Climbing in or near Steamboat Springs, Colorado?

Hi there,

I may be moving to Steamboat Springs soon and am looking for climbing recommendations.  What sport, trad, bouldering is in or near Steamboat?  

In my job search, I was hoping to move somewhere with better climbing access, but i'm still hopeful.  Please let me know what you know!

Thanks!

-Ely

Hey Ely, been spending most of my time in Steamboat for the past 7 years, and is where I first started climbing. Amazing little mountain town with the usual housing shortage. But it is in a great spot with decent climbing, skiing, kayaking, biking, and hiking all close by. The only thing is that none of it is really spectacular, except for maybe the snow, but even then the skiing does not get very steep so after 700+ days I'm kinda over it.

 But none of it is bad! Climbing is never crowded, even on weekends, with plenty of options within an hour. New trad leader myself but i travel all summer now so I haven't done any trad lines but I know of a good bit of climbs.

Literally right in town there is a few fun but short top rope climbs along butcherknife (also name of great brewery in town) creek. Blob rock near fish creek falls is about 20 minutes to get to, has some sport lines on it.

North of town seedhouse road has a lot of climbing, about an hour at the longest to get anywhere out that way, good mix of sport and trad I believe.

South up rabbit ears there are a lot of areas as well, quite a few domes and some fun climbing along muddy creek as well. Another good dome towards sarvis creek as well.

Climbing gym just opened about a week ago, so stoked to have that for the winter. I think it was about 60 a month or so.

While access is good, and there is enough to keep you climbing, like I said not much of it is really outstanding. But I really do love the town. And then if you're willing to travel a little: about 2 hours to the poudre, 2 hours to 10 mile west of Silverthorne, a little more to Glenwood canyon, probably 2.5 to rifle, 3 to vedauwoo, and 3 hours to the front range.

I hope that's helpful, I'd be happy to answer any more questions or try and find you some climbing partners

Hey Jeremy,

Thanks so much for writing.  I'm excited to be in the mountains again and hear great things about the town.  While it's not the perfect place for climbing, i'm motivated and so stoked to be coming back out west.  I'd love to meet up to climb when I finally get to town the first week of October.  Naturally, i'd also love to connect with other climbers, too.  I heard the town opened a gym, which will be a great outlet for winter time.  How is it?  Thanks again Jeremy!

Wanted to chime in on this b/c I also live in Steamboat (though am relatively new). The gym is pretty nice. The wall isn't too big and I could see it getting crowded during Winter, but there's also a nice bouldering area, and they're putting in a smoothie bar and yoga room on the second floor, and a small crossfit style fitness room on the first floor. It is a bit pricey.

I agree with Jeremy that we're spoiled by a lot of great climbing within 3.5 hrs so you may want to travel a lot for really good climbing. It can be tough to get out of the valley in the winter though, but the skiing will make up for that.

Yeah not many places with such a great town in a great location, such a nice place to live I'm sure you'll love it. We also have a pretty great music scene here for how small/out of the way the town is.  And I'm going to be working out in California through the middle of November, so I'm hoping that there will be too much snow in Steamboat to climb when I return, although last year that was not the case. But let me know when you're there and I can hook you up with some climbers, and like Max said I'm sure the gym will be pretty crowded but I am shooting to be there almost every single evening this winter so let's get some climbing in then. Also apparently Rifle has some good climbing in the winter but I have heard some conflicting opinions on that, I like to go down to Shelf Road to climb in the winter, a little far but some great climbing if you don't go on the weekends(crazy crowds I hear). I drove 2 hours through a snow storm to Shelf Road once only to have the skies clear up about 15 minutes from the crag for a day of great climbing.  

Thanks Max and Jeremy.  I am a bit acquainted with crags a few hours away from Steamboat having grown up in Colorado and am excited to be back to old and new places.  It's been many years since i've lived in Colorado, so everything will be pretty new again.  I was spoiled years ago by having many local crags near where I lived in Arizona and am happy to hear there are some local spots to hit in a pinch.  I wonder about Northern Utah adventures and travel time to do so.  I know southern Utah climbing, but have never made it up to Maple Canyon and other spots. Anyway, yes, let's climb on rocks and be merry.  :)