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Elevation: 5,359 ft
GPS: 39.09581, -108.72342
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 102,446 total · 363/month
Shared By: Ben Mottinger on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Jesse Zacher, Bradley Mark Edwards, Nick Reecy, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

This is a great tower with many different types of routes on its soft sandstone. Most routes get to the awesome summit in 4-6 pitches and all routes require double ropes to rappel. This tower should definitely be on your tick list if you haven't done any climbs here, and if you've never done any desert climbing like the Fishers or Moab, you'll get a nice introduction to that type of climbing.

The rock is generally solid, but flakes and small holds sometimes break off and all the climbing is sandy, nearly negating the need for chalk.

Getting There Suggest change

Going South on 340 from Fruita, go past the entrance to Colorado Monument on the right a couple miles. As you pass over the crest of a hill with a housing division on the right look immediately for a right turn down what appears to be a driveway to the Monument Trail parking lot. This small lot leads about 2 miles (45 minutes to 1 hour+) to the base of the monument.

7 Total Climbs

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Location: Independence Monument Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Independence Monument

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c C1
 21
Independence Chimney
Trad, Aid 6 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 520
Otto's Route
Trad 5 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 10
Unknown handcrack
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a C1
 15
Sundial Dihedral
Trad, Aid 6 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Independence Chimney
 21
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c C1 Trad, Aid 6 pitches
Otto's Route
 520
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
Unknown handcrack
 10
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Sundial Dihedral
 15
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a C1 Trad, Aid 6 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Independence Monument »

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