Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 8,500 ft
GPS: 39.6429, -106.379
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 742,541 total · 3,367/month
Shared By: John McNamee on Mar 4, 2006
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

This area encompasses a geographic location with a variety of vertical type experiences. You probably have heard most about the Vail ice and you can find that under the CO ice/mixed section. In this section, you will find various rock cragging on sandstone, limestone, gneiss, schist, and even some granite. While this generally has little for a destination type of experience, there is still some interesting crags to find vertical pleasure.

Some of the climbing here is protected in information accessibility and locals may cringe to see non-Eagle county folks playing here. Nonetheless, we have to share amiably and symbiose.

Some of the better known areas include Lime Park's limestone, Wolcott's sandstone & nearby Gilman's gneiss, but there is more for the exploring types.

Due to the increased elevation, most of the cragging in this area is limited to April to October times.

Getting There Suggest change

As a well-known ski area, this general location is easy to find. I-70 accesses this area from either east or west (100 miles West of Denver). From the south, you can access this area via CO Hwy 9 (past Copper Mountain) or US 24 (through Minturn). From the north, you can access this area via CO Hwy 9 (Silverthorne) or CO Hwy 131 (Wolcott). The ice cragging is mostly visible from I-70. Parking is challenging, since all street parking in Vail is subject to ticketing. Gilman, illegal to access, is reached via US 24 south from Minturn.

Weather

Suggest change
You can check NOAA.

Leadville climbing website

Suggest change
www.40minutesfromleadville.com

Nearby Leadville

Suggest change
Since we split off Leadville, click here to find Leadville crags.

Bats - conservation

Suggest change

See a bat on a route, give a shout. Climbers for Bat Conservation is working with climbers to understand bat ecology and why bats choose certain cracks and flakes. If you see bats, and want to tell them, here is their email (climbersforbats@colostate.edu) and their website ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Climbers for Bat Conservation is a collaboration between climbers, bat biologists, and land managers to understand where bats roost and where large populations may reside. They are interested in finding bats because a new disease, called white-nose syndrome ( whitenosesyndrome.org/), has killed millions of bats in North America. This collaboration has identified bat roosts throughout the U.S., and as far away as Norway and Bulgaria. CBC was developed by biologists who climb and they are advocates for climbing access and bat conservation. If you see bats while climbing, please let them know by emailing them at climbersforbats@colostate.edu, or visiting their website to learn more ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Rob Schorr

Zoologist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program ( sites.warnercnr.colostate.e…)

Director, Climbers for Bat Conservation

Robert.schorr@colostate.edu 

379 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Eagle/Vail/Minturn/Red Cliff Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Eagle/Vail/Minturn/Red Cliff

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V5 6C
 29
Golden Years
Boulder
V5+ 6C+
 61
Star Crossed Lovers
Boulder
V6 7A
 100
The Minturn Mile
Boulder
V8 7B
 31
Return of the Jedi
Boulder
V8 7B
 9
Immortality
TR, Boulder
V9 7C
 6
Cool Arete
Boulder
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 20
Guru Crack (aka Guru Crack of Ga…
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 120
Uckfay Ushbay
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 29
Weird Science
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 56
Drive By Shooting
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 37
Drill for the Thrill
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 31
Momentary Lack of Resin
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 36
Snipe Hunter
Sport
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c PG13
 8
Punchbown Arch (Right Arch of Cave)
Sport
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 4
Raised By Wolves
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Golden Years Wolcott Crags &… > Waterside Boulder
 29
V5 6C Boulder
Star Crossed Lovers Aircraft Carrier
 61
V5+ 6C+ Boulder
The Minturn Mile Klettergarden > Minturn Mile Boulder
 100
V6 7A Boulder
Return of the Jedi Klettergarden > Minturn Mile Boulder
 31
V8 7B Boulder
Immortality Klettergarden > Giant Boulder Uphill…
 9
V8 7B TR, Boulder
Cool Arete Aircraft Carrier
 6
V9 7C Boulder
Guru Crack (aka Guru Crack… Wolcott Crags &… > Upper Tier (Bocco Area)
 20
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Uckfay Ushbay Lime Park (a.k.… > N Wall
 120
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Weird Science Lime Park (a.k.… > Blank Check Wall
 29
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Drive By Shooting Lime Park (a.k.… > Punchbowl
 56
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Drill for the Thrill Lime Park (a.k.… > Prow
 37
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Momentary Lack of Resin Lime Park (a.k.… > Punchbowl
 31
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Snipe Hunter Lime Park (a.k.… > Punchbowl
 36
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Punchbown Arch (Right Arch… Lime Park (a.k.… > Punchbowl
 8
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c PG13 Sport
Raised By Wolves Lime Park (a.k.… > Punchbowl
 4
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Eagle/Vail/Minturn/Red Cliff »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading