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Elevation: 6,545 ft 1,995 m
GPS: 37.26749, -107.87999
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: e Dixon on Apr 28, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

Durango is a nice, mid-sized town in southwestern Colorado with a variety of local rock climbing. No single crag is a destination in itself, but each of them has some gems and together make for a nice local climbing scene.

  • For a good pump on some steep limestone, check out the sport climbing at the Golf Wall or Cascade Canyon
  • If you think trad is rad, make a trip to East Animas. Don't miss the Watch Crystal, it is one of the best pieces of stone in the area. 
  • For bouldering, check out the sandstone blocks of Sailing Hawks, Turtle Lake, or Lightner Creek
  • X-Rock, is right at the north end of town and has a nice little selection of routes that are easily toproped. 
  • The Vallecito Crags and Lemon Reservoir should not be missed either. There are many quality sport, mixed, and trad lines to enjoy. 
  • For a more backcountry climbing experience, look into the Pine River zone.

Your best bet for information on climbing around the area is to check out a copy of Durango Sandstone (a new edition came out in 2014 and was reprinted in 2021) and Durango Bouldering (OUT OF PRINT) at one of the local climbing shops or book stores.

Spring and Fall are the best seasons to rock climb around Durango. The temperatures are typically mild during these times. Summers get hot, especially on sunny walls, but it can be OK to climb in the shade. Winter typically brings colder weather and snow, but during periods of dry weather it can be nice in the sun.

For more information on Durango climbing, or to get involved, check out the Durango Climbers' Coalition.

Getting There Suggest change

Take US Hwy 550 if coming from the north or south, or take US Hwy 160 if coming from the east or west.

Closed areas

Suggest change
Everything to the right of the East Animas designated climbing trail is private property and is apparently closed to climbing.

1,315 Total Climbs

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Location: Durango Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Durango

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V3 6A
 69
Bird Hole Right
Boulder
V4 6B
 70
Pocket Change
Boulder
V5 6C
 105
Three Finger Pocket/Petrified Prow
Boulder
V6 7A
 74
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Boulder
V6 7A
 50
Bleeding Lip Traverse (Font Trav…
Boulder
V6-7 7A+
 47
Sunday Stroll
Boulder
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 112
Simians to the Sun
Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 131
Pale Skinned Nebraskan (submitte…
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 85
Apes of Wrath
Sport 2 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 91
Chucky Bill
Trad, Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 61
Durangutan
Trad, Sport 3 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 75
Gold Wall
Sport, TR
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 86
Watch Crystal Crack
Trad 2 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 87
Close To The Edge
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 54
Holy Grail
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bird Hole Right Turtle Lake > Bouldering > Big E Block
 69
V3 6A Boulder
Pocket Change Sailing Hawks > Pocket Change Area > Pocket Change Boulder
 70
V4 6B Boulder
Three Finger Pocket/Petrifi… Sailing Hawks > Petrified Area > Petrified Boulder
 105
V5 6C Boulder
Something Wicked This Way C… Sailing Hawks > Triangle Boulder
 74
V6 7A Boulder
Bleeding Lip Traverse (Font… Sailing Hawks > Bleeding Lip Area > Bleeding Lip Boulder
 50
V6 7A Boulder
Sunday Stroll Sailing Hawks > Sunday Stroll Boulder
 47
V6-7 7A+ Boulder
Simians to the Sun E Animas > I. Watch Crystal
 112
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, Sport 2 pitches
Pale Skinned Nebraskan (sub… E Animas > J. Jabba Buttress
 131
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Apes of Wrath E Animas > I. Watch Crystal
 85
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
Chucky Bill Lemon Reservoir > A. W Side
 91
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Sport
Durangutan E Animas > I. Watch Crystal
 61
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Sport 3 pitches
Gold Wall X Rock > Gold Wall
 75
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport, TR
Watch Crystal Crack E Animas > I. Watch Crystal
 86
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad 2 pitches
Close To The Edge Cascade Canyon > F. Garden of Eden Wall
 87
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
Holy Grail Lemon Reservoir > B. E Side
 54
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
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