Hurd Creek Crag Rock Climbing

[Approximate location: lat. 40.013, long. -105.764  (an average from two user suggestions. Thx.) ]

At 3.7 miles north of Fraser, turn east off US 40 as for Devil's Thumb Ski Ranch. This turn is 0.3 miles south of Tabernash, just south of the highway curve and bridge over the railroad tracks. Call this Mile 0.0.

Mile 0.4 - take the left fork on County Rd. 84 towards Meadow Creek Reservoir (not the right fork towards Devil's Thumb Ranch).

Mile 1.2 - go straight past Strawberry Rd. on the left.

Mile 1.3 - take the right fork on CR 841 (do not take the left fork to Meadow Creek Reservoir).

Mile 2.5 - stay left on the main road (CR 841) (pass CR 843, which goes right).

Mile 2.8 - turn left off of CR 841 (before it crosses Hurd Creek) onto CR 848. There has been a "Dead End" sign here in the past, but it is not a dead end.

Mile 3.3 - this is the tricky part. The road splits three ways. Take the right fork even though it appears to be the lesser road of the three and looks like a driveway. There has been a "forest access" sign and sometimes a FR sign, but the FR sign has been taken down at times in the past. This road has several cabins along the road, and although you don't need 4WD for traction, it is quite rough for 1.1 miles (if your vehicle has less than 6" of ground clearance, you may wish to take a longer alternate route discussed below).

Mile 4.4 - junction with FR 128 (aka CR 81, aka "Water Board Road"). Go right and uphill.

Mile 4.7 - go straight and uphill (per Lindsay Clark, 2013: the sign now says Rd 130.1). Do not go right on continuation of FR 128. Proceed uphill (on 130.1) with views of the Hurd Creek Crag up to the left.

Mile 5.1 - the road widens with a small pullout area on the left and a small cairn marking the trail. Through the trees you can see a small footbridge crossing Hurd Creek.

Trail -- hike about a half mile to the crag on a good trail. Shortly before the crag, the trail splits. Go left to the Lower Wall or go right to the other walls.

Alternate route options:  

[Alternate route to avoid rough road: At Mile 1.3, take the left fork onto FR 129 towards Meadow Creek Reservoir. After several miles (maybe about 5 miles?), turn right on FR 128. Go generally south and downhill on FR 128 for about 3 miles until reaching Mile 4.4 in the description above, where the rough road comes in from the right and you now go left.]

Per Tim K: I would recommend getting there via Water Board Road to skip the adventure road - goo.gl/maps/BawQEiD5vNyvdMP69 is directions to the parking area for the crag from Fraser. Leaving Fraser, head up CO 8 and then Water Board Road. When you reach the intersection for Hurd Creek Road, turn right, and the parking area is a short ways on your left. The approach crosses a foot bridge and heads towards the rock in a west/slightly northwest direction.

Update, Sept. 1, 2024 (Water Board Road closure): as per comment by Britta P: "as of 8/31/24, Tim K.’s linked directions lead to a road that has been barricaded and locked, so it’s no longer passable. The written directions still work."