Colby's Corner (Ridgway)  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  7,000' Lat, Long:  38.1787, -107.7619 Map Page Views:  587. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Fleetwood Matt on Sep 30, 2011 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Private Land - See Details MORE INFO >>> Colby's Corner is on Open Space land owned by the Loghill Village Homeowner's Association. We've worked with their park board informally for access. Technically, you must be a property owner or guest to use the land. So befriend a Loghill Villager. I know one Villager has the first ascent of the Lotus Flower. Don't screw up the access! This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

BETA PHOTO: Beta topo for Colby's Corner Crag.

Description 

Colby's Corner is a small, 40' tall, loose and sandy spot affectionately referred to as the 'Schwag Crag'. It's not proud, but it's local. That said, the view can't be beat, and the little bit of climbing is actually worthwhile. CC faces south-southeast, so it can be climbable when most of Ouray County's crags are cold and snowy. I think the rock is maybe the Burro Canyon formation?? There is a mix of moderate sandy trad routes (sew it up!) and more difficult bolted lines. This place was discovered by Ridgway legend George Gardner. It's been a great spot for the Ridgway School Outdoor Ed and climbing team program. George's pupils have built some pretty interesting memorial cairns at the base of the cliff.

It's possible to top-rope all of the routes. The top can be accessed via a 5.5 dirty gully with a fixed rope at the climber's left end of the crag. See the crag topo for a brief description of all routes on the wall. There are a few scattered sandy boulders down the gully below the climber's right end of the crag, but I didn't get too inspired....

Colby's Corner gets its name from the Colby's Corner Ranch with the bright red barns just below the crag on the creek. Danine serves up some good food at the restaurant by the same name in town, so stop by after craggin' and grab a burger. If you're real hungry, get the Motherlode!

Getting There 

From Ridgway, go north on County Road 5 past the high school. Turn left on C.R. 24 when 5 ends. Immediately cross Dallas Creek bridge and park in the dirt pullout on the right. This is the only spot where the land is Open Space. There are private ranches on both sides. Follow the faint trail up (north), cross the irrigation ditch, and pass the old rusty car in a meadow. Continue up and left past switchbacks and cairns to the base of the crag at the George Gardner memorials. Please stay on the trail! Note that this trail can get VERY muddy during spring snow melt or after a big rain. Most routes are to the right. The fixed rope is to the left 200'.

The Classics

Featured Route For Colby's Corner (Ridgway)

Eat Your Wheaties 5.10b  CO : Ouray vicinity (rock) : Colby's Corner (Ridgway)

Face climb on the prow. Start up a vertical, varnished face, transition right to slab, and finish on the upper sandy face....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO