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Elevation: 6,313 ft
GPS: 40.0014, -105.296
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 861,111 total · 3,044/month
Shared By: Patrick Vernon on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

Flagstaff Mountain is the local bouldering area. This place has quite a history, and despite the fact that it is no Hueco Tanks, there are many historical and classic "moderate" problems. Flagstaff Mountain is a unique area in that the bouldering does not involve pushing yourself on the latest V9, but attempting moderate and historical problems that are sometimes a little scary and sandbagged. There are few beginner problems, and not a whole lot of world class problems, but tons to pander to the intermediate climber. There is quite a lot of climbing at Flagstaff. There are the central popular areas like the Monkey Traverse, Beer Barrel, Red Wall, Capstan, and Cloud Shadow areas, but also many outlying areas that give some relief from the afterwork crowds, these are the Candle area, Pumpkin Rock, and Upper area. Climbing at Flag has several prerequisites. The climbing tends to be powerful, and quite bold sometimes. The rock will quickly tear up your fingers because of its sandpaper consistency, yet feel greasy at the same time. I have always found the place particularly conductive to circuits, starting at the Upper area and working down to Pumpkin Rock, one can do around 100 problems in the V0-V5 range. One can conduct innumerable ciruits from these problems. Some good problems at Flag include Cloud Shadow Traverse (V2-V6), Hagan's Wall (V5), Consideration (V3), Monkey Traverse (V3, greasy and often too crowded), Pratts Mantle (V2), south arete of Beer Barrel (V0), Polling Pebble (V5), Tree Slab Traverse (V1), right side of Redwall (V4 very height dependant), King Conquerer (V2 scary!). Harder problems too, such as Just Right (V7), Undercling Traverse (V9), Hollow's Way (V8), Mongolian Cosmonaut (V8), Over Yourself (V10), Ooze Pig (V7), and Trice (V12).

Getting There Suggest change

Take Baseline Road west, go up the hill trying to avoid the flashy bikers. There are several places to park. The Capstan is a 30' spire in the middle of a hairpin turn, one can park here or continue on to the first lot on the left after the Capstan, this will take you to the Monkey Traverse area or across the road to Red Wall. Another thing to mention is that Flag is within reasonable walking distance from CU, it is about 1.5 miles away from campus, yet I have made this walk innumerable times, it takes about a half hour and is highly enjoyable.

Stewardship

Suggest change
Please consider minimizing your impact when enjoying the area. There are already significant signs of erosion, plant trampling, etc. There have already been projects begun to repair the impacts with revegetation and soil restoration in the area. Remember that pads do have a significant impact on the flora. Do your best to ensure future access to this wonderful area!

Navigating Flagstaff

Suggest change

According to the database, Flagstaff has nearly 400 boulder problems!  In an attempt to make navigation more straightforward, MP user Brian Carver put together the following list which assigns a parking area to each sub-area of Flagstaff.  The mileage starts at the bridge where Gregory Canyon Road, Flagstaff Road, and Baseline all meet. 

Hobo Cave and Lower Mountain (0 miles from bridge, 39.999329, -105.290883)

Cloud Shadow/Capstan/Dark Side (1.3 Miles from bridge, 40.002704, -105.295639)

The Amphitheater/Red Wall (1.6 miles from bridge, 40.001792, -105.297083)

Monkey Traverse Area (1.6 miles from bridge, 40.001792, -105.297083)

Great Ridge (1.8 miles from bridge, 40.003228, -105.298557)

First Overhang and Beyond (1.8 miles from bridge, 40.003228, -105.298557)

420 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Flagstaff Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Flagstaff

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1+ 5
 61
Overhanging Hand Traverse
Boulder
V2 5+
 81
Big Overhang
Boulder
V3-4 6A+
 103
Upper Y Traverse
Boulder
V4 6B
 172
The Consideration
Boulder
V4 6B
 252
The Long Traverse aka The Monkey…
Boulder
V4+ 6B+
 136
Cloud Shadow Traverse
Boulder
V5 6C
 155
Hagan's Wall
Boulder
V5 6C
 108
Face Out
Boulder
V6 7A
 202
First Overhang
Boulder
V6 7A
 40
Stranger Than Friction
Boulder
V7- 7A+
 216
Valhalla
Boulder
V7 7A+
 85
Just Right
Boulder
V7 7A+
 39
Cryptic Magician
Boulder
V8+ 7B+
 15
Hollow's Way
Boulder
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a V3 6A R
 54
King Conqueror
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Overhanging Hand Traverse Flagstaff Amphitheatre
 61
V1+ 5 Boulder
Big Overhang Overhang Wall
 81
V2 5+ Boulder
Upper Y Traverse Upper Y Traverse
 103
V3-4 6A+ Boulder
The Consideration Cloud Shadow
 172
V4 6B Boulder
The Long Traverse aka The M… Monkey Traverse
 252
V4 6B Boulder
Cloud Shadow Traverse Cloud Shadow
 136
V4+ 6B+ Boulder
Hagan's Wall Cloud Shadow
 155
V5 6C Boulder
Face Out King Conquerer
 108
V5 6C Boulder
First Overhang First Overhang
 202
V6 7A Boulder
Stranger Than Friction Cloud Shadow
 40
V6 7A Boulder
Valhalla Dark Side > Incuts Overhang
 216
V7- 7A+ Boulder
Just Right Capstan
 85
V7 7A+ Boulder
Cryptic Magician Dark Side > Cryptic Boulder
 39
V7 7A+ Boulder
Hollow's Way Notlim Boulder
 15
V8+ 7B+ Boulder
King Conqueror King Conquerer
 54
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a V3 6A R Boulder
More Classic Climbs in Flagstaff »

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