Crazy Horse Buttress near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is rapidly becoming recognized as a world class climbing venue. In March 2010, Climbing Magazine ran an expo highlighting Crazy Horse’s green credentials and spectacular climbs, calling it one of the “world’s greenest mega-crags” (The Other Thailand)

As the tip toes of the Himalayan foothills give way to the lush jungles and farming communities of the Mae on valley, a soaring limestone buttress, defined by an unmissable horse-shaped outcrop rises from the Jungle floor. The aptly named Crazy Horse Buttress was first developed in 1998 by Kraisak (Tom) Boonthip and is currently being expanded and maintained by Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures (info@thailandclimbing.com or Thailandclimbing.com).

Crazy Horse Buttress has 16 crags and almost 200 sport routes with grading ranging between 5.6 - 5.13c. With huge diversity offered from the different walls, Crazy Horse boasts everything from iconic steep Thailand limestone, technical slabs, jamming cracks and for those daring enough; multi pitch roof adventures through cave systems on stalactites. Even those with the steadiest of lead-heads will find a challenge in dangling in space over a 200 foot drop into darkness on the classic exposure test-piece of the Anxiety State Crises cave.

From the very beginning Crazy Horse has been developed with a view to sustainability and safety. To ensure the very highest standards, from the placement of the first bolt CMRCA has kept one of, if not the only, crag history and maintenance record in Thailand. Every route is rigorously inspected and documented from the FA to rebolting. The bolting standard is the Rolls-Royce of sport protection: Titanium Fixe-316 bolts with Hilti-RE500 glue.

Sustainability is and has always been a primary objective for Crazy Horse. Climbing here has provided an economical and ecological positive impact on the local area. Crazy Horse is often recognized as a model for conscientious crag development.

A guide book written by the owners of Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures, Josh Morris and Khaettaleeya Uppakham, is available for purchase at the CMRCA office in the Old City of Chiang Mai. Money raised from the guidebook sales goes directly to more bolting and area development. This crag and the surrounding area has the potential for many many more routes. Contact Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures for more information on bolting potential.

The area is only 1/2 hour by car or motorbike from Chiangmai and is accessible all year round.

Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures, with local professional guides that have trained in the US and worldwide, offers guided outings as well as lessons at all levels of climbing. You can also arrange rides and find partners at their office.