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: 6,950 ft
GPS: 39.9798, -105.29
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 53,345 total · 189/month
Shared By: John Shields 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

Description Suggest change

This rock is mostly lower-angled slabs of Fountain Formation sandstone with decent to excellent opportunities for protection (some runouts possible but the angle is VERY low here). Great area to practice placing pro on lead and it gets lots of sunny exposure (east-facing). Climbs here range from 5.0 to 5.14, with the moderate routes on the east face and a handful of steep, more difficult sport climbs (and one mixed climb) on the west face.

Getting There Suggest change

Follow Table Mesa Rd. to its end at NCAR. Park at NCAR and take the NCAR/Mallory Cave Trail (trailhead on west end of parking lot, entrance) to the Mesa Trail intersection, about 0.75 miles from the parking lot. Take the Mesa Trail north and it will very quickly dip down into Skunk Canyon; cross the bridge, then after two switchbacks go around a fence/low rock wall and head west on the climber's trail into Skunk Canyon proper. 

Follow this about 250 yards into the mouth of the canyon, noting some pink Dakota sandstone slabs leading north up the first proper ridge on your right. Take the established climber's trail immediately west of these, beginning steeply on slabs and talus then zigzagging up the hill toward the toe of the rock, and the east-face routes. DO NOT CONTINUE WEST TO THE [CLOSED] SOCIAL TRAIL IN THE TREES JUST EAST OF RIDGE 1/THE GUARDIAN. This trail has turned very quickly into an erosion nightmare, is not sustainable, and has been blocked off. OSMP and the City of Boulder [wants us to use the] established approach trail to the east, which has been there for decades.

For the west-face sport climbs, pass a short boulder problem on your right then hug the south face of Hillbilly Rock in the gully, eventually bending around to the west face.

This crag has become too popular for its small size, and climbers have, despite repeated admonitions, created a [now closed] social trail to get there that created erosion issues. In order to keep access copacetic and ensure the future of new-routing at this and other cliffs, climbers are required to use the original approach trail, to the East Face of Hillbilly, moving along the eastern edge of the big gully running north-to-south up to the toe of the rock. Cairns have been placed on the talus and rock slabs marking the beginning of this approach. Please leave these in place or feel free to add others to mark the route. 

The Flatirons Climbing Council had a trail day with OSMP — to block off the now [closed social] trail and shore up the old one and more clearly designate access. Please be extra careful about limiting erosion and not add social trails.

20 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Hillbilly Rock Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Hillbilly Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a
 17
East Face Center/Hillbilly
Trad 2 pitches
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c
 26
Billy Goat Arete
Trad 2 pitches
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c R
 37
East Face South Side/Hillbilly
Trad 3 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R
 7
Jethro
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 4
Jessica's Line (aka HBF Front Bo…
Trad
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 24
Hillbilly Warm-up
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 20
West Face Right
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 31
West Face
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 53
Horsefly Hootenanny
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 76
Uncle Dad
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 10
Tiger King
Sport
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 19
Nephson
Sport
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 4
Hoodang Hoedown
Sport
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
 4
Call Me Daddy (link-up)
Sport
5.14b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b
 4
Joe Exotic
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
East Face Center/Hillbilly
 17
5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a Trad 2 pitches
Billy Goat Arete
 26
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c Trad 2 pitches
East Face South Side/Hillbilly
 37
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c R Trad 3 pitches
Jethro
 7
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R Trad
Jessica's Line (aka HBF Fro…
 4
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad
Hillbilly Warm-up
 24
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
West Face Right
 20
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
West Face
 31
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Horsefly Hootenanny
 53
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Uncle Dad
 76
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Tiger King
 10
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
Nephson
 19
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
Hoodang Hoedown
 4
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
Call Me Daddy (link-up)
 4
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a Sport
Joe Exotic
 4
5.14b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Hillbilly Rock »

Sun & Shade Suggest change

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