The Coal Creek boulders offer fun climbing in a beautiful setting with an easy approach and a good range of grades. The boulders appear to be a Dakota sandstone (or something similar) in contrast to the cobblestone-featured sandstone of the Redstone boulders. The landings have taken some work but are generally safe. While this area is mostly inaccessible during the winter months, the boulders sit on a south-facing slope so the snow melts quickly in the spring and the rock is dry soon after a rainstorm. Also, the area sits at about 8,500' so the area can offer welcome relief to the summer heat and the tight confines of the valley walls can offer welcome shade in the afternoon on the hottest days.
Getting There
Drive to the old mining town of Redstone. Just south of the south entrance to Redstone is Coal Basin Road, heading west from CO Highway 133. Look for old brick coke ovens and an old, large piece of mining machinery just before the road when driving from Carbondale. Drive up this road for several miles, first passing some tall red cliffs before coming to a large parking area/trailhead on your right after a cattle guard. Park just past the cattle guard and hike back down the road (east) to the large talus slope where the boulders lie.
10 or 20 yards from the cattle guard a faint trail, occasionally marked with cairns, heads up to the most popular boulders. It is also possible to head up the hill immediately after crossing the cattle guard, staying close to the fence, until a faint trail contours east along the slope to The Wall.
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