Fall River Road (US 34 West)

Description 

This is a section of the Estes Park Valley which lies along US 34, a.k.a. Fall River Rd aka Wonderview. Along this road, west of Estes Park lies an abundance of small crags and the occasional larger crag. Some, if not most, lie on National Park land. Numerous of these are located on private property or accessed through private property. So, check first and/or keep a low profile unless you are clearly on public lands.

Most of the rock along this stretch is granitic on various domes and outcrops up to 900 ft long. The majority of the routes are consequently slabby in nature; however, you can find vertical to overhanging stretches in spots.

Much of this is less-traveled and nestled in the forests, so you can find peace and solitude if you like to explore.

Some of the crags along this stretch include the better known, but still backwater crags, like North Face of Deer Mountain and McGregor Slab. Some of the more obscure here include Window Rock, Castle Rock, Old Man Mt, Owlette, SPlatte Rock, Thumb Rock, rocks along the hillside east of Thumb Rock, and many, many more. While there is certainly room for FAs, many of these rocks have been scaled and little trace has been left here. So, if you come here, enjoy but consider the "leave no trace" ethic here. Note, some of this is mountain lion country, so be careful if you bring your kids or pets.

Getting There 

Fall River Road is also known as US 34, Wonderview, and of course, Fall River Rd. This is located between Estes Park and the Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are many crags dotting the hillsides both North and South of the road. To get here from Denver, go North on I-25, go NW on US 36 through the towns of Boulder, Lyons, to Estes Park. From the junction of US 36 and US 34 (stoplight), go straight onto US 34, pass the Stanley Hotel and start to look for your crag of choice.

Featured Route For Fall River Road (US 34 West)

Left Standard 5.3  CO : Estes Park Valley : Fall River Road (US 34 West)

Although treated rather dismissively by most guide books, this is one of the better easy routes to be found out there. It is relatively long,(3-4 pitches), nicely exposed and has a fine position high above the Fall River Valley. As for most McGregor routes, the endless options for variation have caused confusion in identifying the designated path. Yet, the left side of the slab has some more well defined features that set it apart. I suppose ...[more]