PRINT: Rock Climbing in The Grocery Store Walls, Denver South

The Grocery Store Walls

Colorado > Denver South > Castlewood Canyon SP

Access Issue: Historical seasonal raptor closures with 2023 updates Details

Per Castlewood Canyon: there is a new closure for nesting raptors this year: Five and Dime will be closed March 1st through July 31st. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me, Rachel Chaffee (Park Ranger) at dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.us or by phone at 303-688-5242.

Per Garrett Garner-Wells:

the current raptor closures, announced by CPW and reported on Denver7:

The following climbing route closures are currently in place:

- Morning Sun Wall is closed March 1-July 31.
- Porky’s Wall is closed March 1 - July 31.
- Vultures Wall is closed March 1-July 31. (per Rachel, CCSP Ranger, dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.use or 303-688-5242)
- Shakespearean Theater is closed March 1-May 31.
- Mind Meld is closed March 1-May 31.

As of 2020:

There is a very new and active nest of owls midway up the cliff at the north end of the Neanderthal Wall between Cro-Mag and Up The Red. There is no active nest around the south end of Neanderthal Wall.

As of June, 2017:

The 3 toprope routes at the far south end of Neanderthal Wall (far north end of Allied Wall) have a nesting pair of Snowy Owls. Please stay off these routes until further notice. The park has been notified and hopefully some signage will be put up. The route Rock Rat is included.

As of March 7, 2012:

Shakespearean Theater - restricted March, April, May.
Mind Meld - restricted March, April, May.
Porky's Wall - restricted March, April, May, June, through July 31.
Vulture Wall - restricted March, April, May.
Morning Sun Wall - restricted March, April, May, June, July.

Description

The Grocery Store Walls are among the most popular climbs in the canyon due to the short hike. Top roping access can be found at various places along the wall (depending on how easy of a climb you're comfortable with). Some locations are just North of the Banana Tower (4th class), or at the very North end of the wall to the right of Gorilla Milk (easier 4th class), or to the South are some 4th class access areas.

L->R:

A. Hot Tuna/Tuna Help, 9+, 1p, gear.
B. Hamburger Helper, 10, 1p, 50', TR.
C. Hamburger, 10, 1p, 50', gear.
D. Cactus Flower, 10, 1p, 40', TR.
E. Shake and Bake, 11, 1p, 25', TR.
F. Pushing Buttons, 10+, 1p, 30', TR.
G. Petrified Turd, 8, 1p, gear.
H. Hot Fudge, 8, 1p, 40', gear.
I. Donut Hole, 11, 1p, 40', TR or gear.
JI. Hot Fudge Variation, 10, 1p, 40', TR.
K. Fudge Face, 10, 1p, 40', TR.
L. Peaches and Scream, 6, 1p, 40', gear.
M. Zucchini, 5, 1p, gear.
N. What's Homogenized? aka Peppermint Patty, 11, 1p, TR.
O. Rat's Nest, 8+, 1p, 40', gear.
P. Tortilla Flats, 9+, 1p, 50', gear.
Q. Pretzel Logic, 11, 1p, 50', TR.
R. You Name It, 12-, 1p, 50', TR.
S. Licorice Stick, 9, 1p, gear.
T. Gatoraide, 12+ or A0, 1p, 40', bolts? TR.
T. Bozo No No, 11-, 1p, 45', bolts.
U. Rain Dance Crack, 10-, 1p, 40', gear or TR.
VU. Rain Dance, 9+, 1p, 40', gear or TR.
W. Frosted Flakes, 9, 1p, 40', TR.
X. Caramel Corner, 5, 1p, 45', gear.
Y. Caramel Corner Layback, 5, 1p, 40', gear.
Z. Blood Pudding, 9+, 1p, 40', TR.
AA. Penny Horse Ride, 9, 1p, 30', TR.
BB. Meat Market, 10, 1p, 30', TR.
CC. Bubbo Goes Solo, 8, 1p, 30', TR.
DD. Bubbo's Crack, 9+, 1p, 30', gear or TR.
EE. 5.10, 10+, 1p, 40', TR.
FF. The Scoop, 11, 1p, 40', TR.
GG. Teething Biscuit, 10-, 1p, 40', TR.
HH. Banana Split Chimney, 4, 1p, 40', gear.
II. Banana Peel, 9, 1p, 40', TR.
JJ. Banana Shake, 9, 1p, 40', TR.
KK. Banana Flip, 6, 1p, 40', TR.
LL. Rainbow Bread, 9, 1p, 40', TR.
MM. Pecan Pie, 9-, 1p, 40', TR.
NN. Boulder problem.
OO. Pie In The Sky, 10+, 1p, 45', TR.
PP. Franktown Brewery, 5, 1p, 40', TR.
QQ. Strawberry Jam, 5, 1p, 40', gear.
RR. Gorilla Milk Direct, 9-, 1p, 40', TR.
SS. Gorilla Milk, 8-, 1p, 40', TR.
TT. Crack, 5, 1p.
VV, Crack, 6, 1p.
WW. Crack, 3, 1p.
XX. Crack, 2, 1p.

Getting There

From the West entrance, park at the first lot after the Homestead lot. Take the trail to the West and hike a whole 5 minutes to the base. The first climbs you'll come to are Fudge Face, Donut Hole, etc.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R 2 ● Hot Tuna Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 3 ● Hamburger Helper TR
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 4 ● Hamburger Trad, TR
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 2 ● Cactus Flower TR
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 1 ● Shake and Bake TR
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 3 ● Pushing Buttons TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 5 ● Petrified Turd Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 96 ● Hot Fudge Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 19 ● Donut Hole Sport, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 47 ● Hot Fudge (variation) Trad, TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 108 ● Peaches and Scream Trad, TR
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c 15 ● Zucchini Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 83 ● Rat's Nest Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 10 ● Tortilla Flats TR
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 1 ● Pretzel Logic TR
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 2 ● You Name It TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 90 ● Licorice Stick Trad
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b A0 1 ● Gatoraide Trad, Aid
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 75 ● Bozo No No Sport, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R 56 ● Rain Dance Crack Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 37 ● Rain Dance TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 10 ● Frosted Flake TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 13 ● Caramel Left Sport
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 80 ● Caramel Corner Trad, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 16 ● Carmel Popcorn TR
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 30 ● Carmel Corner Layback Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 68 ● Blood Pudding TR
5.15d 9c 39 XIII- 41 E11 8c V17 9A AI6 M16+ A5+ Steep Snow 42 ● The Cornucopia Aid, Boulder, Mixed, Ice, Snow
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 4 ● Penny Horse Ride TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 5 ● Meat Market TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 6 ● Bubbo Goes Solo TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 4 ● Bubbo's Crack Trad, TR
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 1 ● 5.10 TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 9 ● The Scoop Sport, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 36 ● Teething Biscuit Trad, TR
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c 30 ● Banana Chimney Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 52 ● Banana Peel Sport, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 15 ● Banana Shake TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 8 ● Banana Flip TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 5 ● Short Ribs (submitted as Fruit Bat) Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 28 ● Rainbow Bread TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 7 ● Pecan Pie TR
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 12 ● Pie In The Sky TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 37 ● Franktown Brewery TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 37 ● Strawberry Jam Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 50 ● Gorilla Milk Direct Trad, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 62 ● Gorilla Milk TR

● Hot Tuna

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R Trad

● Hamburger Helper

5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b TR

● Hamburger

5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, TR

● Cactus Flower

5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b TR

● Shake and Bake

5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c TR

● Pushing Buttons

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b TR

● Petrified Turd

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Hot Fudge

5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad

● Donut Hole

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, TR

● Hot Fudge (variation)

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, TR

● Peaches and Scream

108

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR

● Zucchini

5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad

● Rat's Nest

5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR

● Tortilla Flats

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a TR

● Pretzel Logic

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c TR

● You Name It

5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a TR

● Licorice Stick

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad

● Gatoraide

5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b A0 Trad, Aid

● Bozo No No

5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport, TR

● Rain Dance Crack

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R Trad, TR

● Rain Dance

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a TR

● Frosted Flake

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b TR

● Caramel Left

5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Sport

● Caramel Corner

5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, TR

● Carmel Popcorn

5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR

● Carmel Corner Layback

5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, TR

● Blood Pudding

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a TR

● The Cornucopia

5.15d 9c 39 XIII- 41 E11 8c V17 9A AI6 M16+ A5+ Steep Snow Aid, Boulder, Mixed, Ice, Snow

● Penny Horse Ride

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR

● Meat Market

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b TR

● Bubbo Goes Solo

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR

● Bubbo's Crack

5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 Trad, TR

● 5.10

5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b TR

● The Scoop

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, TR

● Teething Biscuit

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR

● Banana Chimney

5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad

● Banana Peel

5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, TR

● Banana Shake

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR

● Banana Flip

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b TR

● Short Ribs (submitted as Fr…

5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad

● Rainbow Bread

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a TR

● Pecan Pie

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR

● Pie In The Sky

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b TR

● Franktown Brewery

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b TR

● Strawberry Jam

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR

● Gorilla Milk Direct

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR

● Gorilla Milk

5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

This prairie rattler was right at the top of the climb Blood Pudding. Watch for snakes everywhere in Castlewood.

Me approaching the crux moves on Bozo No No.

Cool Rock. Photo by Blitzo.

Grocery Store. Photo by Blitzo.

Rainbow Bread, Grocery Store Walls.

Rapping off the Banana Tower.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Anonymous Coward

There is one classic sport route at the north end called Bozo No No. The Castlewood 11a testpiece. Apr 8, 2002

Shawn Shannon
South Ogden

Regarding the Banana routes, hat's off to those that make the jump to the anchors.

For those that don't know there are three beautiful anchors on top of the Banana. However, to get there you have to make a short jump from a downward sloping rock side to a fairly narrow top. Definitely doable but not for the faint hearted. Apr 18, 2004

Jordan Kidd

The Banana route anchors can be safely reached with a quick belay off the other anchors in the area. Or, one can put one step across to the tower and clip into the anchors quickly. Apr 19, 2004

Robb Frossard

The anchors can be reached by planting a number three [Camalot] equalized with a number five Trango Flexcam under the lip to your left as you look at the top of Banana Tower and using a piece of webbing tied to an [appropriate] length for safety if you are up there alone setting the toprope. A note here, the "jump" to the top of the tower is actually a step for an average height guy just don't trip when you hit the tower :) Getting back is the easy part. Climb on! Sep 16, 2005

Mike Lane
AnCapistan

It's really only about a 42" gap, most adults can step over. The hop over at The Dungeon is worse but still doable. Sep 25, 2005

Tom Hanson

Many of the top anchors at Grocery Store Walls have, or will be, replaced. There is a very generous young lad who has obtained a special use permit with the state park to replace many of the antiquated bolts as part of his Eagle Scout Project. I will update the guide once all of the new bolts are in. Sep 28, 2005

Jon Zucco
Denver, CO

...and when will that be...?

P.S. Bozo No no needs a more secure first bolt....

and to the reach the top of the Banana Tower you can easily jump or anchor the tree that's like 5 or 10 feet away. Nov 13, 2008

Buckc

I helped Matt replace several of the top anchor bolts during the summer of 2006. At the time, all the bolts on Bozo No No were in great shape.
A few years of extensive use and frost wedging could have changed things though. Feb 28, 2010

TheSykle

There are some really nice easy TRs on some cracked faces about 50-75' right of Gorilla Milk, etc. Has anybody bothered to name/grade/document these? They are not in the Hanson's guide, '99 revision. Sep 16, 2010

Drew DeMarie

Lost a Men's Wedding Ring at Grocery Store Wall on Thursday August 12, 2011. Most likely near Blood Pudding or Gorilla's Milk Direct. Any help is appreciated. Please email drew@coloradoyouthatrisk.org. Thanks. Aug 14, 2011

GeologyWiz

Found on 8/9/2013: near the Grocery Store routes, a blue Black Diamond Half Dome helmet. If you can tell me the initials on it, it's yours! 720-563-7619. Aug 11, 2013

Logan Adkins
Avon

Is the fee per person or per car?
What is the hike to the Grocery Store Walls all about?
and any recommended trad routes for a beginner trad leader? Thanks Nov 1, 2013

Mike Lane
AnCapistan

Logan-
Fee is $7 per unit, be it a car or walk in which no one does.
Grocery Store trail is 10 minutes, easy.
There are some easy 'trad' lines south of the G Store area, Licorice Stick tends to intimidate beginning leaders but is not really all that hard.
But I don't think driving here from Avon is worth it, unless you have parents or something nearby which brings you to the South Metro. Nov 3, 2013

Haden Bricker

Hey, I'm looking to climb there this week. Are the toprope anchors fixed or natural? Trying to figure out what kind of gear I will be needing. Thanks! Jun 11, 2016

Andrew McCallister
Centennial, CO

Just a heads up, Cherry Creek High School COLT Club will be taking a group of 10 students out to the Grocery Store Wall this Saturday (Sep. 30th). Sep 29, 2017