Hell's Gate/ Hagerman Pass

Description 

Hell's Gate near Hagerman Pass is a stellar granite area offering both traditional and sport climbing. Situated between 9000' and 10000' feet, one may find splitter cracks, run out slabs, big boulders, and awe inspiring views of the frying pan drainage. While some tradsters may have visited for years, most of the climbing is less than five years old. Hell's gate itself, a massive granite outcrop, is located near the Nast tunnel which pulls water destined for the Pacific over the continental divide and into front range water taps. The Hagerman pass road was originally a railroad corridor carrying people and goods from Leadville to Basalt. Basalt is the nearsest town with amenities.

Getting There 

Hagerman pass is located between Leadville and Basalt, south of the Holycross Wilderness area, north of Independence Pass. To reach from the Roaring Fork Valley drive north east from Basalt off of hwy 82 along the Frying Pan Road, pass Ruedi Reservoir and Chapman Dam to where the pavement ends. Hells Gate may be reached from below by taking a right which dead ends in about three miles at the gauging station, or taking a left on the clearly marked Hagerman Pass road, which states "Hell's Gate 6 miles". The granite is fairly obvious right off the road in both cases, with the upper road because of switch backs taking you to a location approximately 700' above the lower dead-end road.