Climbing Articles

Weather data, climbing tips and reads for when the rock's wet.

Guide Interactive

Climbing Trip Planner: Where to Climb, Month by Month

Pick the month you're travelling and your style of climbing, and we'll show you the three best destinations for that trip — based on decades of weather data.

Read guide → Illustration of pocketed limestone walls among olive trees in the Sella valley on the Costa Blanca, Spain
Guide 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Spain: A Region-by-Region Guide

Month-by-month climbing conditions for Costa Blanca, Andalucía, Catalonia, Aragón, Basque Country and more — based on 30 years of AEMET weather data.

Read guide → Illustration of a granite dome streaked with cracks above the forest, in the style of the Stawamus Chief, Squamish
Guide 8 min read

Squamish Climbing Guide: Trad, Bouldering & Best Time to Go

Everything you need to plan a climbing trip to Squamish — trad, bouldering, sport, logistics and the best months to go based on 30 years of weather data.

Read guide → Watercolour illustration of tall grey limestone sea cliffs and zawns along the Pembrokeshire coast, with waves breaking below and yellow gorse and purple heather along the clifftop path.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Pembroke: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of Met Office weather data through our drying model for the Pembroke sea cliffs. April to September is the season, at 47–54%, May is best, and August and September, once the bird restrictions lift, are when the most crags are open.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of a big grey granite mountain with steep slabby faces above a long blue lake in a forested Norwegian valley, with a rocky path in the foreground.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb at Hægefjell: 19 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 19 years of MET Norway weather data through our drying model for Hægefjell, the big granite dome above Nissedal in southern Norway. June is best at 84%, May to September is the season, and from November to March the face is under snow.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of steep grey granite peaks rising straight out of a deep blue fjord in the Lofoten Islands, with green slopes, snow patches on the higher summits and a small fishing village with red houses on the shore.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in Lofoten: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of MET Norway weather data through our drying model for Presten in the Lofoten Islands. May (68%) and June (67%) are best, May to August is the season, the midnight sun lets you climb round the clock, and from September it's wet.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of tall pale-grey and golden dolomite towers and walls rising above a green alpine valley with a stream, larch trees and boulders, and jagged snowy peaks in the distance.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in the Dolomites: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of weather data through our drying model for the Passo Sella in the Dolomites. September is best at 63%, June to September is the season, afternoon storms take the summer days, and from November to April the walls are under snow.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of a huge grey granite dome streaked with cracks rising above a conifer forest, with a long sound and coastal mountains in the background, in the style of the Stawamus Chief above Howe Sound.
Data 6 min read

Best Time for Trad Climbing in Squamish: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of Environment Canada weather data through our drying model for Squamish's trad: the Smoke Bluffs and the Chief's Grand Wall. May is best at 77%, April to September is the season, summer is for early starts on the big walls, and winter is very wet.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of the Shawangunk ridge in autumn: pale grey and orange conglomerate cliffs with stacked roofs and ledges rise above a forest of red, orange and yellow trees, with rolling hills in the distance.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in the Gunks: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of NOAA and Daymet weather data through our drying model for the Gunks. October is best at 80%, spring and fall are the seasons, summer is for early mornings, and a sunny winter day can still go.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of the Naranjo de Bulnes, a tall grey and orange limestone tower rising above a rocky mountain valley, with the jagged peaks of the Picos de Europa behind it.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb the Naranjo de Bulnes: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of AEMET weather data through our drying model for the Naranjo de Bulnes, the limestone tower of the Picos de Europa. July and August are best at 55%, June to September is the season, and from November to April it's snowy and wet.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of Yosemite Valley: El Capitan on the left, Half Dome in the distance, a waterfall on the right, and the Merced River winding through pine forest and meadows on the valley floor.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Yosemite Valley: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of NOAA and Daymet weather data through our drying model for Yosemite Valley. April (85%) and November (84%) are best, spring and fall are the seasons, winter is often good between storms, and summer afternoons are too hot.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of a tall, cracked grey granite cliff rising above a calm inlet on the Swedish west coast, with pine forest, rocky islands and the sea in the distance.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in Bohuslän: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of SMHI weather data through our drying model for Bohuslän's granite trad crags. May is best at 71%, April to June is the season, summer is good in the mornings, and autumn and winter are wet.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of jagged granite needles and ridges above a glacier in the Mont Blanc massif, with the Chamonix valley, its river and town far below on the left.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Chamonix: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of Météo-France weather data through our drying model for three levels of Chamonix rock: the valley crags, the Aiguillette d'Argentière and Le Brévent. July is best in the mountains at 75%, April on the valley crags at 66%, and winter belongs to the skiers.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of an alpine valley: tall grey granite-like walls and towers rise above a winding river, larch and pine forest in autumn colours, a road along the valley floor and snowy peaks in the distance.
Data 8 min read

Best Time to Climb in Valle dell'Orco: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of Arpa Piemonte weather data through our drying model for Caporal and Sergent, Valle dell'Orco's two big trad walls. It's a summer destination: July is best at 68%, the second half of June hits 76%, and winter is lost to snow.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of a desert canyon: a tall red sandstone wall split by long vertical cracks, sandstone towers in the foreground, and a wide valley of sagebrush leading to distant mesas and blue mountains.
Data 8 min read

Best Time to Climb at Indian Creek: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of weather from Canyonlands' Needles station through our drying model. November is best at 65%, March, April and late October are the season, winter is cold and snowy, and summer afternoons are too hot.

Read article → Watercolour illustration of grey and orange rock towers and cliffs above a wooded valley in the mountains of Haute-Provence, with a river below and a dirt path through the scrub in the foreground.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Annot: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of Météo-France weather data through our drying model for Annot's trad sectors. It's a winter destination: February is best at 56%, December to March is the season, spring and autumn are wet, and summer is for early mornings.

Read article → Illustration of a desert sandstone canyon: tall red and orange cliffs and towers above a dry wash, with desert scrub in the foreground and mesas in the distance.
Data 8 min read

Best Time to Climb in Red Rocks: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of weather from a station in Red Rock Canyon through our drying model. November is best at 84%, December to March are good between storms, late October and early April are the shoulder seasons, and summer afternoons are too hot.

Read article → Illustration of Joshua Tree National Park: a tall, blocky quartz-monzonite formation above Joshua trees and desert scrub, with a wide desert valley and mountains behind.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Joshua Tree: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of weather from a station inside Joshua Tree National Park through our drying model. November is best at 95%, December to March are almost as good, late October and early April are the shoulder months, and summer afternoons are too hot.

Read article → Illustration of La Pedriza in the Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain: rounded granite domes and pinnacles above a wooded valley, with the mountains of the main ridge behind.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in La Pedriza: 30 Years of Weather Data

We ran 30 years of simulated weather, built from AEMET climate data, through our drying model for La Pedriza's lower crags and for El Yelmo. It's an autumn-to-spring destination: March and September are best, winter holds up well low down, and summer belongs to El Yelmo.

Read article → Illustration of Kalymnos, Greece: a huge limestone cave hung with orange and grey tufas and stalactites above a scrubby hillside, looking out over a deep blue sea to the island of Telendos.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Kalymnos: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of Greek weather data through our drying model for four Kalymnos crags. Late April and October tie for best, September is still too hot for afternoons, winter is better than its reputation, and summer is best climbed at dawn.

Read article → Illustration of the Frankenjura in Bavaria, Germany: tall grey limestone towers rising out of dense green forest above a winding river valley, with more crags dotted along the wooded hillsides beyond.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in the Frankenjura: 25 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 25 years of real Deutscher Wetterdienst weather data through our drying model for four Frankenjura crags. April leads at 68%, May and September follow, October dries more slowly than its reputation suggests, and summer is best climbed early.

Read article → Illustration of Rifle Mountain Park in Colorado: a narrow canyon of tall grey and orange limestone walls, with a trail and a creek winding between green and autumn-coloured trees on the canyon floor.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb at Rifle Mountain Park: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real NOAA and NRCS weather data through our drying model, adjusted to the height of Rifle's walls, and scored every day for a morning and an afternoon session. June mornings lead at 70%, October is best in the afternoon, summer afternoons are too hot, and the seeps run until June.

Read article → Illustration of Ten Sleep Canyon in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains: tiers of orange and cream dolomite cliffs and towers above pine-covered slopes, with a road winding along the canyon floor.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Ten Sleep Canyon: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real NOAA and NRCS weather data through our drying model, adjusted to the height of Ten Sleep's walls, with the winter snow building and melting day by day. August leads at 79%, July to September is the season, the snow melts in late May, and spring is wetter than most climbers expect.

Read article → Illustration of the Céüse cliff above Gap in the Hautes-Alpes: a long band of grey and cream limestone wrapping around a grassy plateau, with forested slopes and fields below and mountains on the horizon.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb at Céüse: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real Météo-France weather data through our drying model, adjusted to the 1850 m of Céüse's main wall, with the winter snow building and melting day by day. July leads at 87%, June to September is the season, the snow melts in late April, and October is good for cold projecting.

Read article → Illustration of the Gorges du Tarn: grey and orange limestone cliffs on both sides of a deep canyon, the blue-green Tarn winding between wooded slopes, with pines in the foreground and the flat-topped causses beyond.
Data 8 min read

Best Time to Climb in the Gorges du Tarn: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real Météo-France weather data from the Causse Méjean through our drying model, scored for the early-morning sessions most climbers have in the Gorges du Tarn, and checked it against the springs that feed the walls. Start early and July and August are the best months at 67%, then June and September. The rest of the year, climb in the afternoon: March is the pick, if you don't mind the cold and the seepage.

Read article → Illustration of the Mascún canyon at Rodellar in the Sierra de Guara: orange and grey limestone walls with caves and a tall pillar, a winding river and green scrub below.
Data 7 min read

Best Time to Climb in Rodellar: 22 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 22 years of real weather data from Huesca through our drying model, adjusted to Rodellar's canyon. March and October lead in the afternoon, spring rain feeds the tufas, and in summer the dawn and the shade make July the best month of all.

Read article → Illustration of a sandstone arch in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky: an orange and grey rock arch framing a view down a deep, forested gorge with sandstone cliffs and a river below.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in the Red River Gorge: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real NOAA weather data from beside the Red River Gorge through our drying model, including the dry-heat check. November is best at 66%, October is next at 58%, the rain falls all year, and summer afternoons collapse but dawn starts recover.

Read article → Illustration of the Siurana gorge in Catalonia: grey and orange limestone cliffs and pillars above a winding river, with the village of Siurana perched on the clifftop in the distance.
Data 6 min read

Best Time to Climb in Siurana: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real weather data from beside Siurana through our drying model, including the dry-heat check. February is best at 81%, every month from October to May scores 72% or more, and summer afternoons collapse but dawn starts recover.

Read article → Illustration of the Turia gorge at Chulilla: tall, pale limestone walls and pillars on both sides of a winding river, with pines and scrub on the slopes and a cave at the foot of the cliffs.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Sport Climb in Chulilla: 15 Years of Turia Gorge Weather Data

We replayed 15 years of real weather data from Chulilla's own weather station through our drying model — including the dry-heat check — for the Turia gorge's limestone. December and February share the peak at 90%; the rain comes in spring and autumn, and summer afternoons collapse but dawn starts recover.

Read article → Illustration of pale, pocketed limestone walls and a large boulder among olive trees and scrub in the Sella valley on the Costa Blanca, with jagged limestone ridges and hazy mountains beyond.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Sport Climb on the Costa Blanca: 15 Years of Sella Weather Data

We replayed 15 years of real weather data from the hills behind Benidorm through our drying model — including the dry-heat check — for Sella's limestone. February is the numeric peak at 90%; the rain comes in a few big winter storms, and summer afternoons collapse but shaded walls and dawn starts recover.

Read article → Illustration looking out between pale limestone walls of the El Chorro gorge in Andalucía, Spain, over the Guadalhorce river, a railway bridge and tunnel, and the reservoirs beyond.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Sport Climb at El Chorro: 25 Years of Andalucía Weather Data

We replayed 25 years of real Andalusian weather data through our drying model — including the dry-heat check — for El Chorro's limestone. February is the numeric peak at 80%; March is the wettest month, and summer afternoons collapse but shaded walls and dawn starts recover.

Read article → Illustration of large sandstone boulders on the floor of Joe's Valley, Utah, between steep canyon walls with a creek running through.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Boulder at Joe's Valley: 30 Years of San Rafael Swell Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real NOAA weather data through our drying model — including the dry-heat check and real observed snow depth — for Joe's Valley's soft sandstone. November is the numeric peak at 81%; winter is a snow story, not a rain story, and summer afternoons collapse but recover at dawn.

Read article → Illustration of rounded, pocketed syenite boulders at Hueco Tanks, Texas, with the Chihuahuan Desert and dark mountains behind.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Boulder in Hueco Tanks: 30 Years of Chihuahuan Desert Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations from NOAA's El Paso Airport station through our drying model — including its dry-heat check — for all four Hueco Tanks mountains. January is the numeric peak at 96%; summer afternoons collapse to 1–3% but recover to 98%+ at first light.

Read article → Illustration of large granite boulders in the Buttermilks near Bishop, California, with the snow-capped Eastern Sierra behind.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Boulder in Bishop: 30 Years of Eastern Sierra Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations from the NOAA Bishop Airport station through our drying model — including its new dry-heat check — for the Buttermilks and the Happy/Sad Boulders. Full-day summer sessions are a near write-off; the same months score 97%+ at first light.

Read article → Illustration of stacked, moss-covered gneiss boulders among the trees on the wooded hillside at Chironico, Switzerland.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Boulder in Chironico: 30 Years of Ticino Gneiss Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations — including real observed snow depth — from the MeteoSwiss Piotta reference station through our drying model to find out when Chironico is actually dry, and why that's not quite the same question as when its winter friction is best.

Read article → Illustration of a large gneiss boulder in the woods above Cresciano in Ticino, Switzerland, with stone huts by the river and mountains behind.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Boulder in Cresciano: 30 Years of Ticino Gneiss Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations from the MeteoSwiss Magadino/Cadenazzo reference station through our drying model to find out just how good Cresciano really is as a winter and spring destination — when most of Europe is out of climbing options.

Read article → Illustration of granite boulders in an Alpine meadow in Val di Mello, Italy, with jagged peaks behind.
Data 3 min read

Best Time to Boulder in Val di Mello: 30 Years of Alpine Granite Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations — weather and snow depth — from the MeteoSwiss Poschiavo reference station through our snow-aware drying model, to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions on Val di Mello ghiandone granite.

Read article → Illustration of moss-covered gneiss boulders beside a forest path through the conifer woods of Magic Wood, Switzerland, with snow-capped Alpine peaks behind.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Visit Magic Wood: 30 Years of Bouldering Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations — weather and snow depth — from the MeteoSwiss S. Bernardino reference station through our snow-aware drying model, to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions at Magic Wood.

Read article → Illustration of a large granite boulder with a crash pad beneath it in the Squamish forest, British Columbia, with the Stawamus Chief rising behind the conifers.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Boulder in Squamish: 30 Years of Weather Data

We replayed 30 years of real daily observations — weather and observed snow depth — from the ECCC Squamish Airport station through our snow-aware drying model, to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions in the Squamish forest.

Read article → Illustration of orange sandstone towers and boulders among fynbos in the Rocklands, Cederberg, South Africa.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Visit Rocklands: 30 Years of Bouldering Weather Data

We ran our climbingforecast model using NASA POWER 30-year climate data (MERRA-2, 1991–2020) at the Rocklands coordinates to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions on Cederberg sandstone.

Read article → Illustration of pocketed red sandstone boulders above the hills, with the walled town of Albarracín, Spain, in the distance.
Data 5 min read

Best Time to Visit Albarracín: 30 Years of Bouldering Weather Data

We ran our climbingforecast model using AEMET climate normals from Molina de Aragón and Teruel to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions in Albarracín.

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Guide 5 min read

A Beginner's Guide to Sport Climbing Outdoors

Planning your first sport climbing trip outdoors? Here's the gear list you actually need, from helmet to clipstick, based on years of climbing outside.

Read article → Illustration of a large rounded sandstone boulder beside a sandy path through the forest at Fontainebleau, France.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Visit Fontainebleau: 30 Years of Bouldering Weather Data

We ran our climbingforecast model using Météo-France 30-year climate norms to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions in Fontainebleau.

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Watching 4 min watch

Best Classic Climbing Videos: 3 Must-Watch Films for Rainy Days

Rained off? Or need some psych? Watch these classics and we guarantee you will be raring to go again.

Read article → Illustration of a gritstone edge above a moorland path in the Peak District, with heather and scattered boulders below.
Guide 5 min read

Peak District Climbing for Beginners: A Complete Guide

With over 5,700 individual boulders it can be pretty overwhelming to know where to start. Here's what every first-timer should know.

Read article → Illustration of a gritstone edge above a moorland path in the Peak District, with heather and scattered boulders below.
Data 4 min read

Best Time to Climb in the Peak District: 30 Years of Weather Data

We ran our climbingforecast model using Met Office 30-year climate norms to find which months have the best chance of climbable conditions in the Peak District.

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Reading 3 min read

Best Climbing Memoirs and Books: 3 Must-Reads for Rainy Days

Three climbing books worth reading when the weather won't play ball.

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