Mountain Project: Climbing Telluride/Norwood area

This is probably the most remote part of Colorado. It is a great place to find new climbs, escape the crowds of the crags close to the populus, and try a variety of great climbs.

Getting There

Take I-70 to Grand Junction. Head south to Ouray, Telluride, Durango, Norwood, Ridgeway.

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Telluride/Norwood area:

Pirouette 5.7 Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Skylight Arete 5.8 Sport, 3 pitches, 300 feet Pipeline Wall

Chewbacca 5.8 Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Hot Wee Wee 5.9 Trad, 5 pitches, 500 feet, Grade II Ophir Wall : Main Wall

Summertime 5.9+ Trad, 1 pitch, 150 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Air Arete 5.10 X TR, 1 pitch, 70 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Orange Peel 5.10 Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Reptilicus (The Crock) 5.10+ Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Dr. Gizmo 5.10+ Trad, 2 pitches, 200 feet Ophir Wall : Main Wall

Compassionate Conservative 5.10+ Sport, 1 pitch The Falls Walls : Main Wall

Rocksteady 5.10+ Trad, 1 pitch, 85 feet Pipeline Wall

Cheeseburger in Paradise 5.10+ PG13 Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Ophir Wall : Main Wall

Y-Crack 5.10d Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet Ophir Wall : Main Wall

Cello 5.10d Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Superfresh 5.11- Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Tick Fever 5.11+ PG13 Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet Ophir : Cracked Canyon

Whipping Post 5.11+ Sport, 1 pitch, 130 feet Pipeline Wall

Seamstress Corner 5.11+ R Trad, 6 pitches, 500 feet, Grade III Ames Wall

White Salamander 5.12- Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet Ophir Wall : Main Wall

Savelli Express 5.13a Trad, 8 pitches, 600 feet, Grade III Ophir Wall : Main Wall

Featured Route For Telluride/Norwood area

Y-Crack 5.10d CO : Telluride/Norwood area : ... : Main Wall

This classic route starts on a ledge (Tennis Shoe Traverse) about 150 feet off the deck, about 200 feet to the right of the large, left-facing dihedral. Consult the guidebook for an approach pitch. This 5-star crack to hard to miss from the road. This is a must do route if you are in the area for a few days. It starts out in a flared jagged wide crack with hand jams inside (5.10a). This leads to a good rest at the intersection of the upper two cracks. The left part of the Y-crack is easier ...[more] Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Telluride/Norwood area

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Peaks near Telluride from Bear Creek Canyon. Photo...	Telluride, CO. Photo by Blitzo.	Aspen Forest near Telluride. Photo by Blitzo.
Coronet Falls, Telluride. Photo by Blitzo.	Mt. Wilson-storm. Photo by Blitzo.	Telluride in May, the slow season. Photo by Blitzo...
Bouldering near Telluride. Photo by Blitzo.	Mt. Wilson. Photo by Blitzo.	Aspens. Photo by Blitzo.
Ajax Mountain at the east end of Telluride.	Bear Creek Falls, Telluride. Photo by Blitzo.	Drew, bouldering Telluride.
Ames Ice Hose Telluride, Ophir Loop, CO area.	Nick and John from T ride on a backyard stroll.	Tride via ferrata.
Telluride is located in the upper San Miguel River...	Kilpacker Creek toward El Diente & Wilson, June 20...	From El Diente toward Wilson.
Moon over Pilot, late Nov. 2009.

Comments on Telluride/Norwood area

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By Jeff Sawicki
Apr 25, 2011

I am looking for any information on the via ferrata in the Telluride area but haven't had any luck yet. Anybody able to help with that?

Thanks

By Bob Dobalina
From: T-town, CO. USA
May 6, 2011

It's located only a couple miles from Telluride and is visible from town. It traverses a large cliff wall below Ajax Peak on a continuos horizontal ledge system that is about 200-300 ft. up. You can access it from the left or right edge. Most of it is non-technical hiking, but sections with exposure have fixed cables to clip into.
There is one short section that has HUGE exposure were you climb around a corner on fixed ladder rungs with about 300 ft. of air under you.
Bring regular hiking shoes, a climbing harness, a couple long sling and locking biners, and a helmet.
It takes about 2-3 hrs to do the whole thing. Bring a camera... it's an amazingly beautiful setting!

P.S.- The ledge does go right above the Pipeline Wall cragging area. Please be very careful with loose rocks!!!

By Jeff Sawicki
May 20, 2011

Thank you very much for the info. Everybody seems hush hush about this, which I can understand, but I also feel that if somebody has made the effort to ask, they should be answered.

By Jonathan F
From: Telluride, CO
Nov 2, 2011

I am getting ready to move to Telluride for the winter season to work at the ski resort. I was wondering if there is any good indoor climbing gyms in the area. Can't wait to get covered in snow, but don't want to loose this climbing seasons progress. Thanks!

By Sean Everett
May 25, 2013

Does anybody know what the guidebook for this area is?

By Leo Paik
Administrator
From: Westminster, Colorado
May 25, 2013

There is an old Fowler guidebook, Telluride Rocks that covers some of this area.

By Christian Prellwitz
May 25, 2013

Sean--

Currently, the guidebook for roped climbing in the area- 'Telluride Rocks'- is out of print. If you're interested in bouldering, you can find the guidebook that I wrote- 'A Guide To Bouldering In The Telluride & The West End Areas'- in many of the shops in town (and throughout Colorado).

I know there is a lot of interest in 'Telluride Rocks', so hopefully either Damon or myself will work towards printing a new batch sometime soon. In the meantime, make friends and borrow their copies! :)

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Telluride/Norwood area

Description

Getting There

The Classics