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River Wall II

Colorado > Lyons > St Vrain Canyons > N Fork of the S… > Longmont Reservoir Ar…
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Description

This great little crag sits immediately below the Buttonrock Resevior spillway and is packed with stellar sport and trad routes. The climbs range from super technical 'slab' routes such as Introducing Meteor Dad (10+) and Le Diamant E'ternal (13-) to pumpy overhanging face climbs; Escape from Alcatraz (11), Red Neck Hero (12-) and Brother from Another Planet (13) to steep cracks with both jamming and edges like Pocket Hercules (11+), Neurosurgeon (12-) and Lost Horizon (14-). Many of the lines can be set up on toprope if desired - take care! An excellent place to spend the day cranking!

Getting There

Drive about 3 miles down County Road 80 and park at the gate. Walk down the road a short distance passing a toilet on the right. Your first visit continue up the road as it crosses the river and get a perfect view of all the lines. To access the steep lines New Horizon through Pocket Hercules walk down to the river and cross on rocks just below the spillway to the left side of the cliff base. This access might be impassible during high river (May through July?). During very low water it is sometimes possible (sandals, barfoot and-or poles help) to access the pedestal at the base of Escape from Alcatraz. For all of the lines right of Pocket Hercules, starting with Red Neck Hero and Escape from Alcatraz approach via a steep path up a short sandy hill behind the toilet. This approach involves a short bouldery approach on large positive yet slick holds just above the water = warmup? It is also possible to (1) climb the hillside right of the road prior to the toilet or (2) climb the bolted yet anchorless Pooh Corner (5.8) to attain the top of river wall and rappel to the desired side of river wall.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 0
Technicolor Nightmare
TR
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 55
New Horizon
Sport
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
 1
Lost Horizons
Trad
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 21
Brother From Another Planet
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 10
Surround Sound
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b R
 2
Big, Big Gunky Man
Trad, Sport
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 5
Big, Big Gunky Man Direct (BBGMD)
Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 25
Pocket Hercules
Trad
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 36
Big, Big, Monkey Man
Trad
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a
 6
Reservoir Dogs
Sport
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
 3
Papadarius
Sport
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a
 11
Aquadarius
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 2
Pimpa la Bimpa
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 15
Hero to Zero aka H2O
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 292
Redneck Hero
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 11
Social Dispensing
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 66
Escape from Alcatraz
Sport, TR
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 59
Livewire
Trad, Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 191
Introducing Meteor Dad
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 1
Paternity Leave
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
The Box
Trad, TR
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 34
Le Diamant E'ternal
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
 52
Neurosurgeon
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 71
Arresting Arete
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 54
Dihedral [River Wall] aka Shades…
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Technicolor Nightmare
 0
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a TR
New Horizon
 55
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Lost Horizons
 1
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a Trad
Brother From Another Planet
 21
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
Surround Sound
 10
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Big, Big Gunky Man
 2
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b R Trad, Sport
Big, Big Gunky Man Direct (…
 5
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Sport
Pocket Hercules
 25
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Big, Big, Monkey Man
 36
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad
Reservoir Dogs
 6
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a Sport
Papadarius
 3
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a Sport
Aquadarius
 11
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a Sport
Pimpa la Bimpa
 2
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Hero to Zero aka H2O
 15
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Redneck Hero
 292
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Social Dispensing
 11
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Escape from Alcatraz
 66
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, TR
Livewire
 59
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Sport
Introducing Meteor Dad
 191
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Paternity Leave
 1
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
The Box
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Le Diamant E'ternal
 34
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c Sport
Neurosurgeon
 52
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R Trad
Arresting Arete
 71
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Dihedral [River Wall] aka S…
 54
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The River Wall; photo: Bob Horan Collection.
[Hide Photo] The River Wall; photo: Bob Horan Collection.
Swimming over to Redneck Hero in late June.
[Hide Photo] Swimming over to Redneck Hero in late June.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Bryan Hylenski
Gyeongsan, South Korea
[Hide Comment] River wall has a classic 5-10d sport route, "Introducing Meteor Dad." If you live in Lyons or are travelling thru, the riverwall is a must stop. The climbs are never crowded, the rock is solid and very well protected. Most people in Boulder feel there too good for Lyons climbing. But River Wall and a few other areas have some classic climbs. If you are going to climb in this area, get Peter Hubbell's Falcon Guide book "Classic Rock Climbs No. 23 -- Lyons Area Colorado." Other great areas in Lyons that are completely isolated, right off the road and great climbing:Mushroom Massif, Piz Badille and Monkey Skull. Jul 31, 2003
half-pad-mini-jug
crauschville
[Hide Comment] Much of the fixed hardware at this cliff has been replaced with new powers bolts. Thanks to whoever put forth the effort and funds to do this. 'Redneck Hero' has new bolts, and anchors on several walls are new. Mar 30, 2010
Geoff U
Centennial, CO
[Hide Comment] This wall gets full sun starting near 11 am, though Red Neck stays shaded a bit longer. It is 5 min. approach from parking lot. River was plenty low to cross and give a dry belay in October. Oct 3, 2016
ANGUS WIESSNER
Denver Colorado
[Hide Comment] I recommend the Redneck Monkey Combo. Both are Five Star routes with a killer angle and great PUMP. Nov 14, 2018