Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 5,500 ft
GPS: 39.9777, -105.29
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 826,166 total · 2,921/month
Shared By: Ben Mottinger on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: New Emergency Closure & Subject to Seasonal Closures DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

There are many rocks to explore in this area. In fact, this section of the Flatirions probably hosts the greatest number of distinct crags in the Flatirons. It is complex enough that even locals will get lost when climbing the more obscure crags here. The "Central" zone spans Bear Canyon arbitrarily to Skunk Canyon. Those seeking solitude can find it here at the less-popular crags. Slabmongers can have many field days exploring the numerous mini-Flatirons, and there's a lots of trad routes and even some sport routes among these rocks. There's even room for new routing. Have fun in this scenic setting.

Getting There Suggest change

The main starting point is typically from NCAR (at the terminus of Table Mesa) for this area. See specific rock pages for directions.

Access

Suggest change
Various of the Flatirons are closed for falcon nesting from Feb 1 up to July 31 and for bat nesting Apr 1 to Aug 31. Historically, some of these in this area have included Bear Creek Spire, Harmon Cave (bats), East Face of The Hand (bats), East Face of The Finger Flatiron (bats), East Face of Der Zerkle (bats), Dreadnaught, Achean Pronoucement, Skunk Canyon Ridge 2 & west, Sacred Cliffs, and possibly others.

Mallory Cave is permanently closed to human use to reduce the chance of introducing white-nose syndrome.

Please check with city of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks at 303-441-3440 before heading up there. Also, 303.441.4060 ext 420 & x 416 can provide information.

282 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Central Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Central

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V8 7B
 12
[Redacted]
Boulder
V8 7B
 39
Edging Edgio
Boulder
5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a R
 46
Fi Fun
Trad 3 pitches
Fi
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 50
Cardboard Cowboy
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 194
Patience Face
Sport, TR
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 31
Yellow Christ
Trad, TR
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 69
Discipline
Sport
Box
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 252
The Shaft
Sport, TR
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 72
Power Bulge
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 16
Cornucopia
Sport
Box
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 133
Milk Bone
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 133
Ultrasaurus
Sport
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 11
Jurassic Park
Sport 5 pitches
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 11
Five Year Plan aka Space Time In…
Trad
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 8
The Fiend
Trad, Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
[Redacted] Bear Canyon Bouldering
 12
V8 7B Boulder
Edging Edgio Elevated Boulder
 39
V8 7B Boulder
Fi Fun Fi
 46
5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a R Trad 3 pitches
Cardboard Cowboy Hand
 50
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Patience Face Dinosaur Rock
 194
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, TR
Yellow Christ Square Rock
 31
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad, TR
Discipline Box
 69
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
The Shaft Dinosaur Rock
 252
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport, TR
Power Bulge Hand
 72
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Cornucopia Box
 16
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Milk Bone Dinosaur Rock
 133
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Ultrasaurus Dinosaur Rock
 133
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Jurassic Park Dinosaur Rock
 11
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c Sport 5 pitches
Five Year Plan aka Space Ti… Backporch
 11
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c Trad
The Fiend Stonehenge
 8
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Trad, Sport
More Classic Climbs in Central »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading