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Lemon Reservoir
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Lemon Reservoir 


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Elevation: 8,400'
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Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: eDixon on Aug 20, 2008

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Beautiful, high altitude, Summer cragging.

Description 

Lemon has been a nice addition to the climbing scene in Durango. This scenic little canyon lies to the north of Lemon Reservoir and is split by the Florida River. The rock is a mildly coarse and fractured granite that makes for a nice contrast to the sandstone and limestone that characterizes most of the climbing around town. Routes are found on both the East Side and West Side of the river and can require different approaches (depending on water level). Most of the climbs are protected by bolts, but some require gear. Climbing has been going on at Lemon for several years now, but there is still development occurring. New routes are being established on both sides of the canyon. A 70 meter rope can be useful for lowering off some of the longer climbs.

Probably the best season is fall. It is possible to chase the shade, depending on the time of day, which makes climbing at Lemon in the summer months nice as well. During much of the spring and winter the canyon can be wet and dirty from runoff.


Getting There 

From the intersection of CR250 and Florida Road (Bread), follow Florida Road east for about 12 miles. Stay left at a signed intersection and continue on CR243 for about 5 more miles to reach a gate at the north end of Lemon Reservoir. For specific directions on how to approach the cliffs, see East Side and West Side descriptions.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Lemon Reservoir:
Finding Forester   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   West Side
Warmup 3 aka Fred Flintstone   5.9     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   East Side
Tons of Fun   5.9     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   West Side
Vertical Alluvium   5.10a     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   West Side
Bonsai   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   West Side
Chucky Bill   5.10     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   West Side
Cape of Good Hope   5.10c     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   West Side
We The People   5.10c     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   East Side
Hymanizer   5.10d     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   West Side
Cape Point   5.11-     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   West Side
Via Manolo   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 110 feet   West Side
Slopestyle   5.11+     Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet   West Side
Holy Grail   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 105 feet   East Side
Interfearon   5.11d PG13     Sport, 1 pitch, 105 feet   East Side
Brady's Route   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 105 feet   East Side
Lemon Drop   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   East Side
NoJo   5.12+     Sport, 1 pitch, 110 feet   West Side
Rasta Man!!   5.12+     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   East Side
The Sand Dollar   5.13     Sport, 1 pitch, 120 feet   East Side
Jack Frost   5.13     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   East Side
Browse More Classics in Lemon Reservoir

Featured Route For Lemon Reservoir
Rasta Man climbs the seam through orange and black rock then move right around the roof.

Rasta Man!! 5.12+  CO : Durango : ... : East Side
This is one of the best climbs in Durango that I have ever been on. The climb starts up a slab. At the top of the slab, the climb turns into a slightly overhanging wall. The climber goes through a few steep, overhanging moves, to a confusing roof. Climb past the roof and climb the bolts that are in the rightward direction to the top. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Photos of Lemon Reservoir Slideshow Add Photo
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Comments displayed oldest to newestSkip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Aug 15, 2012
By Ben Griffin
From: Durango, CO
Jun 10, 2009

Does anyone know who did the FAs of Rasta Man or Jack Frost?

By Daniel E. Hopper
From: Hesperus
May 31, 2010

Jim Something was the FA for both of those. There is a .13a to the left of Rasta Man, and he was the FA on it as well.

By Christopher Barlow
May 18, 2011

Does anyone have information on the two projects on the main face of the East Side. One traverse hard right off of Brady's Route and follows a prominent, arching seam. The other climbs straight up off the ledge directly above Dirt Track to the same anchor. Has anyone been trying these, or has either been redpointed? The one off the ledge has an old tag that is sun-bleached white making me think it is someone's very old (maybe abandoned) project.

By Tim Kuss
From: Durango, CO
May 19, 2011

The bolts leading right from Brady's were installed by Jared Ogden a few years ago. I don't know how much work they put into climbing it though, or much else for that matter. Looks pretty hard.

The other line of bolts is definitely a great line. Jim Symans bolted it back in the Lemon heyday. I have toyed with it, really hard for sure, maybe 13+ or so. You should work on those, get 'em done. I'll give you a belay, man.

By Brototype
From: Albuquerque, NM
May 29, 2012

It should be known that this area's warm-ups are HORRIBLY sandbagged. Even the guidebook puts the grades of warm-ups 1, 2, and 3 well above the suggested grades on here. Also, the bolting on the first three routes could be considered dangerous. A blown clip on any of these at the third bolt would most likely result in a groundfall. The climbing at this area is fun and interesting, but I do not recommend following the written guides on here as they may put you in dangerous territory.

By Max
Jun 29, 2012

To the punk who added bolts to my route: take you f-ing drill and shove it! If I ever catch you adding bolts to established climbs, you'll have to remove the hangers from your ass! We're watching....

By Ben Griffin
From: Durango, CO
Jul 31, 2012

Nice, Max. Way to lay down the LAW!

By slim
Jul 31, 2012

Were these routes bolted ground up on lead?

By Harold
From: Bayfield, CO
Aug 4, 2012

If you spent less time watching then you could afford to equip the routes better, then you wouldn't have to watch. Also, have you had a hanger in your butt? It really isn't that bad, just sayin'.

By David Heerschap
From: Durango, Co
Aug 6, 2012

Hey Harold, remember rule #1. Don't be a jerk.

By Todd W. B.
From: Ignacio, co
Aug 9, 2012

Ben -- don't encourage such hostility! And Harold, I'll bet a hanger in your butt would hurt more than you think! Max - let's hunt the bastard down. I'll bring the bb gun!

By Harold
From: Bayfield, CO
Aug 15, 2012

Todd, you say not to use hostility yet you threaten some poor unfortunate soul with a bb gun. Is that what you do in Ignacio, hunt for the greatest game? Anyway, we top-roped and free-soloed most of the easy routes decades ago making those who equipped the routes here the actual perpetrators. Hunt and sodomize, but witch hunts are ignorant and outlandish.