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Elevation: 5,322 ft
GPS: 38.4471, -105.216
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Shared By: John McNamee on Feb 26, 2006
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Introduction Suggest change

Cañon City, is located at the mouth of the Royal Gorge in the foothills of the Rockies, 100 miles from Denver, 45 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, and 35 miles west of Pueblo. The Arkansas River extends the entire 60-mile length of Fremont County and flows through the City of Canon City. The Canon City metropolitan area has a total population in excess of 30,000.

Sheltered in a beautiful valley, Cañon City, elev. 5,343 feet, features a mild and hospitable climate year round. Canon City is said to be in the banana belt of Colorado, seeing very few days of extreme weather each year. The warm days are cooled by temperate evenings. Snowfall is usually light and quickly melts under the warm Colorado sunshine that prevails over 325 days a year. Humidity remains comfortably low throughout the year. "Indian Summer" reaches long into the fall, with warm, sunny days and cool, pleasant nighttime temperatures.

With all this going for it, you can understand why Shelf Road is one of the most popular Winter, Fall and Spring sport climbing destinations not only in Colorado but the country.

Also, one of the main sources of economy for the town is the penitentiary systems here. Beware of picking up hitchhikers!

The Royal Gorge has interesting potential (unclear access issues) with rock walls to 1000 feet and ice drips that drop to the river. At one point, there was a 1000 foot bolted 5.10 created for a specific competition.

Getting There Suggest change

Cañon City is located on US 50 west of Pueblo, Colorado, approximately 50 miles from Pueblo, 45 miles from Colorado Springs (1h) and 115 miles from Denver (2h).

Map of Cañon City.

Resources

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If you are climbing at Shelf Road, there is plenty of camping available; however it can get pretty cold during the winter. If you want a real bed to sleep in check out these options:

Budget Host Royal Gorge Inn

217 N. Raynolds Ave.

Cañon City, CO 81212

719-269-1100

It is located on US 50 by Burger King, right at the turnoff to Shelf Road. It's a nice, clean motel with refrigerators in the rooms, HBO on TV, and an indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna. In March, rates were $65/night for a room with 2 queen beds ($60 for AAA members).

There are lots of other motels in town (Super 8, Best Western, etc.)

Beer: you can buy beer and wine at Gateway Liquors located at, 3055 E US Highway 50 #A. They are situated across from Wal-Mart, about 2 blocks from the Budget Host Motel.

Breakfast places: try the Waffle Wagon, a local place that's only open for breakfast and lunch. They are at 1310 Royal Gorge Blvd (US 50). Also good is the Bufmack Cafe at 325 Main Street. Both places are decent, local breakfast places with good prices for egg, pancake, and waffle breakfasts. Just the sort of thing to stock up on before heading to Shelf Road and a day of pulling pockets! Try out Bean Peddler on Main Street for a morning coffee and some breakfast pastries or tacos. They also are connected to a bike shop that also sells a few climbing products. 

Dinner places: try the Wild West Steak House, at 3245 E US 50. They have good beer on tap, and free salted peanuts in the shell in a metal bucket; you throw the shells on the floor. Good for steak, prime rib, ribs, shrimp dishes. Has a salad bar.

Pizza Madness has good pizza, but it is limited for beer. Domino's Pizza is always an option as well.

There are good Mexican (El Caporal) and Italian (Merlino's Belvedere) restaurants in town. See the new Shelf Road guidebook;q=39 for info.

Check out Julian's for a quick local Mexican eat, Nirvana Culinary Paradise, and Yummy Thai, all on Main St for some great local options.

Ice Cream: there is still a Baskin Robbins on US 50. You Scream Treat Emporium between US 50 and Main near downtown may be the best local ice cream around. 

Weather

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You can try NOAA for info.

Bats - conservation

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See a bat on a route, give a shout. Climbers for Bat Conservation is working with climbers to understand bat ecology and why bats choose certain cracks and flakes. If you see bats, and want to tell them, here is their email (climbersforbats@colostate.edu) and their website ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Climbers for Bat Conservation is a collaboration between climbers, bat biologists, and land managers to understand where bats roost and where large populations may reside. They are interested in finding bats because a new disease, called white-nose syndrome ( whitenosesyndrome.org/), has killed millions of bats in North America. This collaboration has identified bat roosts throughout the U.S., and as far away as Norway and Bulgaria. CBC was developed by biologists who climb and they are advocates for climbing access and bat conservation. If you see bats while climbing, please let them know by emailing them at climbersforbats@colostate.edu, or visiting their website to learn more ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Rob Schorr

Zoologist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program ( sites.warnercnr.colostate.e…)

Director, Climbers for Bat Conservation

Robert.schorr@colostate.edu 

1,474 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Canon City Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Canon City

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 405
Ga-stoned Again
Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 459
jasonbecker.com
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 460
Suburbia
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 314
Enchanted Porkfist
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 429
Funkdemental
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 279
I Claudius
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 582
Muscle Beach
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 338
Lime Street
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 317
The Raw and the Roasted
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 275
Back to the Future
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 260
Unusual Weather
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 402
Lats Don't Have Feelings
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 215
Gravitations
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 241
Freeform
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 219
Heavy Weather
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Ga-stoned Again Shelf Rd > Gym
 405
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
jasonbecker.com Shelf Rd > Bank > 01. Piggy Bank
 459
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
Suburbia Shelf Rd > Sand Gulch > Contest Wall
 460
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Enchanted Porkfist Shelf Rd > Dark Side
 314
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Funkdemental Shelf Rd > Cactus Cliff > E Cactus Cliff Far Ri…
 429
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
I Claudius Shelf Rd > Cactus Cliff > E Cactus Cliff Far Ri…
 279
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Muscle Beach Shelf Rd > Cactus Cliff > B. Cactus Cliff Left…
 582
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Lime Street Shelf Rd > Bank > 10. 2150 Wall
 338
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
The Raw and the Roasted Shelf Rd > Gym
 317
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Back to the Future Shelf Rd > Bank > 07. Back To The Future
 275
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Unusual Weather Shelf Rd > Bank > 06. Surreal Estate
 260
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Lats Don't Have Feelings Shelf Rd > Cactus Cliff > B. Cactus Cliff Left…
 402
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Gravitations Shelf Rd > Cactus Cliff > B. Cactus Cliff Left…
 215
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Freeform Shelf Rd > Sand Gulch > Free Form Wall
 241
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Heavy Weather Shelf Rd > Bank > 06. Surreal Estate
 219
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
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