Continue with onX Maps
Sign in with Facebook
North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 6,419 ft | 1,957 m |
| GPS: |
39.7684, -105.21797 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
|
| Page Views: | 1,164,798 total · 3,934/month | |
| Shared By: | Michael Komarnitsky on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates | |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Access Issue: Please Obey Speed Limits & Rim Rock Trail Closure
Details
It's likely few climber go there, but it may affect the adventurous.
Description
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
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
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
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.
Classic Climbing Routes at North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs
Weather Averages
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Precip
|
Days w Precip
|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Photos
All Photos Within North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs
Most Popular · Newest · RandomMore About North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs
Printer-FriendlyWhat's New
Fixed Hardware Report (2)
Guidebooks (17)
38 Comments