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Elevation: 8,789 ft
GPS: 37.9392, -107.8163
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Matthew Ver Eecke on May 30, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

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.

Per Ross Perrot: the Telluride region encompasses the Box Canyon, Ophir, and down valley (Norwood). The three predominant rock types are Dakota Sandstone, Telluride Conglomerate, and Ophir's Diorite Rhyolite (close to granite). The highest concentrate of routes can be found in Ophir and at the Falls Walls/Pipeline Walls at the end of the Telluride box canyon. Rock climbing is possible year round, and the variety of sunny/shaded crags, trad, sport, ice, mixed, alpine, and bouldering is endless. Although the San Juans are notorious for choss, the rock quality can be superb in many of the more developed areas.

Cliff access, new route development, trail development, hardware replacement, and the immensely popular via ferrata have all been supported thanks to the efforts of the Telluride Mountain Club and dedicated local climbers. A .pdf of the out-of-print guidebook Telluride Rocks III can be found on the Telluride Mountain Club website.  

Bouldering has seen a wave of new development thanks to the efforts of Christian Prellwitz and his guidebook A Guide to Bouldering In The Telluride & West End Areas of Southwest Colorado. Links to a few of his videos can be found in the comments sections of the pages in this section.

Getting There Suggest change

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

410 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Telluride/Norwood area Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Telluride/Norwood area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 90
Chewbacca
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 79
Skylight Arete
Sport 3 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 55
Orange Peel
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 25
Feeling Edgy
Trad, Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 19
Cello
Trad
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 22
Y-Crack
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 16
Javelin
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 30
Gray Matter
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 18
Tango Negro
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 33
Fool's Gold
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 14
White Salamander
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 15
Watermusic
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 18
Reggae on Broadway
Sport
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 10
Ophir Broke
Trad
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 13
Hydropower
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Chewbacca Ophir > Cracked Canyon
 90
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Skylight Arete Pipeline Wall
 79
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 3 pitches
Orange Peel Ophir > Cracked Canyon
 55
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Feeling Edgy Ophir > Ophir Wall > Main Wall
 25
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Sport
Cello Ophir > Cracked Canyon
 19
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad
Y-Crack Ophir > Ophir Wall > Main Wall
 22
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Javelin Ophir > Cracked Canyon
 16
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
Gray Matter Falls Walls > Streaked Wall
 30
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Tango Negro Ophir > Dark Side > Wild Westerlies
 18
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Fool's Gold Falls Walls > Streaked Wall
 33
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
White Salamander Ophir > Ophir Wall > Main Wall
 14
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Watermusic Falls Walls > Streaked Wall
 15
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Reggae on Broadway Ophir > Dark Side > Wild Westerlies
 18
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Ophir Broke Ophir > Ophir Wall > Mirror Wall
 10
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Trad
Hydropower Falls Walls > Streaked Wall
 13
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Telluride/Norwood area »

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