A very sunny wall with easy access. Mostly Trad routes and all can be Top Roped. In the summer the walls can get pretty hot from the sun. There are bolt anchors at the tops of the routes to clip and lower from.
Getting There
Drive into Horsetooth up 38 from Ft. Collins proppa'. When you get to the first intersection in the park go right over the damn. At the edge of the damn park. Walk across the street and uphill about 5 minutes. This is the top of Duncan's Ridge. You can descend via the obvious 4th class gully on the high side of the ridge about 10 feet from the routes.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Duncan's Ridge:
I tried to get to Duncan's Ridge this morning, but the road was closed for dam construction. I'm not sure if one can park and walk in from the road closure sign. Either way, the access to the Horsetooth Res. bouldering areas has been altered for the moment...Shane
I talked to some of the construction guys, and they just 'offiicially' opened a path from the piano rock car park just north of the south damn. Gain the path just west of the construction gate, but to get there you'll have to go past the hughes stadium access road.
If you are hoping to use trees for anchors, they are a very long ways back. Your best option is to probably to bring a static climbing rope if you own one. If not you will have to do some creative anchor building with pro.
Just an FYI for everyone. I was up at the bolts climbing with some friends and my dog got bit by a rattlesnake. We did not hear or see the snake. Keep your dog on a leash if you are up there.
Up there yesterday. Someone has been busy. New bolts across the top, so new the drill dust was still there. Two new sets, and a replacement/refurbish of the existing set. It was nice to get more climbing in and move from bolted anchor to bolted anchor without having to fiddle with gear. I understand the debate between pro and fixed gear, but I personally do not have an opinion on bolts in this particular area. Perhaps with the addition of bolts the area will see more traffic, and some people don't like that. These bolts are no more unsightly than the chalk visible at Piano and the Rotary. With the history here, however, they are at risk of being chopped.
Seriously? What'd they bolt? The roof and surrounding climbs already bear scars from former anchors. The (previous) lack of bolts speaks for itself, especially considering how long people have climbed here. The established climbs can all be toproped with a rudimentary rack. Pretty soon, we'll have to pay to park at the Piano lot just so management can clean up after the crowds.
They did not bolt the roof, but a set to climber's right, and another set to the left, in addition to the bolts that were already there. I am surprised the roof was not bolted, since that also seems to be the more timely anchor to build. I agree, the more traffic an area sees, the more likely we are to have people that will abuse it. Two recent fire rings were also evident. An area like this, while not destination, should have its tradition and ethics be respected. I am not one to chop, but I also will not stop others if they feel the need. But chopping just leads to more scars, and more bolts.
Print a Mini-Guide - Includes Routes!
RSS Feed
Slideshow
