BETA PHOTO: The Sphinx as viewed from above (Northwest) on the...
Description
The Sphinx is a "fierce little crag" (Rossiter, 1999) south and across Shanahan canyon from the Shanahan Crags. When viewed from the north, you will immediately notice that the East face of The Sphinx is unlike most Flatiron East faces - it is steep! You can see The Sphinx well from several spots along the Mesa trail between the North and South Shanahan trails. Look for a fairly small, blocky Flatiron with a few trees on a ledge system about halfway up. This ledge system separates the Upper and Lower East Face routes, and you can walk off from here. There is one large tree on The Sphinx below and left of the aforementioned ledge system. This tree is directly above the chimney pitch of the Lower East Face (in fact, it is the anchor!), which can also be seen from the Mesa Trail.
The Riddle of The Sphinx is that it is one of the most seldom climbed Flatirons. The lower section isn't exactly chossy, but is of lower quality than the classic upper east face. Still, this unique crag merits a visit.
Getting There
Approach from the Cragmoor Trailhead via the South Shanahan Trail. Turn left (south) onto the Mesa trail, and continue for a hundred yards or so until you see a good spot to begin bushwacking up directly toward The Sphinx. The bushwacking is not too bad, and you should arrive at the base of the rock and the start of the lower east face shortly. Allow 45 minutes or so for the approach.
To descend from The Sphinx, downclimb the upper east face (class 3), and walk off the tree-covered ledge system to the north. Rock hop down into Shanahan canyon, and pick up the very faint Shanahan Canyon trail back to the Mesa Trail. Either go south and the Mesa trail and then left onto the South Shanahan Trail, or turn north onto the Mesa trail and make a scenic loop by descending the North Shanahan Trail back to the Cragmoor Trailhead.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Sphinx:
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