Crowd Teaser

Human Cannonball

Big Top

Unknown 5.11C

Careful of Clowns

High Wire

Circus Boy

Sideshow

Crowd Pleaser

Unknown 5.9+

Unknown 5.10a

Elephant Man

Tight rope walker

Lion Tamer

Main Attraction

Climb easily up to the right edge of the roof.  Swing steeply out right on good holds, then make bouldery moves up the wall just right of a bulging seam (3 bolts) until the angle eases and easier climbing leads to an anchor. (from Handren guide)

I initially figured that this route was named in the theme of a circus act and nothing more, but having done it now, I picture the name clearly when I imagine falling from the route. No doubt it would be spectacular. But no net would await. 

  Climb up on moderate moves to t sloping ledge and work out and right on slopers of shrinking size to clip the only bolt. CLimb crux moves left of this bolt and up, them slightly right to reach easier territory just as runout gets truly disconcerting the climbing eases up to 5.8, but the crux is off of your gear enough to produce an interesting fall. I thought it was likely 5.10-. Gear can be had above, but it is poor. Continue to the ledge and pick an exit on so-so rock and gear to top out.

Retro bolted. Begin just right of the center of the small arch's roof. Climb the crack to easier slab. Now has it's own anchor

Climb a face up to the point where the rock of the arch melts into the rock under the arch.  Move slightly right and over the arch onto the face.  Take a thin seam to the top. This route has 2 bolts, just above the arch, whose hangers have been removed (the reason for the rating). 

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

This route climbs just left a grey and white water streak in the center of the wall.

 Retro bolted and anchor installed in 2019. Probably the best slab route on the wall. 

This climb is the first crack on the left side of circus wall and is well left of the 'big top' roof. Although Swain decribes this as a finger crack, I would not go so far as to do so. In fact, the crux was best protected (nearest protected?) by a brass nut (#1 HB Anchor).   Find this crack and start up it. protect the bottom however possible including a small nut at the crux, then pull the climb's crux at the sloping flaring part of the crack before attaining an easier face.  The pro is a little tricky. Romp up the moderate crack to a ledge with a bulge above. Protect the bulge and climb it (5.9-?) at an obvious crack. Top out and belay down and behind a rock a few meters back off of ~1"to 1.5" gear.

Mixed, 2 bolts.  Climb the face 5 feet right of the previous route, to the left edge of the highest point of the arch feature.  Climb over the roof using 2 bolts and finish of the face above.  This route was the first with bolts placed with a hammer drill in Red Rock Canyon. 

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

Mixed, 3 bolts.  Begin just right of the base of the large arch.  Climb a left leaning crack to a large edge and a bolt.  Take the crack as it angles up passing two more bolts.  Continue finishing just below a large boulder. 

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

Retro bolted and an anchor installed in the spring of 2019. Climb up 10 feet left of the water steak and directly in front of a small tree hugging the base of the cliff.

 All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

Climb the right facing flake system 5 feet right of the previous route.  Upon reaching the roof, move over it onto the face.  Finish the same as the previous routes. 

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

Mixed, 1 bolt.  Begin just right of Crowd Pleaser, but angle up and right.  Continue up the face, clipping a bolt.  Finish at the top of Crown Pleaser. 

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

This starts up the original trad crack of Crowd Pleaser but goes straight up the steep headwall for a strenuous finish.

Begin in the right facing corner comprising the left edge of the arch.  Climb up to where the crack breaks up and the rock of the arch melts into the rock under the arch.  Climb over the arch feature to a vertical seam to the top. 

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

Climb the face below the center of the arch.  Move over the arch, climbing slots to the top and the chain anchor.  

  All info from Red Rock Canyon Climbing Guide Roxanna Brock.

The Circus Wall gets afternoon sun and is low and protected from some of the weather. Far from being secluded, it gets its name from the human circus going on behind you at the parking lot while you are climbing. Along with Dog Wall, this is among the most prominent and nearby crags to the first pull-out. You are sure to enjoy all of the maddening noise of the non-climbing crowds while climbing there. The rock is OK, not the best or worst red-rocks has to offer. All climbs are now safely bolted and have anchors. The circus wall is now a great alternative to the Dog wall if that cliff is crowded, along with having several stellar climbs of it's own.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Circus Wall