KB boulder is a choice piece of rock with a few gently overhanging crimpy problems on solid rock from V2 to V8. It's only a 10 minute approach but it's enough to get you away from the road with awesome views of Long's Peak. Some of the problems are slightly highball but a few pads and spotters should suffice with the relatively flat landing area.
Another boulder is about 10 minutes away, the Hollowell Park boulder, which is described in CO Bouldering Vol 1.
Getting There
This area is described in Benningfield/Samet's CO Bouldering Vol 2 guide but the approach description is was incorrect. The directions below should be foolproof and get you to the boulder in 10 minutes.
Enter RMNP through the main Beaver Meadows Entrance and take your first left onto Bear Lake Road. Follow the road for about 3 miles until you reach the parking lot for Hollowell Park (it's after Moraine Park but before Glacier Basin). Park at the west end of the lot near the bathrooms. Take the MILL CREEK BASIN TRAIL WEST for about 5 minutes and you will arrive at a horse-trail junction. Take the RIGHT fork. Walk up this trail for 3 minutes and the KB boulder is the first large boulder you see on the left (north) side of the trail uphill in the trees. The boulder is about 50 yards off the trail.
Note: you will NOT need to take a shuttle bus to get to Hollowell Park.
Add CommentComments on KB Boulder - Hollowell Park
Just about nailed it, Adam. Thanks for getting those trail names. One clarification:.
Where you say:Take the MILL CREEK BASIN TRAIL WEST for about 5 minutes and you will arrive at a horse-trail junction. Take the RIGHT fork. Walk up this trail for 3 minutes and the KB boulder is the first large boulder you see on the left (north) side of the trail uphill in the trees. The boulder is about 50 yards off the trail.
The boulder is actaully on the RIGHT (north) side of the trail, uphill in the trees. Otherwise spot on.
Problems, as far as I can remember, we never named:Left to Right:
V3 - V8 with sit. Little corners.V2 Good incuts.V5 high face on swirly rock. Potential for variations.V8/9 highball. I needed a cheater stone to reach the good finger lock, but there are holds for a proper, harder standing start. Move left along the crack and bust into slopers, then underclings, and throw for a horn. Great problem.V4 The crack itself. a bit awkward thrutching over the bulge, but good.
Maybe I gave these names, and probably even different ratings in [Colorado Bouldering] II. This is a good, out-of-the-way boulder. About 100 yards farther along the Mill Creek Basin Trail, on the right, is a big blobular boulder with flutings. Problems from V1 to V3 with good landings, variations possible. Nice meadow-like hang.
We're talking about the same boulder but I think we're approaching it from different directions, perhaps. Just goes to show how verbal directions/descriptions can be so confusing while a topo/map could speak a thousand words.
KB Boulder - Hollowell Park
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