Black Cliffs

The Black Cliffs are a formation of columnar basalt rising above the Snake River about 20 kilometres south of Boise, in the Owyhee Front area below the city. The dark volcanic columns, some reaching 30 feet in height, sit in stark contrast to the pale desert soil and sage around them. They are well known to Boise's climbing community, offering good sport routes on solid basalt with a range of difficulties.

The surrounding area is open high desert with rattlesnakes (present spring through fall), good wildflower displays in April and May, and unobstructed views of the Owyhee Mountains. Access via Kuna Mora Road south of Boise; the cliffs are visible from the road. No entrance fee, no facilities. The climbing is best in spring and fall — summer temperatures make the exposed black rock too hot to handle by midday.

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A story
The basalt columns at the Black Cliffs were formed around 12,000 years ago when lava flows from the Snake River Plain cooled rapidly against the existing desert surface. The columnar jointing — the geometric cracking pattern that gives the cliffs their distinctive appearance — forms when basalt cools evenly from the outside in, creating tension that splits the rock into five and six-sided columns.

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