Family-style climbing at its finest! Roll on up to the City of Ouray's Rotary Park in your Chrysler woodie station wagon, flower-covered '67 VW Bus, or gas-guzzling-GMC-Yukon-with-a-soccer-mom-sticker-on-the-back SUV, and have a groovy time with all the kinfolk. Safe, easily accessed one-pitch climbs will have even Granny sending hard! Far enough off the road so the family dog won't get run over in traffic, but steps away from the public facilities should just such a need arise. So convenient that Uncle Fred can help belay from the backseat of the family car as he nurses his methadone hangover. Don't forget the picnic basket for those after-climbing BBQs (Even Little Johnny loves a Johnsonville Brat.)
Thanks to the City Parks Maintenance Crew for the groovy landscaping
Getting There
From the heart of Ouray, go north on US Hwy 550 toward Ridgway 1 mile. Look for the hockey rink on the right and turn into Rotary Park. Park by the public restrooms. Stroll 30 feet to the obvious cliff. Approach time: 10-12 seconds. Look for a handful of short, moderate, well-protected sport/mixed lead climbs. More potential for steep harder routes to the right around the corner.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Ouray Rotary Park-Rink Wall:
About 7 routes have now been developed on the right (steeper) side of the wall. The routes are approximatley 40 ft. tall, 4-5 bolts + anchors, and are in the 5.10 - 5.11 range. Sun hits the wall mid-day, 11-2 in the winter, and longer in the summer (although the leaves on the tress provide for additional shade in the summer). It's a good fun place to do laps, train, and be social.
We climbed 4 of the routes on the right side and they were quite good. It would be nice to have some more info on these lines. Also what's the story with the burly line above and left of Sesame Street?
The line up and left of Sesame Street is 12a. The extension of Sesame Street up the slab is 10d (maybe sandbag). There's also two new routes on the lower angle side: 5.5 and 5.7 - summer '09. There is also a another route on the right(steep) side (far right) that is longer than the other routes and checks in at about 11d.
I was vacationing on around Ouray and had no rope but a crash pad. Fun traverse and the chips on the ground made me feel a little safer when i ventured up a little to high. All in all I would climb here again. Thank you who ever developed.
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