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Giles Townsite Boulders Climbing

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Elevation:	4,450 ft	1,356 m
GPS:	38.36549, -110.88528 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	5,224 total · 39/month
Shared By:	JoeySparks on Apr 16, 2015 · Updates
Admins:	Perin Blanchard, GRK, David Crane, Nathan Fisher Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: BLM LAND Details

This is a small pullout on the northern side of U.S. 24. A small boulder can be seen there, entitled "Points Towards Orion Boulder." Vehicles can pull off in this gravel area north of the road. There is one boulder in the area under the under the south side of the small mesa. The pullout area is about 300 yards long and should be visible from the road. Park here to climb on Points Towards Orion Boulder and to access the larger and harder boulder routes on top of the mesa.

Description

This is an area in development. It is highly secluded and most of the boulder routes have never been touched by human hands. The rock is most likely Entrada Sandstone or Navajo Sandstone and contains a rotten layer. There are certain boulders in which cleaning will be necessary to create new routes. There is an abundance of boulders in the area begging to be developed. Help me create new routes and let's climb!

Getting There

From Hanksville, head ~10.1 miles west on U.S. 24 towards Factory Butte Rd. You will pass a sign stating "Historic Area" and "Giles Townsite" on the way to the Giles Townsite Bouldering Area. The highway will curve northward and then westward again after passing Giles Rd. Once, the road curves westward again it will begin to "S." curve slightly southerly then directly northerly again. After the road has meandered in this "S-like" manner, a small pullout on the northern side of the highway will be visible after passing the curve. This is the designated parking area for Giles Townsite Boulders.

From Capitol Reef Visitor Center, head easterly ~26.7 miles. Approximately 26.5 miles from the Visitor Center, Factory Butte Rd will be on the northern side of U.S. 24. Drive .1-.2miles southeasterly from this road and a small gravel pullout will be visible on the northern side of the highway. From this road, a cluster of boulders should be visible on the northern side of the highways, atop a small mesa. A 10' boulder (Points Towards Orion) is in the pull out area; park here.

Getting to the cluster of boulders atop the mesa from the parking area: (Easy) Head westerly up the gravel pullout. You will find a small river bed that appears to be made of Navajo sandstone and is most likely a dry wash. Walk up (northwest) the drywash/creek bed until you find safe passage northerly onto the mesa. There is are a few small spots where easy access on top of the bluff are on the northern side of the dry wash. These access points are small (2-4' wide) wind eroded areas and have small bits of scree at the bottom of them. Take one of these and head easterly up the mesa to the larger bouldering area.