CO Hwy 7 & Tributaries

Edge of Time, The Fin, Jurassic Park.

Description 

This stretch of crags includes a vast array of smaller crags with granitic, gneiss, and schist rock with routes up to perhaps 600 ft in length. For those seeking a quieter, more peaceful experience, there is much to enjoy here. We do share a minority of this terrain with a different crowd who enjoys motorized travel & teenage frivolity in the National Forests. Stretches of Twin Sisters are utilized in the fall by hunters. Some areas are better accessed with high-clearance 4WD transportation.

For the most part, these crags are traditionally protected, although a few crags along here have been tamed with fixed protection. Much of the cragging here lies at altitudes between 8-11,000 ft. Some stretches lies on private land (e.g. Fish Creek Pinnacles), so be careful to check on some of these lesser-known areas if you go exploring. There are few roadside crags along here, many rocks require an approach of up to 90 minutes.

Some of the more popular (still backwater) areas along here include: The Crags (Twin Sisters), Jurassic Park (Lily Lake), Ironclads (Allenspark), the Thumb & Needle (Prospect Mt), Deville Rocks (accessed with permission of Cheley Camps) but there is much more. So, come and explore.

Getting There 

CO Hwy 7 (which is part of the Peak to Peak Highway) extends from Estes Park, south through Allenspark, and veers east through South St. Vrain Canyon to Lyons. The section here describes crags between Estes Park and the top of South St. Vrain Canyon.

From Estes Park, head south on CO Hwy 7 off US 36.

From Denver, head north on I-25, go NW on US 36 through the town of Boulder to Lyons. At the T junction you have two choices. To access the southern crags, you can go left (south), up CO Hwy 7, winding up South St. Vrain Canyon. At the top of the canyon, you go straight which continues north toward Estes Park. To access the northern crags, you can go north at the T junction on US 36 to Estes Park. Then head south on CO Hwy 7 shortly after passing Lake Estes.

To access this from the central or western side of the state, you can drive up the Peak to Peak Highway off I-70, through Central City, Rollinsville, Nederland, etc., but this is a winding drive.

The Classics

Featured Route For CO Hwy 7 & Tributaries

The Big Steep 5.10  CO : Estes Park Valley : ... : Upper Great Face

A three pitch line up the middle of the left side of Upper Great Face. Good position and climbing, a mix of sport and trad, and the potential for big bonus points by doing both the 3rd pitch of this climb and the 2nd of Golden Monkey. Kimball calls this route "The Crown Jewel of the area."P1: Follow 10 or 11 bolts diagonaling right up non-slabby face climbing. The crux is at a roof/bulge midway where the bolts happily get closer t...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO