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Elevation: 7,228 ft
GPS: 39.9683, -105.288
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Shared By: Orphaned User on Nov 29, 1999 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Seal Rock is one of the most visible Flatirons from Boulder with its distinctive yellow-and-orange north face. High on the south side of Bear Canyon, this rock offers east face slab classics, long, steep sport routes up to 5.14 on its radically overhanging south face and multi-pitch trad and sport climbs on its north face like the three-pitch Sea of Joy and a scary trad proposition, Archaeopteryx.

Getting There Suggest change

Follow the Mesa Trail south from its junction with the lower Bear Canyon Trail, passing the two sharp switchbacks that enclose the Bongo Boulder en route to the top of Radio Tower hill. Fifty yards past the turnoff for the Bear Canyon Trail, which heads west into the canyon, notice a small trail cutting up and right (west) into the trees. This unsigned trail is the Harmon Cave Trail, which takes you past the gated-up Harmon Cave and switchbacks up a steep hill to the south en route to the base of Seal Rock. At the base of the steep final section, stay left for the south face routes or go right to the north face.

Per Peter Beal with FCC: the best and shortest approach to Seal Rock is from the Devil's Thumb Access trailhead on Bear Mountain Drive. From the access trail, join the NCAR Bear Canyon trail to the Mesa Trail, and then turn off onto to the Harmon Cave Trail to go to Seal Rock. This trail will take you to the fork junction for South Seal or East/North Seal. Approaching via Cragmoor is longer and strongly discouraged by OSMP (apparently this goes through a bird ban area).

Getting Off

Suggest change
Addendum: There are at least 3 ways to get off this crag from the summit. 1) You can downclimb Shortcut, 5.4. 2) You can do a 50m rappel Sea of Joy's anchor bolts (40 feet East of the summit) on the North face. Note, the rope can get stuck on the pull. 3) Supposedly, you can downclimb 40 feet to the West, then go down a ramp to the Southeast, and then rap 135 feet from an eyebolt.

28 Total Climbs

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Location: Seal Rock Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Seal Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 265
East Face North Side/Seal Rock
Trad 4 pitches
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 56
East Face South Side
Trad 4 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 22
Jade Gate
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 47
The Flute
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 14
The Stoop
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 4
The Hinge
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 16
The Perfect Storm
Sport 2 pitches
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 7
Love Wins
Sport 2 pitches
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 51
Primate
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 12
The Yellow Door
Sport 2 pitches
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 69
Super Tuscan
Sport
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 55
Choose Life
Sport
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a
 14
No Philter
Sport
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
 31
Thunder Muscle
Sport
5.14a/b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b
 12
I Am The Walrus
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
East Face North Side/Seal Rock
 265
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad 4 pitches
East Face South Side
 56
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad 4 pitches
Jade Gate
 22
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
The Flute
 47
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
The Stoop
 14
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
The Hinge
 4
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
The Perfect Storm
 16
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport 2 pitches
Love Wins
 7
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport 2 pitches
Primate
 51
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
The Yellow Door
 12
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport 2 pitches
Super Tuscan
 69
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
Choose Life
 55
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
No Philter
 14
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a Sport
Thunder Muscle
 31
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a Sport
I Am The Walrus
 12
5.14a/b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Seal Rock »

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