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Elevation: 6,419 ft
GPS: 39.7684, -105.21797
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 1,161,362 total · 4,109/month
Shared By: Michael Komarnitsky on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: Please Obey Speed Limits & Rim Rock Trail Closure DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Sitting above Golden, this popular cliff band faces south & west, so it makes for comfortable winter/cold weather rock climbing. Per Tim Stich: the rock was formed by shoshonite porphyry lava flows, making it unique in character to most other crags in the area. Most routes here are tightly bolted and generally short (60 foot range), so a 50m rope and 10 quickdraws will often be sufficient. Toproping many routes is easy to do, with quick access to the top and bolts just below the top anchors just below the top of the cliffs; however, the rock at the top can be loose in places, so make sure you're safe when setting up topropes.

IMPORTANT: please drive slowly (speed limit is 20mph) through the neighborhood along Peery Parkway. Over many decades, the main point of friction with local residents has been drivers speeding on their way in or out of the park. As of 2023, this is still an active problem that the Golden Police Department is addressing through increased enforcement. Let's do our part to make the neighbors glad that they live near public open space and such a popular climbing area.

There are two parking lots, but the lower one (right fork) has the bathroom, trash cans, and trailhead sign and should be used first (the upper lot is technically an overflow lot only). From both the upper and lower parking lots, follow the main trail up to the cliffs. Beware of rattlesnakes in the summer and fall. The trail meets the cliff, you are on the far right (east) side of the cliffs.

The Golden Cliffs see a lot of use, and some anchors are being severely worn by people running topropes directly through anchors. If you plan to toprope, please preserve the resources by using quickdraws or carabiners on the anchors, and whenever possible rappel off rather than lowering through the anchors.

Note, as the years have gone by and the popularity of this area has increased, the rock has become polished in places...amazingly so in spots. In particular, warm days can make the rock feel greasy and leave the infrequent visitor feeling sandbagged at times. Beware.

Climbing has been part of North Table Mountain since the 1950s, and the cliffs were preserved through an amazing collaboration between the former landowner Mayford Peery, the Access Fund (to whom Mr. Peery gave his property in 1997), the City of Golden, and Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS). The area straddles land owned by Golden and Jefferson County Open Space, though today, JCOS owns and manages the cliffs and most of North Table Mountain proper (including the lower parking lot and the official trailhead), while the city of Golden owns the upper parking lot and the slopes below the cliffs.

The entire North Table Mountain park sees very high traffic from users of all kinds-- climbers, bikers, hikers, etc.-- so please help preserve this place by staying on trail, packing out all your trash and dog/human waste, and respecting the folks who live nearby.

There is a dumpster here; however, consider recycling your cans and bottles rather than filling landfills.

Organization Suggest change

There are 4 access points for these crags - the North Table Mountain Park parking lot along CO 93, the Access Fund lots on Peery Parkway, the on ramp area onto CO 58 from Easley Road, and the "blue house" trailhead along Ulysses Way/W 43rd Drive.

On top of the mesa (usually access from the CO 93 lot):

Sea Cliffs of North Quarry
Crater Crag of North Quarry- which is just opposite North Quarry / Pinnacle Area

The sections of crags below the top here L->R:

A. North Quarry / Pinnacle Area
B. The Risk Area
C. Winterfest Wall
D. The Hot Spot Area
E. Winter Warmer Area
F. Twelve Pack Wall
G. Industrial Buttress
H. MBA Buttress
I. Trad Lands
J. Table Top Area
K. Overhang Area
L. Brown Cloud Rocks
M. Child Free Zone (buttresses above & below) - trail comes up below this area.

These areas utilize different parking either off Easley Rd. or Ulysses Way:
N. The Quarry Wall
O. The East Quarry
P. EMF Wall

Getting There

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For the bulk of North Table: from the east, take I-70 west to CO Hwy 58. Get off at Boyd St. Go to the 2nd stop sign. Go straight/uphill on Plateau following it briefly as it curves right. Go left and then take the first right onto Peery Pkwy. The sign says "Dead End". Go to the end of the street, continue past the gate. There are 2 lots - the "overflow" to the left and the main lot (with the pit toilet). Please, pay attention, and drive respectfully and obey the speed limit as you are driving through neighborhoods.

From the north, take CO Hwy 93 south to Golden. Just as you enter town, take a left on Washington St. Follow Washington to 1st Street, and take another left. Once across the bridge at the bottom of the hill, take a right on Partridge Cr. Turn left (east) on Ptarmigan St. Ptarmigan St. which will turn into Peery Pkwy.

From the west, take US 6 on to CO 58. Exit Washington St and go south to 7th Ave. Go east to Ford St. Go east (just after crossing under CO 58) on 7th Pl. Go north (left) onto Boyd St. Follow this as it goes uphill and curves right and becomes Plateau Pkwy. Take a left and go uphill on to Peery Pkwy to its end as it also curves right (east).

For the above, follow Perry onto a dirt road that will lead to one of two parking lots. The lower lot has the outhouses. Both lots have trails which head uphill. For reference, the new Access Fund trail comes up to the main cliff just below This Ain't Naturita, Pilgrim in the Overhang Area.

The old parking lot from the '90s has been converted into a home & garden.

For the Crater Crag/North Quarry of North Table and possible the left end of the main cliffs: from the intersection of US 6/CO 58/CO 93, head north. On the right, past Pine Ridge Rd. / Wyoming Cir. will be the North Table Mountain Park parking lot. Head up the gravel road.

For the East Quarry, Quarry Wall, and East Bluffs of East Quarry: see the suareas for directions that utilize the MacIntyre exit off CO 58 and Easley Rd.

Access Issues

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Per Brett Brotherton: I attended a meeting last night with JCOS, City of Golden, and Golden PD. Residents on Peery Pkwy. have observed many trailhead users driving too fast.

Please be courteous and respectful when driving through neighborhoods by paying attention and following posted speed limits. At the trailhead, be sure to clean up trash, and stay on trail so as not to jeopardize access. Let's show that the climbing community is doing its part to reduce impact on those living nearby.

Fauna

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Note, there are rattlesnakes here. Occasionally, folks wind up in the ER or ICU ($$$) with envenomations. Watch your dog, too. Use caution!

Dogs

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Dogs are required to be on leash at all times as per regulations of both the City of Golden and JeffCo Open Space. These regulations apply (separately) to all portions of the Golden Cliffs / North Table Mountain Park.

506 Total Climbs

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Location: North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 338
Big Dihedral
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 168
Ugly Stick
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 144
Mr. Squirrel Places a Nut
Sport, TR
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 97
Industrial Disease aka Dead Moon…
Sport, TR
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 98
Silver Bullet
Trad
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 15
Misty
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 169
Slap Happy
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 144
Deepwater Horizon
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 110
Bone Collector aka Bone Crusher
Trad
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 71
Flying Fish
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 59
Wooly Bully
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 30
Chum
Sport, TR
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 96
Tiger's Woody
Sport
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 23
Kleptocracy
Sport
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 10
Elephantiasis
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Big Dihedral Brown Cloud Rocks
 338
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Ugly Stick Winter Warmer Area
 168
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Mr. Squirrel Places a Nut Overhang Area
 144
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport, TR
Industrial Disease aka Dead… Industrial Buttress
 97
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport, TR
Silver Bullet Quarry Wall
 98
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Misty Crater Crag of N Quarry
 15
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Slap Happy E Quarry
 169
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Deepwater Horizon E Quarry
 144
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
Bone Collector aka Bone Cru… Quarry Wall
 110
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Trad
Flying Fish E Quarry
 71
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Wooly Bully E Quarry
 59
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Chum E Quarry
 30
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport, TR
Tiger's Woody E Quarry
 96
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Kleptocracy Quarry Wall
 23
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
Elephantiasis Quarry Wall
 10
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs »

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