Per JF M: as of May 2022, there is no signage on-site, nor information on the USFS webpage for the Cameron Peak Fire (nor on their published map of closures) that indicates the area is closed.
Per Bruce Hildenbrand: it appears that the Forest Service has closed access to all the climbing areas accessed via Storm Mountain Road (Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc.) until they can clear all the dangerous dead trees from the Cameron Peak fire.
I worked this issue with Eric Murdock at the AF, and it looks like the Forest Service picked Devil's Gulch Road as the southern boundary even though all the climbing areas on MP.com were not burned.
Description
As far as I know, there is only one route on this formation. The rock is granite like everything else in the Big Thompson Canyon. Not very good in the summer as it is full on South facing.
Getting There
Going from Estes Park to Loveland on US Hwy 34. Drive about 1.5 miles from the town of Drake (the turnoff for the Monastary and Combat Rock). Park in a big dirt pullout by the Dam. Hike up a gully North of the parking lot for about 30 minutes to the base of the obvious skull formation.
Per Ken Duncan: the easiest approach is to park in the large parking area with a memorial just downstream from MM77. From the downstream end of the parking area, follow a trail uphill. When it splits, take the right turn (continuing up takes you to Nancy’s Rock), and follow cairns up and right. Continue up through several meadows until even with Subskull, then follow cairns to the right. Head downhill, cross a stream, then go back up to Subskull. Work your way around to the right then up to Skull Rock.
[Hide Comment] When did Tommy climb it?? Cool, [didn't] know it had actually been done. Thanks Tommy!Comment: There are some fun moderate top ropes on the slab to the left of this route, and a fun climb around the right on the east side. It takes pro. 5.10 or so. I forgot about this climb til I saw this. Thanks. al
Sep 22, 2003
[Hide Comment] A friend and I went cragging at Skull Rock last weekend for the first time in a couple of years. We found a few new bolted lines on the nice slab left of the prow that's left of Skull Fracture. Anybody know anything about these?
Jan 23, 2010
[Hide Comment] Jason, nice to know, I thought about adding routes there myself but never got around to it. Did you climb them??? Ratings???
Feb 1, 2010
[Hide Comment] I put up the two routes to the left of Skull Fracture in '08 or '09. My brother nabbed the 1st ascent of the burly Inca Gold. I was going to rate it 12c, but we had just messed with a 12a slab in Vedauwoo and Pat didn't feel it was harder than 12b. I worked it on the sharp end and figured out the moves after like 20 falls and sent the route about an hour after it saw its first ascent. The 11a is awesome. I like to combine the start of The Temple with Inca Gold's finish for a link up I call The Temple of Doom. This link up was climbed before Inca Gold. Climbing the start of Inca Gold into the top of The Temple is a clean classic line as well.
Sep 3, 2011
Access Issue: Access issue - Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc. - open since 2023
Details
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Estes Park, CO
Longmont