Hype:

Chimney Rock is likely not the hardest tower you will ever climb, but it is certainly one of the proudest. The tower stands alone along the flat Hole In The Rock road. It seems to defy it's surroundings, and makes an impressive perch to view Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to the east, Navajo Mountain to the south east, King Mesa and slickrock country to the north, and the Kaiparowits Plateau to the south. The dirt road to it's base is long, but this is a great adventure if your in the neighborhood.

There is pretty good primitive camping near the base, as long as it's not windy, and plenty of solitude.

Trailhead:

Head east out of the town of Escalante about 5 miles on highway 12 until the well signed Hole in the Rock road. From the mileage sign on the Hole in the Rock road (0.3 miles from the highway), travel down the Hole in the Rock road 33 miles. There are many side roads that leave the Hole in the Rock Road, stay straight, paralleling the Kaiparowits Plateau.At 33 miles, the signed Chimney Rock road goes off on the left (north side). Reset your odometer as you turn onto the Chimney Rock road. The road generally requires a high clearance vehicle, or 4 wheel drive.

Follow the Chimney Rock road 0.5 miles to a junction. Go left, coming to another junction at 1.9 miles from the Hole in the Rock road. Go right here to another junction at 2.6 go left, reaching Chimney Rock at 2.9.

GPS Location 12S 490477mE 4140615mN

Route:

Find the obvious bolt ladder on the north side. Many of the bolts do not have hangers, so river hangers, or wing-nuts and hangers (for the timid) work well. The route follows bolts up, and around the tower. It is simply a bolt ladder until the very top where a couple of easy (5.7) moves take you to the summit. A single 70 m ( 230 ft ) rope will get you down.

Photos:

My History:

After 2 failed attempts, both because of lack of gear, I finally climbed the tower in about the spring of 2006. A fun climb with fantastic views.

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