Acker Rock Climbing Area
Acker Rock is located on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest. There are 20 established routes on Acker that range in difficulty of 5.5 to 5.10d. Some of the most popular of these are the Peregrine Traverse (Oregon’s longest II to III 5.6 climb, 9 pitches) and Eagle’s Dare (III 5.9, 8 pitches). In addition, Oregon’s longest multiple rappel from the ridge of Acker Rock Lookout to the base of Eagle’s Dare is close to 550 feet in length. This is some of Southwest Oregon adventure climbing at its best.
While climbing, take some time to look for the local peregrine falcons and Erigonum villosissimum (Acker Rock Buckwheat). The peregrine falcons can be seen flying around Acker throughout the year, and the area is closed from January 1st to July 31st to let the falcons nest. Acker Rock Buckwheat is endemic to Acker Rock and was discovered in 2009. Additionally, there is a fire lookout at the top of Acker that can be rented from August 1st to November 15th. Please respect any renters that may be sharing the area.
Gear:
- A 60-meter rope is recommended for all routes in this area.
- A minimum of 2 ropes per party is encouraged, as pitches will generally average 150 to 200 feet in length.
- All routes are protected with fixed anchors; however you may find it desirable to carry a light rack of cams to supplement the occasional run-out.
- Most routes, except the Peregrine Traverse, will not have chains at belay anchors, so carry extra webbing.
General Information
- Climbing in August can be very warm, bring lots of water.
- Eriogonum villosissimum, a rare buckwheat flower found only on Acker Rock. It is present on just about every route on Acker Rock but is easily recognized and avoided.
August 1 - December 31
Climbing is prohibited from January 1 through July 31. Seasonal restrictions are applied to specific areas on the Umpqua National Forest for natural resource protection, including wildlife protection. These restrictions are utilized to protect certain wildlife species during their breeding cycle. Some species are very susceptible to human disturbance, and even minimal contact or entry into areas utilized for breeding can negatively impact their reproductive effort. For this reason, a seasonal restriction is applied and access into the area is prohibited. The seasonal restriction applied to an area may be lifted if the results of monitoring indicate that keeping the restriction in place is no longer necessary. Rock climbing is one of many activities with the potential to affect local natural resources. A seasonal restriction has been applied in this area to protect wildlife.
- Rock Climbing Western Oregon, volume 2 Umpqua by Greg Orton. Mountain N’ Air Publishing
- Weekend Rock Oregon: trad and sport routes from 5.0 to 5.10a by Ron Horton
- The Mountaineers Books
Address: 27812 Tiller Trail Highway Tiller, OR 97484
Phone: 541-825-3100
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Elevation
Unknown
Directions
From Canyonville, OR take West 1st Street and turn onto SE 3rd St/OR-227. Continue to follow OR-227 approximately 23 miles until you reach Tiller.
From Tiller, turn on on Douglas County Road 46 which becomes Forest Service road 28 for 18.5 miles to Buckeye Creek road 29. Follow road 29 for 7 miles to the junction with road 2838. Turn left (north) onto road 2338 for 1.5 miles, then turn left onto road 2838-950. Continue until you reach the gate and park on the side of the road. Please do not block the gate.
Continue on foot on road 2838-950 for about a half mile. A pink or orange flagged trail will be on the left side of the road. Follow the flagged trail for another half a mile to reach the climbing area.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Restrooms are not available at this site.
Water
Potable water is not available at this site.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are not available at this site.
