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Visiting Denver in July

Original Post
Tev · · Hickory · Joined May 2012 · Points: 25

My girlfriend and I will be attending a conference in July in Denver. We are extending our stay in order to climb as much as possible. We are from NC (home to Stone Mountain, Shortoff, Looking Glass, Rumbling Bald). We are just overwhelmed at the quantity of crags in CO seen on mountain project. Would any of you guys please give us some suggestions? My preference is trad and would love to find a great moderate (up to 5.9) route(s). Jen loves sport and can lead up to 5.11. Thanks for your time. Cheers!

evan h · · Longmont, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 360

If you're into trad, Eldo is not to be missed. There are many mega classics in the grade range you've outlined, but expect to fight for some of the older 5.9's. Then again, NC isn't known for soft grades, so you'll probably be fine. Easy long romps on the flatirons are great (e.g. Direct Route, 5.6, first flatiron), but they may be hot and crowded. For sport, nearby Boulder Canyon has plenty of options, as does Clear Creek Canyon, near Golden. There are more obscure spots with fantastic lines, but those will keep you busy. Give me a shout, I'm an Asheville native.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

Devils Head is by far the best near Denver sport climbing, with the only exception being CCC for chasing hard numbers.

Jim Amidon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 850

July Eldo can be REALLY HOT,

Head up to Lumpy Ridge in Estes.......

Best bang for your buck while your here....

South Platte is great but if you don't know your way around down there you can spend a whole day just getting lost.....

Head up to Estes.....

ChefMattThaner · · Lakewood, co · Joined May 2013 · Points: 246
Jim Amidon wrote:July Eldo can be REALLY HOT, Head up to Lumpy Ridge in Estes....... Best bang for your buck while your here.... South Platte is great but if you don't know your way around down there you can spend a whole day just getting lost..... Head up to Estes.....
+1 to all of this. Eldo is amazing and if the weather is right you should absolutely hit it, but it is highly likely it will be super hot and then rain for an hour or two in the afternoon if you are here in July. Lumpy has some of the best trad lines around and picturesque setting. Although some of the approaches are longish. The South platte area is also home to some of the biggest granite trad lines in the state but as mentioned before most of the driving/hiking isn't super obvious and it is at least a 2 hour endeavor from Denver just to get to the base of some of the crags. Clear Creek Canyon is 15 minutes away with most approaches less than 5 minutes and grades everywhere from 5.7-5.13, sport and trad. Although hardly the picturesque Colorado setting. This area is really only used by locals when we can't get out to better further out places. The only foreseeable issue I see with lumpy Ridge is that with some longer approaches and July's always present afternoon thunderstorms you could spend a good amount of time hiking out to the crag and get half way up only to get dumped on.
john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Well you won't find much NC style granite...! A lot of heat and maybe some rain..Royal Flush in frisco is not that far away, a long mellow route...Mt Evans if you want some altitude and RMNP if the rain holds off.

Eliot Augusto · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 60

Head to the Estes/Lyons area. You have full day peaks, short fast sport, boulders, and a nice selection of multipitch trad all within an hour or two. Eldo is stellar. Dream canyon is is a hidden gem IMO. There is very little info about the routes there, and I have been unable to locate information about several routes I have climbed. But they were all good enough to trek back in for a second ascent. It's also rare to see more than one other party all day.

St vrain is also pretty awesome, though lacking on the classic part.

Boulder canyon has some pretty good granite with a decent mix of sport/trad. The routes are mostly single pitch. There is some great exposure at some crags, not as much as eldo though.

Good luck with your trip!

Bill Wa · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 20

There are 2 seasons in Colorado: Winter and July. July climbing is ok at Independence pass or at the Park.

dano72 · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 5

Devils Head and S.Platte

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Bird closures at Devil's head in July ???

NickinCO · · colorado · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 155
Bill Wa wrote:There are 2 seasons in Colorado: Winter and July. July climbing is ok at Independence pass or at the Park.
I hope your joking… LOL. If you aren't you are spoiled rotten.
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
NickinCO wrote: I hope your joking… LOL. If you aren't you are spoiled rotten.
It's Elanor - go wash your hands.
The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460

Lumpy Ridge, no question. World class climbing, and cooler temps than the front range. Get an early start, rain/thunder storms tend to roll in mid afternoon during July

dano72 · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 5
john strand wrote:Bird closures at Devil's head in July ???
no climbing areas are affected. that should be taken off this site.
Andy Novak · · Bailey, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 370
Bill Wa wrote:There are 2 seasons in Colorado: Winter and July. July climbing is ok at Independence pass or at the Park.
Dumbest thing Smelenor has ever said, and that is reeeallly saying something.
JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Bill Wa wrote:There are 2 seasons in Colorado: Winter and July. July climbing is ok at Independence pass or at the Park.
The ironic thing about this thread is that, despite the obvious idiocy of this statement and its notorious author, Ellenor has also managed to produce the best quality destination suggestion for July: Independence Pass. This would be a great place for you to go. Nice July temps, great scenery, some good camping options, and a good mix of sport and trad climbing for the grades that you're looking for. Although it is a bit farther from Denver, this would be a fantastic choice and would give you a great Colorado climbing experience. Definitely better than mucking around with our mediocre (and kind of hot in July) Front Range crags.

The one thing Indy Pass lacks is long multipitch routes. Estes/Lumpy/RMNP is the place to be for that. If you have enough time (like 10 days or somethings), you'd have a great trip by going to Indy Pass for some roadside sport and trad cragging, and then to spend the second half of the trip doing some multi-pitch routes in Lumpy/RMNP. It is best to do it in this order, since you'll acclimate at the high-elevation roadside climbing at Indy pass before having to do the big hikes in Lumpy/RMNP.

Notes on other areas suggested: Eldo, Clear Creek, and the South Platte will all be quite hot in July. Devil's Head would be a good choice, though, being higher elevation with lots of shade options; it is a nice place for mid-grade sport climbing on interesting chicken-head granite.
Bill Wa · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 20

California weather is Soooo much better than Colorado. Here I am sitting in limbo gym climbing while I could be diving and j tree cragging...and making money...California is better than Colorado if you ask me. Maybe I just miss the Golden State...:(

ChefMattThaner · · Lakewood, co · Joined May 2013 · Points: 246
Bill Wa wrote:California weather is Soooo much better than Colorado. Here I am sitting in limbo gym climbing while I could be diving and j tree cragging...and making money...California is better than Colorado if you ask me. Maybe I just miss the Golden State...:(
If it wasn't for Californias anti-trolling laws maybe you would be allowed back.
NickinCO · · colorado · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 155
Tony B wrote: It's Elanor - go wash your hands.
Another name change?! Damnit I was gone for awhile… she got me again.

The only thing wrong with Colorado is all the Californians that moved here! :)
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
NickinCO wrote: The only thing wrong with Colorado is all the Californians that moved here! :)
Really, just one of them. The rest are mostly OK.
slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

lumpy in july is usually brutal hot. nothing like grinding up slabby flared cracks that are broiling in the sun. uggh.

eldo is usually pretty hot also.

for sport near denver, devils head has great routes, higher elevtion (cooler tmeps), and you can find a bunch of shady corridors.

trad - the park or mount evans would probably be your best bet. vedauwoo is fairly close - you can chase shade and enjoy a western experience.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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