guidebooks

I am going to be in Colorado in the end of May. I am planning on spending about five days close to Boulder (Eldarado, and Flatirons) also about four days by Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods). I will be doing mainly sport climbing, but will do some trad. So what guidebooks should I order? Thank you for your responses.

Honestly if you are coming for only 5 days I would just use MP or see if you can go with a local. All the current books are like $35+ a pop, Eldo I think is like $45.

But if you are just itching to spend money, I'd get the current Eldo, Boulder Canyon books for the Boulder area. Jason's flatiron book is fantastic as well, but if you are only doing a little trad, just pick the classics off MP and use the database instead. If you are going to do mostly sport then maybe just the Boulder Canyon book and again print any Eldo routes of the database.

Thank you. I have family that lives close, so I think I will be going here once a year.

Ryan,

If you are a member of The American Alpine Club...
You can search the library online, have them mail you the
guide books you want, use them (i think for a month or more)
and mail it back. All for free to members.
This is a great service if you are taking that once in a
life time, or really short trip somewhere.

Hope this helps!
C

I was in the front range last summer for a week and bought the falcon guides: best climbs Denver and Boulder. Normally I don't care for the Falcon guides, but this one was perfect for us for a short trip. Plus you should be able to find it for under $20!

Really easy to read topos for Eldo classics.

Sport climbing for some good areas in CCC near Golden.

Info for some areas in BoCo (fwiw).

Classics in the Flatirons.

Unfortunately there is nothing on the colorado springs area.

Rock Climbing Colorado by Stewart Green. Should cover all the bases you need covered. Well worth the cost.

Even though the Eldo guidebook is one of the most thorough rock climbing guidebooks I have ever seen, you probably don't want to invest in that given that you are mostly doing sport climbing. I'd definitely invest in Boulder Canyon Rock Climbs: wildernessexchangeunlimited… It is an excellent guidebook and does a great job of breaking down routes by type (sport v. trad) and quality in the back of the book. The Falcon guidebook is also great as it covers tons of areas, though if you are just going to be in GOG and BC, it might not be the best choice.

I'll second the "don't bother buying an Eldo specific guidebook if you're going to be sport climbing" advice. I have actually seen climbers get their entrance fee back after coming in to sport lead or TR stuff only to find that few such routes exist. And I'll second the new BoCan guidebook.

The Rampart Range Rocks guidebook covers some sport climbing within an hour of both Co Spgs and Denver and it will be open in May for sure.

I would avoid the Rockclimbing Colorado book, mainly because it is a Falcon Guide which means it is only good for starting a campfire. Buy a real guide, or use MP to find what you are looking for. The BoCa guide is good, or anything by Wolverine or Sharpend.

Randy W. wrote:Rock Climbing Colorado by Stewart Green. Should cover all the bases you need covered. Well worth the cost.

Personally, I like collecting guidebooks, and it might come in handy if you are coming out here at least once a year. If that is the case for you, then Scott's suggestions are solid. I use MP to get psyched during the day at work and do some research, but use the guides when I am there.

Thank you all for the help. I picked up Boulder Canyon Rock Climbs, and my friend picked up the Shelf Road guide book (going to go there now instead of Garden of the Gods).

I am looking into camping while there and not finding too much information. We do not mind paying $20 a night for a nicer site but do not really want to pay too much more. I see that Moraine Park Campground is the only campground that I can reserve sites at RMNP and have not found a good option for by shelf road yet. Any incite as to recommended campgrounds that will take reservations (camping in a tent out of a car) would be greatly appreciated.