Fisher Towers Rock Climbing
climb One of the wildest desert towers: Ancient Art!
The Fisher Towers are some of the most improbable looking rock climbing routes in the world, with the classic Ancient Art route being a must-do adventure for any rock climber. Located 20 miles from Moab and just down the road from the classic desert towers in Castle Valley, the Fisher Towers are a softer sandstone that resembles a child building castles on the beach by dribbling wet sand. Composed of a Cutler sandstone on the bottom portion and capped by Moenkopi sandstone, these radically eroded desert towers offer a totally unique style of rock climbing set amongst an incredible setting and big exposure.
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The iconic summit of Ancient Art stands out as a desert tower classic, accessible at a moderate grade of 5.8 A0 (two short sections of a bolt ladder can be easily aided or free climbed at 5.10). This exposed route ascends several fun pitches of chimneys, cracks and face climbing to a narrow walkway and an absolutely wild finish, a true adventure climb!
Pitch 1: (5.6) Climb gently angling terrain with a couple bulges to a large ledge. Walk the ledge to the base of a vertical but short step of conglomerate cobbles. This is the first optional aid pitch, though with coaching from your guide directly above it’s a fun challenge to free climb.
Pitch 2: A crack system with fun and varied climbing with three-dimensional movement. This long pitch finishes at a comfortable ledge with awesome views looking out at Castle Valley.
Pitch 3: A short vertical step with techy face climbing to an exposed ledge below the summit.
Pitch 4: This classic pitch starts off with an exposed walkway to the “Diving Board” - a protruding feature at 4 feet tall that needs to be surmounted. Some three dimensional climbing up the bulbous summit block brings climbers to the small balanced rock summit with 360° views.
Descend the route with multiple rappels.
It is often possible to link a guided climb of Ancient Art with another tower such as Lizard Rock, which is easily accessed from the same trailhead, or a short drive to the River Road Dihedrals. Alternatively, it’s possible to climb a few more pitches at one of Moab’s excellent crags.
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It is often possible to link a guided climb of Ancient Art with another tower such as Lizard Rock, which is easily accessed from the same trailhead, or a short drive to the River Road Dihedrals. Alternatively, it’s possible to climb a few more pitches at one of Moab’s excellent crags.
There are also several difficult and big wall aid climbing routes in the Fisher Towers for climbers looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure. Routes such as the Finger of Fate on the Titan are fun, engaging and totally unique once-in-a-lifetime routes for climbers up for the challenge.
