All Locations > Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Lumpy Ridge

Gem Lake Wall Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Gem Lake Wall

L › R R › L A › Z

	Cleft, The T 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
	Commendable Conduct T 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Exemplary Behavior T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Gem Flake T 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c C1
	Gondwanaland T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a PG13
	Left of Cleft T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Nameless Dihedral V0 4
	Squeezeasy T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13
Unsorted Routes:

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

Explore this area in 3D

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:	8,800 ft
GPS:	40.40987, -105.50329 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	7,916 total · 56/month
Shared By:	Leo Paik on Aug 17, 2012
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: 2023 Seasonal Raptor Closures lifted 7/28/23 Details

Per Brent Frazier: the raptor closures have been lifted in the Lumpy Ridge and Loch Vale Areas ( nps.gov/romo/raptor-closure…)

Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure that birds of prey will be undisturbed during their breeding and nesting seasons. These closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. Monitoring by park staff and volunteers have determined that all remaining closures can be lifted on July 28, 2023.

Per Matt Coghill: the Golden eagle nesting activity has extended Lumpy closures through Aug. 15, 2022 on Sundance, Thunder Buttress, and Needle Summit!

Per A.Eaton: the raptor closures have been lifted as of 6/4/2022 at Lumpy for the following formations:

Twin Owls
Rock One
Batman Rock
Batman Pinnacle
Checkerboard
Lightning Rock

Per the Denver Post: as of Feb. 15, 2022, Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Bookmark Pinnacle, The Left Book, Bookmark, Twin Owls, Rock One, and the Needle are closed for raptor nesting. These closures will continue through July 31, 2022 if needed.

All areas [were] OPEN to climbing for the 2021 post July season.

Closures ending July 31:
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, Checkerboard Rock - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Sundance - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
The Book Area: Left Book, The Bookmark, Bookmark Pinnacle, and the entire Book formation (including Renaissance Wall, Isis Buttress, Pages Wall Area, and J-Crack Slab Area)- nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Thunder Buttress and The Parish - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Twin Owls and Rock One - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Cathedral Wall - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…

When closed, the closures include the named rock formations and the areas surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes, and climber's access trails to the formation.

Areas not listed are presumed to be open. These closures will be lifted or extended as conditions dictate.

Description

This is an obvious, short, wide swath of granite that lies above and east of Gem Lake. It may have other names. The rock is shorter on its northern end and rises to near 300 feet on its southern end. Climbers have infrequently ventured onto these faces. There is room for exploration.

The taller face can be divided by 3 main chimneys into 4 main faces.

There are scramble offs of the northern middle and northern face going to the north and hooking up with the trail. There is a scramble off for the southern-most face going to the south and into a brushy gully between this rock and the shorter rock just to the south.

I just heard from Greg Sievers that he put in a 5.9+ route there back a while. Also, I heard that Scott Kimball spent a bit of time there.

L->R:

A. Squeezeasy, 9- PG-13, 3p, 330', gear.
B. Left of Cleft, 9+, 1p, 100', gear.
C. The Cleft, 9-, 2p, 170', gear.
D. Exemplary Behavior, 9, 2p, 240', gear.

Getting There

From the Lumpy Ridge trailhead, hike out the eastern trail towards Gem Lake. At ~0.5 miles, you T with the Black Canyon trail. Head east (right) and follow the trail another 1.3 miles to this crag with a net gain of ~1100'. You will see this rock from the trailhead / parking lot. You will get better views from Paul Bunyon's Boot. You can also see this rock from Pulpit Rock and McGraw Ranch. Also, you can see the parking lot from the summit.