canyon, when we stopped to climb a few routes at the Bridge Area on the drive to Devil's Tower.

More climbing fun!

Dates: June 9-11, 2020 (Tue-Thu)

Partner: Will Starks

Climbed at: Bridge Area, The Narrows, West Canyon

Second trip to Fremont Canyon

Finally, I returned to Fremont Canyon! It's only 4.5 hours from my home now.

More climbing fun!

Dates: May 29-31, 2021 (Sat-Mon)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Bridge Area, Love Shack, The Narrows, Pathfinder Dam area, Power Tower Wall

Third trip to Fremont Canyon

It was pretty rainy and cold in the Estes Park / RMNP area, so on Friday afternoon on the spur of the moment Nate and I decided to spend Memorial Day weekend at Fremont Canyon. We packed the car in record time (34 minutes) and were out the door. We spent 2.5 days at Fremont Canyon, enjoying the mostly sunny weather and superb rock climbing. Despite the fact that it was Memorial Day weekend, the area was not very crowded, with the majority of the people in the area being there for boating on the reservoir or fishing in the canyon. We even nabbed a campsite and enjoyed evenings by the fire. What a great trip. We'll be back for sure.

More climbing fun!

Dates: June 26-29, 2021 (Sat-Tue)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Bridge Area, The Narrows, Pathfinder Dam area, West Canyon

Fourth trip to Fremont Canyon

This was an enjoyable 3.5 day trip to Fremont Canyon. The first couple of days (Saturday and Sunday) were thwarted by rain, and we almost headed home but decided to bank of the good forecast for Monday and Tuesday and stay an extra couple of days. Despite the incessant pattern of short rain squalls on Saturday and Sunday, we did manage to climb at least a few pitches both days, resorting to toprope soloing to maximize climbing and reduce the risk of being caught in the rain on lead. When it was too wet to climb, we kept ourselves occupied by exploring Pathfinder Dam, reading a Brandon Sanderson novel (Nate), studying math for an upcoming preliminary exam (me), relocating camp, driving up the hill to get cell service, and doing some birding (I had brought my telephoto lens). We also enjoyed evenings by the campfire. Finally, the warm and dry weather we had been waiting for arrived for Monday and Tuesday. We decided to maintain the theme of toprope soloing, and headed to West Canyon to put ropes on some awesome 160’ lines on some of the best rock in Fremont Canyon. We also relocated to the deserted free camping area right on the rim of the canyon. The entire trip we encountered only a couple of other climbers (unfortunately, one such encounter was for Hondo, one of the best multi pitch routes in Fremont, so we were forced to delay this desirable climb for a future trip). We will be back!

More climbing fun!

Dates: July 3&4, 2021 (Sat&Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Power Tower Wall, West Canyon

Fifth trip to Fremont Canyon

Weather was not favorable for our alpine plans, so we headed back to Fremont for 4th of July weekend. It was pretty hot (highs in low 90's) but we stuck to the shade and did enough rope-soling and a stop at 1-day Vedauwoo on the way home made the short trip worth it.