The Playground
Shelley, Idaho
| Address: | 1297-1333 Wolverine Rd, Shelley, ID 83274, USA |
| GPS: |
43°15'46.3"N 112°2'40.0"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
Rock Climb
The Playground is a fun, moderate to hard place to sport rock climb. You can find approximately nine routes (popular ones include: Tied to the Whipping Post, Cure for the Hangover, Anchored to the Sky) on this basalt type rock, ranging from 70 - 80 feet in height. The prime time to climb would be the warmer months from April - September. The Playground is located outside of Idaho Falls, east of the small town of Firth.
More Information
Rock Climbing in The Playground, East Idaho
Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers.
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106997926/the-playground
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Shelley, Idaho
- Head east on Center St/Taylor Rd toward N Spud AlleyContinue to follow Taylor Rd(1.5 mi)
- Turn right onto Stoddard Rd (1.0 mi)
- Turn left onto E 1200 N/1200 North Rd (0.6 mi)
- Turn right onto N 1100 E/Mountain View Rd (6.4 mi)
- Turn left onto Wolverine Rd (2.0 mi)
East from Firth about 10 miles on Wolverine canyon road. If you pass the Rattlesnake transfer sign, you've gone about a half mile too far. (you're at Crank Cave) Either take the descent trail to the west (near the large pipeline) or rappel from bolt anchors at the top of the wall. Courtesy of mountainproject.com
Other Rock Climbing Walls Nearby
RPM Wall
Firth, Idaho
5.0 miles EWolverine Canyon is full of limestone. The RPM wall being the currently developed wall and has some decent routes.
Rock Climb
Blacktail Day Use Area
Ririe, Idaho
26.7 miles NECliff jumping from almost nothing up to 80 feet, plus rock climbing routes, on the north end of Ririe Reservoir — $3–$5 daily fee applies.
Dive, Rock Climb, Swim 0.3 mi
Pointless Crag
Ririe, Idaho
30.8 miles NEA BLM sport climbing crag in the South Fork area near Ririe — short routes with suspect rock, fixed anchor biners for lowering (not yours to take), and a dedicated parking area 2.7 miles up South Fork Road.
Rock Climb
South Park
Ririe, Idaho
30.9 miles NERock Climb near Ririe, Idaho
Rock Climb
Heise Rock (AKA Elephant Rock)
Ririe, Idaho
31.7 miles NECLOSED. Rock climbing is no longer permitted. A volcanic plug sport climbing crag near Heise Hot Springs with lines developed since the late 1980s — great potential across the south side, with routes across all skill levels.
Rock Climb
Paramount Wall / Blanche Rock
Ririe, Idaho
32.5 miles NEA sport climbing wall above the road near Ririe with great exposure, afternoon shade, and well-loved 5.9–5.10 lines — most routes work with a 50-meter rope, established by Chuck Oddette and crew.
Camp, Horseback, Rock Climb
Shady Side Cliffs at Ross Park
Pocatello, Idaho
34.6 miles SWNumbered bouldering and top-rope routes on the Shady Side cliffs at Ross Park, with countless contrived variations and eliminations to challenge climbers of all levels.
Rock Climb
Sunnyside Cliffs at Ross Park
Pocatello, Idaho
34.9 miles SWNumbered top-rope climbing routes on the Sunny Side cliffs at Ross Park in Pocatello — newer routes fill in between older numbers with letter suffixes like 17A.
Rock Climb
The Arcane
Ririe, Idaho
35.6 miles NEThe Arcane is a rugged rock-climbing crag in the canyon country of eastern Idaho, up the South Fork Snake River drainage past Heise and the Kelly Canyon area, roughly 23 miles from Idaho Falls. A...
Rock Climb
Basalt Bluff / Steve's Rock
Teton, Idaho
44.7 miles NEA basalt crag with 11 established sport climbing routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.10+ — rappel off with two ropes or walk off to the north, but watch for attack bees at the top.
Rock Climb
Garden Creek Gap
McCammon, Idaho
49.6 miles SA sandstone rock climbing area in a scenic mountain gap west of I-15, with great Class 3-4 scrambling and some of the best technical routes in the Pocatello area.
Cross-country Ski, Hike, Horseback, Rock ClimbNearby Campsites
Firth River Bottoms
Firth, Idaho
8.3 miles WA community riverside park in Firth with horseback riding, picnicking, fishing, and baseball — something for the whole family along the river bottoms.
Camp, Canoe, Hike
Blackfoot River Crossing at Trail Creek Road
Firth, Idaho
11.2 miles SEA remote Blackfoot River crossing accessed via a network of gravel roads near Firth, Idaho — multiple parking areas along a wildlife management area stretch of the river.
Camp
Sealander Park
Idaho Falls, Idaho
13.7 miles NWA peaceful 15-acre park steeped in Idaho homesteader history — listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Sealander Park is available to reserve for picnics, reunions, weddings, and retreats.
Camp
Jefferson County Lake (AKA Rigby Lake)
Rigby, Idaho
31.0 miles NSandy beaches, two floating docks with a slide, volleyball, playgrounds, and a safe swim zone — Jefferson County Lake is eastern Idaho's go-to summer swimming spot.
Camp, Canoe, Dive, Kayak, Sled, Swim
Kelly Island Campground
Ririe, Idaho
31.4 miles NEA BLM campground with 14 family sites and 1 group site for RVs or tents, open May through September — vault toilets, pets welcome, and rates from $5–$20 per night.
Camp
Twin Bridges Park
Rexburg, Idaho
31.6 miles NEA 27-acre Snake River park between two bridges near Rexburg with shaded campsites, fire pits, pavilions, a playground, and BLM ground for hiking and hunting on three sides.
Camp, Canoe
Wolf Flats Recreation Area
Ririe, Idaho
31.8 miles NEWolf Flats is a completely free, dispersed, undeveloped camping area with 25 locations to camp. Some areas are large enough to accommodate groups of 50 people.
Camp
Paramount Wall / Blanche Rock
Ririe, Idaho
32.5 miles NEA sport climbing wall above the road near Ririe with great exposure, afternoon shade, and well-loved 5.9–5.10 lines — most routes work with a 50-meter rope, established by Chuck Oddette and crew.
Camp, Horseback, Rock Climb
Table Rock Campground
Ririe, Idaho
34.1 miles NEA campground in Caribou-Targhee National Forest — part of a 3-million-acre stretch from Montana to the Utah and Wyoming borders — with access to the Curlew National Grassland.
Camp
Fall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
35.7 miles EA shaded Snake River campground near Swan Valley with abundant wildlife, great trout fishing, and Fall Creek Falls a quarter-mile away.
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Big Hole Dispersed Campsites
Ririe, Idaho
35.8 miles NEA network of dispersed campsites with fire rings in the Big Hole mountains above Kelly Canyon — first come, first served, no reservations, and Leave No Trace principles are essential.
Camp
Falls Campground
Victor, Idaho
36.2 miles EA Snake River campground near Swan Valley with cottonwood shade, abundant wildlife — eagles, osprey, moose, and deer — and Fall Creek Falls just a quarter mile away; Palisades Reservoir is 20 miles out.
Camp 0.6-2.0 mi
North Menan Butte ('R' Mountain)
Menan, Idaho
36.2 miles NA volcanic butte locals call R Mountain, with a paved trailhead, chain handrails near the top, informational signs at the rim, and views of Rexburg and the Snake River.
Camp, Cave, Hike 0.5-3.5 mi
Webster's Dam
Ririe, Idaho
37.4 miles NEAn abandoned dam in Moody Creek canyon where sediment split the stream into two beautiful 15-foot waterfalls — stunning in spring runoff and blazing with fall colors.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike
Beaver Dick Park
Rexburg, Idaho
39.5 miles NA 9.5-acre Snake River park near Rexburg with fire pits, pavilions, fishing, boating, swimming, and a rich history tied to legendary frontiersman Beaver Dick Leigh.
Camp, Canoe, Disc Golf, Swim 6.6-6.8 mi
Bear Creek Hot Springs
Irwin, Idaho
40.9 miles ETrek ~13 miles up a creek canyon near Palisades Reservoir to a secluded natural hot spring — gentle most of the way, with one rewarding final climb.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Hot Springs, Mountain Bike
Moody Meadows
Driggs, Idaho
40.9 miles NEGood place for kids, they can ride bikes in the meadow, play in the stream, and camping is off of the road. Hiking, motorbiking, and horseback riding trails are abundant in the area.
Camp 0.2-0.5 mi
Eagle Park
Rexburg, Idaho
41.5 miles NA cottonwood forest park inside Rexburg city limits with campsites, fishing, a dog park, mountain biking on easy and moderate loops, and rock-throwing by the river.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike, Sled
Calamity Campground
Irwin, Idaho
42.0 miles EA wooded Palisades Reservoir campground 55 miles east of Idaho Falls with clean blue water for swimming, boating, water skiing, and fishing — plus miles of ATV routes.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
Scout Mountain Campground
Pocatello, Idaho
42.5 miles SA scenic campground at 6,900 feet on beautiful Scout Mountain, 13 miles south of Pocatello, with birding, wildlife viewing, and a variety of multi-use trails nearby.
Camp, Hike
