Mountain Project: Climbing Flatirons

Right at the base of the Second Flatiron a collection of boulders exist that offer some killer problems. Although it's the same kind of rock as Flagstaff, it doesn't seem to hurt as much. Some classic hard problems like The Turning Point (V9) are found here along with plenty of others that are fun and not near as hard. The best time to go is when there is no snow on the ground because you find tons of chalked things that may not be in any book, but are really good problems. This is a great after work or school destination because it is so close and offers things to goof around on, or serious projects that will take you several weeks or months to complete, unless your name is Sharma.

Getting There

Walk up the road in Chataqua almost to the Bluebell Shelter then take the trail that branches off left to the second flatiron. You should go over a small wooden bridge a few yards along the trail, if this doesn't happen, you're on the wrong trail. Keep going on this trail and take a [right] to the second flatiron when the trail forks. The trail will fork again almost at the base of the second flatiron and this is where the climbing begins. Most of the bouldering is up on the left trail, but some stuff can be found off to the right.

[The trail you take at the beginning is the access trail to the Second and Third Flatiron, then you stay left and take the trail to the Third Flatiron. Most of the boulders are just a little way up this trail. Although you start on the [Royal Arch] trail, don't stay on it when the trail breaks.]

Stewardship

Please consider minimizing your impact when enjoying the area. There are already signs of erosion, plant trampling, etc. Do your best to ensure future access to this wonderful area!

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Satellite Boulders:

Sputnik Two V0 Boulder

Sputnik One V1 Boulder

A7 -V1 V1 Boulder

Mothership Overhang V2 Boulder

Major Tom V3 Boulder

Original Grapple V4 Boulder

Making Waves V4 Boulder

Zero G V5 Boulder, 10 feet

Nanoprobe V5 Boulder, 13 feet

Balance in Nature V5 Boulder

Aerogel V5 Boulder

Gully Diver V5-6 Boulder

Flesh Fest (STAND) V6 Boulder, 20 feet

Girlfriend's Backside V7 Boulder

Toe to Toe V7 Boulder

Face Full of Brian V8 Boulder

Grundel City Boy V9 Boulder

Captain Hook V9 Boulder, 10 feet

The Turning Point V9 Boulder

Fleshfest V10 Boulder

Featured Route For Satellite Boulders

This is me on The Turning Point (V9) in the Sattelites. Just reaching the crux, unfortuately I didn't get it this try. Any day now though....

The Turning Point V9 CO : Flatirons : ... : Satellite Boulders

'Turning Point' lies on top of the BBC (Best of Boulder County) boulder in the Satellites. The BBC is the enormous flat-topped boulder that lies on the right side of the trail as you're going up. Turning Point is hard to miss- it's the obvious problem that starts low on the severely overhanging boulder on the top of the BBC.Start low on the good crimps under the roof, and move your hands out onto the slopers on the face. Use some sneaky foot-beta and hand sequences to get to the arete, bump o...[more] Browse More Classics in CO

Comments on Satellite Boulders

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By George Bell
From: Boulder, CO
Jun 28, 2002

...There is an easy problem in this area, anybody know what it is? It is right off the trail to the west near where the 3rd Flatiron, 2nd Flatiron trails diverge. A 20' tall boulder with a big dead tree leaning against it. You go up the face right next to the dead tree and can rejoin the trail up higher as it switchbacks around the boulder. It must be V0 or easier if I can do it!

By Chip Phillips
From: Broomfield, CO
Jul 4, 2002

It's Sputnik Two, George. I noticed in your bio you would rather pull weeds than boulder ... you're busted.

By George Bell
From: Boulder, CO
Jul 5, 2002

Uh oh ... OK I admit I did go bouldering ONCE.Well, uh, I have tried the Monkey Traverse several times but have never made the whole thing. Basically, I suck at bouldering!

By Bryan Gartland
From: Helena, MT
Feb 7, 2005

The route pulldown for the Satellites is getting a bit unwieldy at 70+ problems. Seems to me that it could use its own Area listing.

By Joshua Merriam
From: Boulder, CO
Aug 21, 2007

Could we re-organize this area to clean up some of the extranious entries and give a better overview? I'll submit some overview pictures, but others probably know the area better than me.

By D@n
From: Boulder, CO
Jul 10, 2008

There's a 'new' problem at the Satellites and was wondering if anyone wanted to contribute some beta (name, grade, FA) for it. If you're facing Grundel City Boy, it's directly behind you about 70' up the hill. It's the short boulder (10' tall) with a cool 3' horizontal roof at about chest height. Starts in the back of the roof and moves to the lip via the enormous heel hook jug. Crimpers on the face gains you the top. Some guys I tried it with said it was about V7. Good problem. 2-3 stars.

By Joshua Merriam
From: Boulder, CO
Sep 17, 2008

Is this the same boulder as Blowin the Hatch?

How do you start - heel hooked, or with feet on the lower boulder-piece?

By Chip Phillips
From: Broomfield, CO
Sep 18, 2008

Toe to Toe V7/8, FA: EZ Harrison, 2008.

See problem description for more.

By Wombat
From: Boulder, co
Oct 2, 2010

Does anybody else think that this area should be separated into sectors so as to better understand where these problems are? It is a constant challenge to find information about problems based off of their name/grade alone and not the specific location. Any help would be awesome.

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Satellite Boulders

Description

Getting There

Stewardship

The Classics