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The Fin Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Fin

L › R R › L A › Z

	Thinquisition T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c X
	Dimetrodon T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b X

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Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	7,150 ft	2,179 m
GPS:	39.9865, -105.2947 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	3,646 total · 15/month
Shared By:	Steve Bartlett on Nov 4, 2004
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures Details

The usual crags are closed for climbing for raptor nesting:

See: bouldercolorado.gov/service….

Click here for the trail closures. Some are M-F, some are 24/7. These impact the Bear Canyon/Fern Canyon regions primarily:

flatironsclimbing.org/tempo…

Click here bouldercolorado.gov/service… for the latest in raptor closures.

Access Issue: Raptor nesting lifted July 26, 2023 Details

Per Ryan Kuehn, Stewardship Director, Boulder Climbing Community: the seasonal raptor closure on the Third Flatiron will be extended beyond July 31st, 2023. The reopening date is TBD. This has been lifted as of 7/26/23 from the OSMP website per Zachary Henry.

bouldercolorado.gov/service…: lifted 7/26/23: Third Flatiron, including Queen Anne’s Head, W.C Fields Pinnacle, 1911 Gully and the Ghetto, the East Bench & West Bench, the East & West Ironing Boards, The Fin, Green Thumb and Jaws.

Update from the Flatirons Climbing Council July 2021: due to late nesting of peregrine falcons this year (2021), this area is closed until ~Aug. 12, 2021.

Information on OSMP wildlife closures, which help to protect sensitive habitats, can be viewed at:

bouldercolorado.gov/service…
maps.bouldercolorado.gov/wi…

The following crags are closed 1 February to 31 July:
First Pinnacle (Gregory Canyon)
Second Pinnacle (Gregory Canyon)
Third Pinnacle (Gregory Canyon)
Third Flatiron
Queen Anne's Head
WC Fields Pinnacle
The Ghetto
East Ironing Board
West Ironing Board
The Fin
Green Thumb
Jaws

Updated details may be found here.
osmpwildlifeclosures.org.

Description

This is the slab of freshly laundered sandstone snuggled in between the Ironing Boards. It's a lot like them in character. Smaller than its beefy neighbours, but it's just being coy. It's a good 400-foot high, and the one recorded route punches above its weight. Excellent rock. Descent? Good luck. Best descent plan may be to bag it. Just keep going up and over the top of the rock, then over the saddle to the north, then down the Third Flatiron descent back to Chatauqua. Nice round trip.Note: this will be closed all spring, due to the local bird ban.

Getting There

Approach is as for the Ironing Boards. Hike the Royal Arch Trail tol the boulder with the painted direction sign on it. Follow a faint trail from here.]The start of the Fin is pretty non-descript, an easy and dirty slab emerging out of the forest duff (yes, it does get better higher), surrounded by trees, not far above the stream bed; but it is easy to locate, just a stone's throw from the front of the Dolmen, and the only rock between the Ironing Boards.