Outside Corner is a great and varied half-day climb, with a super quick approach, comfy belays, and a straightforward descent. The route goes up an imposing arête and is easily seen as you drive up Big Cottonwood road.

Outside Corner might feel a little spicy for some at the grade. It definitely has a few committing and airy moves, and provides big exposure for a 5.7. Although each pitch has some fun sections, the last pitch is the best. It is steep and sustained, with exciting and consistently exposed climbing leading to the very top.

Second East Face is another great little climb for the moderate climber. It doesn’t look too inspiring from a distance, but once on the route you’ll see what you came for. This route has a lot of clean thin hands and finger cracks on perfect quartzite, and also has abundant and positive face holds. Keep your cool on the hard to protect face on the last pitch... If you liked the feeling and the exposure of the arête pitch on Steort’s Ridge (5.6), you’ll like this route. All the belays are comfortable, and the views of Big Cottonwood Canyon are wonderful. Second East Face gets a lot of sun in the morning and lots of shade in the afternoon, and it’s a good alternative if Outside Corner is busy.

The rock in Big Cottonwood Canyon is quartzite, and while it offers a multitude of parallel crack systems and tons of small edges, protection can be a little tricky to place in sections, and some sections on these routes might feel a little runout. Small size nuts and cams are useful. Some loose rock might also be encountered, so helmets are advised.