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Elevation: 6,409 ft
GPS: 38.49059, -108.05729
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 68,310 total · 379/month
Shared By: kyle sanders on Jun 7, 2009 · Updates
Admins: Edward Medina, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

Montrose is a largely rural, but growing city with a population of around 19,000 within city limits (as of 2010). Once a town of mainly ranchers and farmers, Montrose is now becoming a community of families, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

The rock quality in the area is widely varied, from bomber sandstone, to less-than-bomber granite. Many sandstone cliff-lines and boulders can be found west of town, on the edge of the Uncompahgre Plateau, while some granite is found east of town, near the edge of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. There are very few developed areas, but the ambitious climber could absolutely take advantage of undeveloped areas for bouldering and trad climbing.

The rock climbing community in Montrose is not large, but it is there. It consists mostly of experienced weekend warriors, but also of young climbers from the local high school climbing team. Local beta is scarce, and mainly passed by word of mouth.

For rest days, Montrose certainly lives up to its motto, "Stay Here, Play Everywhere." Though best known for its close proximity to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, there are countless other opportunities to enjoy the outdoors within a thirty minute drive of town, and within town as well. The newly built Water Sports Park has drawn the interest of both amateur and hardened kayakers and SUP-ers. The brand new Rec Center, which opened in February of 2017, is booming with business from climbers, runners, and other athletes from the Montrose area. For a quick after-work pump, the Rec Center even has a small climbing wall, specially textured and painted to resemble the Black Canyon.

111 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Montrose

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 5
Pearly Gates
Boulder
V3 6A
 7
Hail Mary
Boulder
V3 6A
 4
Mondays
Boulder
V3 6A
 4
Haystack
Boulder
V7 7A+
 5
The Hamstringer (submitted as 5'…
Boulder
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
The Gift
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
Unknown 10a (1)
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 9
Simple Physics
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 7
Gritstone Arete
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 9
Skittles to the Wall
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Pearly Gates Electric Hills… > Cathedral Bould… > Hell Hole
 5
V1 5 Boulder
Hail Mary Electric Hills… > Cathedral Bould… > Cathedral Boulder
 7
V3 6A Boulder
Mondays Electric Hills… > Outlying Boulders > Gateway Bugs (aka Pai…
 4
V3 6A Boulder
Haystack Electric Hills… > Cathedral Bould… > Hell Hole
 4
V3 6A Boulder
The Hamstringer (submitted… Dry Creek Crag > Dry Creek Bouldering
 5
V7 7A+ Boulder
The Gift Dry Creek Crag > Right Side
 4
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Unknown 10a (1) Dry Creek Crag > Right Side
 5
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Simple Physics Dry Creek Crag > Right Side
 9
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Gritstone Arete Dry Creek Crag > Right Side
 7
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Skittles to the Wall Dry Creek Crag > Right Side
 9
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Montrose »

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