Arch in the Gunks

Gunks

Nov 11

Route Topo

Route Details

Difficulty: 5.6
Length: 3 pitches
Rock Quartz Conglomerate
Type: Trad
Recommended Rope Size: 60m
Date: 10/2/2025
Partner: Lia

I’ve always seen this route while hiking the carriage road to other routes, and finally got on it. This is a great route that weaves through one of the most distinctive features in the Trapps. I wouldn’t recommend this to a trad leader just breaking into the 5.5 grade as it’s slightly runout in certain places.

Pitch by Pitch Photos

Approach as you would for Frog’s head, just a few minutes past Uberfall. This route is a minute hike climber’s right from Frog’s head.

Start at the right facing corner until you reach a horizontal and a traverse right.
Make an airy traverse right at the overhang, and belay at the tree.
Be sure to protect your second well on the traverse. Belaying at the tree provides a nice protection to protect a pendulum fall.

Short pitch up to the GT ledge.
Be sure to protect easy pitches like this where you can as a fall in this terrain would be very painful.Short pitch up to the GT ledge.
Be sure to protect easy pitches like this where you can as a fall in this terrain would be very painful.

More straightforward to protect and less run out than pitch 1.

Descent | Rappel from the bolted anchors at the top of pitch 3. 3 rappels gets you to the ground. Consider saddlebag rappelling as there are popular routes below these anchors.