Hidden Valley Climbing

This digital Hidden Valley climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Hidden Valley days smoother, safer, and more dialed.

Another relatively new addition to Yankee Jim Canyon, the Hidden Valley hosts a good concentration of quality problems. A handful of moderate classics along with dozens more high quality lines ought to keep just about anyone busy for at least a day or two. Don't miss out on the gigantic Ram's Horn Boulder. If you happen to see the namesake of the boulder, don't disturb it - not that you could move it without a jack! 

Access: All of the bouldering is on public land, but the approach follows a boundary with private land for a short stretch. Respect the private property ... Show more

This digital Hidden Valley climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Hidden Valley days smoother, safer, and more dialed. Another relatively new addition to Yankee Jim Canyon, the Hidden Valley hosts a good concentration of quality problems. A handful of moderate classics along with dozens more high quality lines ought to keep just about anyone busy for at least a day or two. Don't miss out on the gigantic Ram's Horn Boulder. If you happen to see the namesake of the boulder, don't disturb it - not that you could move it without a jack! Access: All of the bouldering is on public land, but the approach follows a boundary with private land for a short stretch. Respect the private property and stay on the correct side of the fence described in the approach. Other Considerations: The Hidden Valley is in the backcountry in prime Grizzly Bear territory. Boulder with multiple people, bring bear spray and make a lot of noise. Make sure to check yourself for ticks after bouldering here in the spring. Summer Climate: Hot and dry. You're going to want to avoid the sun any way you can. Luckily, most of the boulders (besides the Ram's Horn) are shaded by trees, making it manageable in the summer. Fall Climate: Cool and dry. Perfect conditions from September to early November. Winter may be great, but you've got a much better shot at good conditions in the fall. Winter Climate: It will completely depend on the snow conditions. The snow conditions should be about the same as the Locomotives. If you can boulder at the Locos, you should be able to boulder at the Hidden Valley. Spring Climate: The most inconsistent season, primarily due to rain. The temperatures are usually great, but make sure to check the forecast for precipitation before you head out. If I were you, I'd stay out of the talus if there's any chance of rain. It can get very, very slick. The Rock: Gneiss Elevation: 5,400' Restroom: The restroom at the Locomotives is less than a five minute drive from the parking area for the Hidden Valley. Use it! Get on Interstate 90 and head towards Livingston, MT. Take exit 333 and head south on US 89. After about 36 miles take a right onto Tom Miner Creek Road. Cross the river and take left at the three way intersection onto Old Yellowstone Trail Road. Follow this road, keeping left at the next two intersections, for about 2.1 miles. The parking area is a large dirt pull-out, just past the tall wooden gate, marking the end of private property and just before the road takes a ninety degree turn left towards the river. The Hike: From the parking area, begin hiking straight uphill. Angle slightly right, but when you see the fence line don't cross it (private property!). Continue along the fence until it turns to the right. At the turn, continue up and right for a few minutes until the hill levels off to a bench at the base of a steep hillside. Follow the bench for about 300 feet then head straight up the steep hill (this should be the path of least resistance). At the top of this hill it should become another relatively flat bench - the Hidden Valley. Follow the bench to the right for a few minutes and the boulders of the Ram's Horn Area should start to appear. It's about a 20 minute hike to the boulders.