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Elevation: 8,524 ft
GPS: 40.3753, -105.61598
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 3,090,748 total · 10,937/month
Shared By: Patrick Vernon on Dec 31, 2000
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: Closures DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) needs little introduction as one of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S. Consequentially it has some of the most beautiful climbing in the U.S. The routes here are long, (grade III to V), committing, usually have some sections of loose rock, require a lengthy hike in, require some knowledge of snow travel, and are absolutely spectacular. In short, you need to be a competent climber to safely enjoy this area.

Climbing in the park is a complex endeavor that requires being able to analyze many different objective hazards, all while sucking air at 12-14000 feet. These hazards include loose rock, bad weather, bad pro, etc. all of which are magnified in this alpine setting. A first-time climber in the park should feel competent at leading trad at the very least a grade harder; probably two or three than the climb they wish to tackle. One should have a good deal experience on multi-pitch climbs, and one should feel in shape enough to hike five miles uphill in the dark and then climb a thousand-foot face.

All this said, the climbs are magnificent and unforgettable. Some good introductory routes would include the North Ridge of Spearhead (5.6), the Northeast Ridge on Sharkstooth (5.6), or even the East Gully on Sharkstooth (5.4 and NOT a chosspile, a really good climb). A step up from these routes would include the South Face of the Petit Grepon (5.8, with a time-consuming descent), the magnificent Culp-Bossier on Hallett (5.8+, runout 5.7). Climbing in the park really starts to open up in the 5.9 and 5.10 range. In the 5.9 range, Syke's Sickle (9+++, (7s)), the steep Hesse-Ferguson on Hallett (5.9 with low dihedral variation is in my opinion the best route on Hallett), and the Direct South Ridge of Notchtop (9) all offer spectacular and incomparable climbing.

In the 5.10 range you can't beat the Casual Route on Long's (10a), but there are other stellar 10s in the park. Chasm View Wall offers some spicy routes, and Spearhead has a couple classic 10s (The Barb and Age Axe?) with The Barb having a reputation as an "easy" 10. The Yellow Wall on the Diamond is 10c if done with the Forrest Finish variation, and is possibly the most spectacular route I have ever done. Pervertical Sanctuary (10+) is also apparently totally classic.

I have yet to venture into 5.11 and 5.12 range in the park, but two routes come to mind as totally classic, these are D7 on the Diamond (11c) and Birds of Fire on Chiefshead (11a). There are tons of other routes in the park, some suck, others are hidden gems. Exploring the more obscure routes is part of the fun of park climbing.

Getting There Suggest change

Take US 36 north to Lyons. From Lyons, follow US Highway 36 to Estes Park. From Estes Park, take CO Highway 7 south to get to the Long's Peak trailhead or Wild Basin, or head directly into the park [US 36 and then left on the Bear Lake Rd.] to get to the Glacier Gorge area and the Bear Lake area.

Bypassing waiting in the lines

Suggest change
FWIW, if you are trying to enter during entrance fee collecting times, you can use the right lane at the Beaver Meadows entrance with the card activated gate bypassing the lines with a Rocky Mountain National Park annual pass OR a National Parks annual pass purchase at RMNP!

Annual Pass

Suggest change
The RMNP annual pass used to be as little as $35. As of 2019, it is now $70!

581 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: RMNP - Rock Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at RMNP - Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V5 6C
 186
Autobot
Boulder, Alpine
V5 6C
 265
The Kind (originally In Your Fac…
Boulder, Alpine
V7 7A+
 191
Tommy's Arete
Boulder, Alpine
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 165
Blitzen Ridge
Trad, Alpine
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 378
Northeast Ridge
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 715
South Face
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 474
Culp-Bossier
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 160
Southwest Corner
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 240
Sykes' Sickle
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 642
Casual Route
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 158
Southwest Corner
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 322
The Barb
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 187
The Flying Buttress
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 298
Pervertical Sanctuary
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 131
D7
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Autobot RMNP Bouldering… > … > Lower Chaos Canyon > Gobot Boulder
 186
V5 6C Boulder, Alpine
The Kind (originally In You… RMNP Bouldering… > Tyndall Gorge > Emerald Lake
 265
V5 6C Boulder, Alpine
Tommy's Arete RMNP Bouldering… > … > Lower Chaos Canyon > Automator Boulder
 191
V7 7A+ Boulder, Alpine
Blitzen Ridge Ypsilon Mountain
 165
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, Alpine
Northeast Ridge Sharkstooth
 378
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
South Face Petit Grepon
 715
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Culp-Bossier Hallett Peak
 474
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Southwest Corner Petit Grepon
 160
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Sykes' Sickle Glacier Gorge > Spearhead
 240
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Casual Route Long's Peak > Diamond
 642
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Southwest Corner Saber
 158
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
The Barb Glacier Gorge > Spearhead
 322
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
The Flying Buttress Mt Meeker
 187
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Pervertical Sanctuary Long's Peak > Diamond
 298
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
D7 Long's Peak > Diamond
 131
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
More Classic Climbs in RMNP - Rock »

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