Golden Gate Canyon SP  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  103,363. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Leo Paik on Apr 4, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New Guidebooks (4)  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 84° | 55° 88° | 57° 86° | 55° 81° | 54° 86° | 57°

State Park; Fee Required. MORE INFO >>> Golden Gate Canyon is a State Park and a $6 (2010) fee is required for entrance. Self serve kiosks exist throughout the park. Annual passes can be purchased for $60. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

BETA PHOTO: Lazy Squaw Spire.

Description 

There is a backwoodsy, subalpine, state park with multiple granite crags, some of which may never have been climbed, ranging from 50 to 450 feet in height. A park fee is required to park. The rock is mostly granite ranging from 8000-10000 foot altitude. Beautiful vistas soothe your eyes from belay perches. People have been climbing here since at least the 1950s. There are mostly traditional climbs; however, sport-ish climbs are appearing here more recently. Some approaches exceed an hour. Rocks here include: Mount Thorodin's 1st, 2nd, & 3rd buttresses; Ralston Roost; Son of Ralston; Raven Knob, Odin's Good Eye, Odin's Rib Cage, The Rainbow Bridge, Odin's Throne, rocks near the campgrounds, a bizarre spire named Lazy Squaw Spire, Dude's Throne, Little Dude's Throne, and The Grendel. There are other intriguing looking crags visible from the road to Panorama Point. Some fixed gear is quite suspect (I pulled an angle out with only light finger pressure).

Getting There 

From CO Hwy 93 just North of Golden, follow the Golden Gate Canyon road perhaps 18 miles to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. There are multiple crags in the area. The biggest are off Mt Thorodin, accessed & visible from Panorama Point, up the windy road past Kriley Pond. Lazy Squaw Spire can be accessed from the Lazy Squaw Ranch near Panorama Point. Son of Ralston & Ralston Roost can be accessed from Golden Gate Canyon Road.

An alternative routes in which feel very nice include: via White Ranch Park & Golden on Crawford Gulch Rd; via CO 199 and Gilpin Rd/Gap Rd; and via CO 119 to Hwy 46; via Coal Creek Canyon (CO 72), Twin Spruce (near the Bus Sandwich Shop), then Gap Rd.

Camping 

There is camping here both backcountry and at established campgrounds. The backcountry campsites include: Forgotten Valley, Deer Creek, Frazer Meadow, Rim Meadow, and Greenfield Meadow. These campgrounds include Rifleman Phillips Group Campground (reservations only), Reverend's Ridge Campground (limited winter facilities), and Aspen Meadows Campground (closed in winter). There are also accomodations at Harmsen Ranch Guest House by reservation.

Maximum camping stay in the park is 14 days within any 45-day period.

Website 

Golden Gate Canyon SP website.

Hunting 

Note, there is hunting permitted on the northeastern corner of the park after Labor Day to prior to Memorial Day.

There is also hunting in the Ralston Creek State Wildlife Area to the southeast of the park.

Pets 

Pets must be kept under control and on a leash.

Bolting 

Please note that there are regulations on bolting within the state park that require permits for any new bolts. Crystal Dreiling, senior ranger for GGCSP, will advise us on additional information.

Approaches 

Please try to avoid erosional problems with approaches to climbs and social trails.

The Classics

Featured Route For Golden Gate Canyon SP

Amazing Grace 5.11  CO : Golden : ... : Promontory Ridge/The Bear?

The crux is a toss up between pitches 2 and 3. It has a fun crux. Head up and a little right through a steep crack. Belay on a ledge. Traverse right through a rattly overhang that pulls right once again. Walk off. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Golden Gate Canyon SP Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: Mt. Thoridin's 1st, 2nd, & 3rd buttresses.	Kirk Miller on Golden Gate, Photo by Vaino Kodas.	Wendy Weiss following Howdy Doody Time on Dude's C...
Along the ridge of Mt. Thorodin.	Along the ridge of Mt. Thorodin. View of the 3rd f...	More beautiful ridgeline on Mt. Thorodin. Wish it ...
The view down while solo on the CMC route. The "cr...	Jaime Childers making the F.A. of "Multistory Woma...	Mark Rolofson climbs Red Hot Chili Pepper in the T...
"Jugs Out For The Lads", an enjoyable romp.	Jolly Rancher.	A curious chunk of rock below Lazy Squaw Spire.