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Vatican

Colorado > Canon City > Phantom Canyon

Description

The parking for this rock is about a 10th of a mile past the rock on the right.

There is a public bathroom (2 pit toilets) another 10th of a mile up the road on the left.

Getting There

It is 2.8 miles from the end of the pavement. Just past the rock there is a pullout area big enough for parking maybe 3 cars.

The approach trail starts at the parking area. Head downhill and across the creek.

Per Scott VZ: the GPS coordinates are: 38.52449, -105.12701.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 20
● John Paul
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 23
● Francis
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 9
● Last Rites
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 20
● Ramp It Up
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 16
● Spring Spree
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 18
● Peggy Sue
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 18
● Into The Light
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 5
● Dogma
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● John Paul
 20
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Francis
 23
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
● Last Rites
 9
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Ramp It Up
 20
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
● Spring Spree
 16
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Peggy Sue
 18
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Into The Light
 18
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Dogma
 5
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Vatican Wall - Phantom Canyon.
[Hide Photo] Vatican Wall - Phantom Canyon.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Rope Byrne
Colorado Springs
[Hide Comment] The 2 climbs on the left side of this wall are fun and seem a bit better quality than those on the right. Still plenty of rock around this area to develop. Jan 20, 2017
josephine sterr
[Hide Comment] We were there in mid-June. It was so buggy at the cliff we left after 2 pitches. Mosquitos I could handle, but these were tiny bugs that kept flying in my ears! Yuck!

Also, this is not a good approach for kids. The first 90% is fine. To cross the creek, there's a path of rock they thought was fun, but the last 50 feet is straight uphill on dirt. I had trouble with sliding down. I ended up rappelling down it. My partner slid down on all 4s rather than risk falling down it. We left the kids by the creek. There was a great place for them to play there so long as they were content with not climbing (we promised them the splash pad in Canon City instead). Jun 20, 2021
Chris Swope
Greeley, co
[Hide Comment] There have been a bunch of routes added. Anyone have the info on them? May 24, 2022
Maybe Consider
Forgiving Yourself
[Hide Comment] FYI, most of the second bolts are so high up off the ground. The bolting is unlike Shelf - maybe stickclip the second bolt if you can reach it or toprope. It was safe enough to fall at the upper cruxes which are well-bolted. All the top ring anchors were great, and it was easy to quick clean and get lowered. Many new routes to the left only available on pamphlet for pay on the ancient website linked in main Phantom page. Dec 6, 2022