All Locations > Colorado > Montrose

Dry Creek Crag Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Dry Creek Crag

Dry Creek Bouldering 10

Left Side 21

Right Side 30

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:	6,000 ft	1,829 m
GPS:	38.49797, -108.05882 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	25,450 total · 255/month
Shared By:	Matt Lisenby on Mar 29, 2017
Admins:	Edward Medina, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Description

Dry Creek Crag is a short, sandstone cliff ~30-50 feet tall and has easily accessible top-ropes and lead climbs from 5.8-5.13, many sport, some trad. It is shady until about 12, then it gets sun. It is West-facing. For low clearance vehicles, there is a ~1.5 mile approach, or for high clearance vehicles, there is virtually no approach.

Per Anus Herder: this area has been visited by local climbers for many decades and was largely unpublicized. The Million Dollar Highway guidebook came out in 2018 and was the first (known) writing of the area. Dry Creek features 68 roped routes, most of which don't have any information. If anyone has information, FA, name, anything from the era prior to the 2000s, please write it here in comment or edit the descriptions for an admin to approve. Thanks!

Getting There

The GPS coordinates are: 38.497243, -108.059478 per Anus Herder.

Head west out of Montrose on E. Main Street which then turns into Spring Creek Rd. After a 6.2 miles, turn right on 5875 Rd. Follow 5875 Rd. for 3.2 miles until you get to Kiowa Rd, and turn left. Follow this, and follow the sharp left turn on pavement where it turns into Shavano Valley Rd. Go a little ways until you see Rim Road with the water fill up at 1.1 miles. Follow Rim Road for a 2.4 miles, take a right at the marked road for: Crag Rd/Dry Creek Rd. It's just before power lines cross the road. Follow this to the rim ~1 mile. The road is rough, bumpy, and you'll probably want 4WD or at least something with high clearance. Per Anus Herder: I park just before the last small uphill in a rocky clearing, but many take the road all the way to the top. You'll see a sign that points forward for "Craig Rd." Turn left just before this.

61 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Dry Creek Crag Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Dry Creek Crag

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

V7 7A+ 6 ● The Hamstringer (submitted as 5'… Boulder Dry Creek Bouldering
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 5 ● The Gift Sport Right Side
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c 5 ● Jugfest Sport Left Side
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 7 ● Patina Crack (submitted as Unkno… Sport Right Side
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 6 ● Postman Sport Left Side
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 4 ● Patina Face Sport Right Side
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 13 ● Simple Physics Sport Right Side
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 4 ● Rockadile Sport Right Side
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 11 ● Gritstone Arete Sport Right Side
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 4 ● South Face Sport Right Side
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 11 ● Skittles to the Wall Sport Right Side
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a 4 ● Kipper Snack Crack Sport Right Side