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Elevation: 5,355 ft
GPS: 40.01787, -105.27996
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: John McNamee on Feb 28, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Introduction Suggest change

Boulder is a small city of approximately 100,000, 40 minutes northwest of Denver, blessed with an amazing amount of rocks with decent variety of rock type for cragging minutes from downtown. Tucked at the base of the The Flatirons this picturesque community is convenient for climbers and has attracted more than its share of our vertically oriented community. Its youthful presence of students at the University of Colorado, CU attracts a better than average selection of restaurants and shops to satisfy your non-climbing needs.

For rock type, you can find granite, solid Fountain Formation sandstone, Dakota sandstone, quartzite, and even some gneiss or schist for your vertical adventures. A bit further afield you can find basalt, conglomerate, even limestone. For climbing styles, you can find routes from boulder problems to 700 foot vertical crags to 2300 foot slabbing adventures from highballs to bolted sport climbs to mind-challenging traditional lines. You can even climb in the rain. You can play on crowded rock or find nearly untraveled stone. You can even seek out occasional ice or mixed climbs. For seasons, you can find something to climb virtually any day of the year, depending upon your climbing style or tolerances to weather.

At one point in history, some might argue that the rocks around this town were a focal point for the advancement of American climbing. Still, these crags are rich with history. Today, with perhaps the exception of the high-end climber, nearly every climber can find something nearby to satisfy their climbing desires.

Areas nearby include:

Eldorado Canyon State Park
As one of the world's finest and most famous climbing areas, Eldorado Canyon needs little introduction. It consists of steep, beautiful Fountain Formation sandstone walls of up to 700 feet high, in brilliant shades of gold and red. The rock quality is reminiscent of granite rather than the soft sandstone found throughout much of Utah and Arizona.

The Flatirons
The Flatirons are synonymous with Boulder and the history of rock climbing in North America. It would be hard to find another location in the country where such an extensive variety, from scrambling to hard "Head Point" routes existing so close to a city.

Boulder Canyon
Minutes from downtown Boulder, a wide variety of climbing types and beautiful scenery make Boulder Canyon a favorite for many locals to climb. The rock type is granite, smooth in places but for the most part highly textured. A side canyon, Dream Canyon, has gained populariy.

Flagstaff Mt
A popular and well-known bouldering area. Follow Baseline Rd. W into the hills. Note, parking may cost if you don't have Boulder County plates.

There are many nearby areas to climb including: Mickey Mouse Wall, Eldorado Mt, Coal Creek Canyon. Further afield are areas to climb including crags surrounding Lyons, Golden, Denver, Castlewood Canyon SP, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Cedar Park, Empire, Idaho Springs, and Georgetown. So much to climb, so much to enjoy. Maybe, that's why so many climbers live nearby.

Resources Suggest change

Climbing gear:
Neptune Mountaineering (Table Mesa Shopping Center). It is the oldest climbing shop in Boulder and has a great selection of gear and a knowledgeable staff. Thursday night slide shows are often with world-famous climbers. Check out their climbing museum: photos and climbing memorabilia from all over the world, including Edmund Hillary's boots and a photo of Gaston Rebuffat running it out with just a hemp rope tied around his waist!

Rock and Resole was originally primarily a rock and ice boot resoler. As of 2017, they have become an "outfitter" carrying shoes, tools, aid gear, bouldering gear, cams, and ropes.

REI, a long time outdoor co-op, located on US 36/28th St., carries rock, snow, and ice gear.

Lodging:
The Boulder Adventure Lodge (A-Lodge for short) is only 5 minutes up Boulder Canyon from downtown Pearl Street. Strategically located for adventure enthusiasts, the A-Lodge provides easy access to Boulder's climbing, biking, fishing, hiking and trail running. The A-lodge includes an onsite slackline park, outdoor fire pits, two hot tubs, private rooms & suites, a hostel room, and even some camping options.

Eats:
Southern Sun (Table Mesa shopping center on Broadway just south of Table Mesa; next to Neptune Mountaineering). It may be the best place in town for locally-brewed beer. Happy Hour runs from 4-6pm with $2 pints. They have good burgers, burritos, wraps, and daily specials. It is a favorite hangout for climbers after a day in Eldorado and can get very busy and loud! This is the sister site to the Mountain Sun (Pearl St. between 15th & 16th). Mountain Sun and Southern Sun

Rio's (Walnut & 11th) has Mexican food and margaritas; it is another favorite climber hangout.

After climbing in the Flatirons, try the Dark Horse - not bad for brews and pub food and just a mile or two from Chautauqua E. on Baseline. Pitchers are about $10 and less for happy hour, when appetizers are 1/2 price as well. They may have the best buffalo wings in Boulder. A big burger + basket of fries is $4 for Burger Madness every other night.

For the slightly-more-adventuresome palates, consider Ras Kasas - Ethiopian (new location), Tandoori Grill (near Neptune's), Khow Tahi Cafe - Thai (1600 Broadway), Sushi Tora (2014 10th), Sherpas - Nepali (825 Walnut St), or Wahoo's Fish Taco (2790 Pearl).

Beer:
Liquor Mart (Canyon & 15th): great selection of beer and wine. Often they have good stuff (microbrews) on sale. Also, one MP.com user suggests Hazel's at 28th & Walnut for beer.

Getting There

Suggest change
By Air - you can fly into Denver International Airport (DIA) which lies probably 1 1/4 hours time from Boulder. You can fly into Jefferson County Airport (private and small planes) which lies probably 15 minutes SE of Boulder.

By Car - this small community of climber-overrepresentation lies approximately 40 minutes NW of Denver on US 36. From the S, you can access it via CO Hwy 93 (aka Broadway in Boulder). From the E, you can access it off CO Hwy 119. From the N, you can access it via US 36. From the W, you can access it from CO Hwy 119 or use other possibly more circuitous routes.

5,505 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Boulder Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Boulder

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 1,135
East Face (Standard)
Trad 8 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R
 1,291
Direct Route
Trad 10 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 2,236
The Bastille Crack
Trad 5 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1,669
Rewritten
Trad 6 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 575
Rebuffat's Arete
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 694
Long John Wall
Trad 4 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 744
Gambit
Trad 5 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 851
Ruper
Trad 6 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 618
The Green Spur
Trad 2 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 1,249
The Yellow Spur
Trad 6 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 837
Blind Faith
Trad 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 676
Handcracker Direct
Trad 5 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
 496
Rosy Crucifixion
Trad 3 pitches
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R
 688
Outer Space
Trad 2 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 471
The Naked Edge
Trad 6 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
East Face (Standard) Flatirons > North > Third Flatiron
 1,135
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad 8 pitches
Direct Route Flatirons > North > First Flatiron
 1,291
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R Trad 10 pitches
The Bastille Crack Eldorado Canyon SP > Bastille > Bastille - N Face
 2,236
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 5 pitches
Rewritten Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Lumpe to…
 1,669
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 6 pitches
Rebuffat's Arete Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Lumpe to…
 575
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Long John Wall Eldorado Canyon SP > W Ridge > W Ridge - part B - Lo…
 694
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 4 pitches
Gambit Eldorado Canyon SP > Shirt Tail Peak
 744
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
Ruper Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Tower One
 851
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 6 pitches
The Green Spur Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Lumpe to…
 618
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
The Yellow Spur Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Tower One
 1,249
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 6 pitches
Blind Faith Eldorado Canyon SP > Bastille > Bastille - W Face
 837
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Handcracker Direct Eldorado Canyon SP > W Ridge > W Ridge - part C - Po…
 676
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 5 pitches
Rosy Crucifixion Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Tower Two
 496
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 Trad 3 pitches
Outer Space Eldorado Canyon SP > Bastille > Bastille - N Face
 688
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R Trad 2 pitches
The Naked Edge Eldorado Canyon SP > Redgarden Wall > Redgarden - Tower Two
 471
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 6 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Boulder »

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