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best sport near denver

Jim6565 Brassell · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 0

Okay, I knew someone would bring up the camping issue. Again "nearby" is a relative term. There is no camping in the canyon, Highway patrol chases everyone off a long time ago. But here is my list of "nearby".

- 7.2 mi N of Nederland on CO72, mile marker 40(about .25mi S of Gold Hill road),is a NFSR 328 that has established camping at the RUBY Gulch area. It is free and is part of the Four Mile Creek drainage. If you have a high clearance ride, you can camp down next to the stream. If not there are places closer to CO72.

- Gordon Gulch campground, I believe it is also free. Directions are: From Nederland, head north on Colorado Highway 72 for five miles and turn east onto NFSR 226 (this turnoff is 1/2 mile north of milepost 37). Numbered campsites are located along NFSR's 226, 314, 228 and 233 and their off-shoots.

-Kelly Dahl, not the best place as it is a $10/night place with about 40 spaces. Directions: Approximately four miles south of Nederland, Colorado, on Colorado Highway (CO) 119, watch for the entrance to Kelly Dahl Campground on the east side of the highway at mile-marker 22. (The entrance is approximately two miles north of Rollinsville on Colorado Highway 119.). Usually open in late May

- West Magnolia, better Known as a mountain biking area. It has established sites. Directions:From Nederland, head south on Colorado Highway 119 for 2.8 miles. Turn west onto County Road 132W. Limited parking is available just off of the highway, or continue one mile west and turn south through the second Forest Service gate to the main trailhead parking area. West Magnolia is a dispersed, multiple-use area. Twenty-two numbered, designated campsites are scattered along NFSR 355 and its offshoots within one mile of CR 132W. Camping is permitted in designated sites only.

These are all car camping areas. My favorite is Ruby Gulch

Jon Zucco · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 245

if you are on 70 heading to california, stop at Rifle. It's only 20 minutes or so off of I-70 and has camping, and is pretty much a sport climber's wet dream.

Case closed.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Jon Zucco wrote:if you are on 70 heading to california, stop at Rifle. It's only 20 minutes or so off of I-70 and has camping, and is pretty much a sport climber's wet dream. Case closed.
This is true, but perhaps no quite "Case Closed". To the OP: If you haven't been to Rifle before, expect to find the climbing to be...challenging. It is a weird style that takes some getting used to. If you just show up for one day, you may not have fun...that does tend to happen there. Rifle is the best sport climbing in Colorado, but perhaps not the best place to go to just for just a day of fun 5.10/5.11 onsighting.
Jon Zucco · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 245

good point. It also may still be a little chilly in late may.

PRRose · · Boulder · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0
Jim6565 wrote:Okay, I knew someone would bring up the camping issue. Again "nearby" is a relative term. There is no camping in the canyon, Highway patrol chases everyone off a long time ago.
Is camping at the Upper Dream parking lot legal? I've seen tents set up there.
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

Camp in Boulder/Denver?
Try couch-surf-swapping with other climbers if you live near a good destination.
There's some on-line site that manages that sort of thing.

ChefMattThaner · · Lakewood, co · Joined May 2013 · Points: 246

Shelf Road for its overhanging pocketed limestone that is amazing for sport climbing, and some of the closest camping around.

Clear Creek Canyon for its proximity to Golden and Denver, very short approaches(less than 5-10 minutes for most) and very high concentration of hard (5.12-5.14) sport climbs on some pretty solid and clean Gneiss and Schist. Only really crowded on the weekends(like everywhere).
Easy to find shade/sun depending on the weather.

Boulder Canyon for easy short approaches, although some not as easy as most all of clear creek(think tyrols). Sweet bomber granite walls that offer cracks and slabs and roofs whatever your pleasure.

Garden of the Gods is just one of the most beautiful places to be climbing and the super soft sandstone allows for UNREAL friction and some pretty sweet, historic routes.

Pretty much anywhere in the South Platte is a must see. Turkey Rock and Devils head offer Yosemitesque granite cracks on big walls. Long pitches of bolted sport routes like no where else in CO. Not to mention a more remote setting smaller crowds and gorgeous views from the tops of those crags.

Rifle is amazing and as a 5.12c climber you should be able to have quite a bit of fun there. The climbing is very steep and very stiff. Definitely a different style(think knee bars) and will take a day or two to get back to climbing at your limit but also an extremely high concentration of bolted sport routes with no worries of crowds or lines.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
ChefMattThaner wrote: Rifle ... no worries of crowds or lines.
This is laughably false. Most of the other things you said are on the money, though.
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
ChefMattThaner wrote: Rifle is amazing and as a 5.12c climber you should be able to have quite a bit of fun there. The climbing is very steep and very stiff. Definitely a different style(think knee bars) and will take a day or two to get back to climbing at your limit but also an extremely high concentration of bolted sport routes with no worries of crowds or lines.
And I hear that you can now go there without getting totally 'dhhhhhuuuude'-ed.
D Graham · · Washington, DC · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 972
Old and Busted wrote: I typically exclude mentioning the bubble because I personally never spend any time there & therefore unqualified to comment on it.

What do you mean the bubble?
Also Thanks to everyone who answered, gave us a ton of help.
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
david Graham wrote: What do you mean the bubble?
Boulder is frequently referred to as 'the bubble' both by those who love it and those who do not. Most people acknowledge that it is somewhat cut-off or distanced from the real world- again ,a reason for those same folks to either love or hate it.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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