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Monument Canyon

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Aid Route III 
Big Bertha 
Big Foot 
Carter Route 
Circle, Square, and the Triangle 
Desert Solitaire 
Egypt Rock - NorthWest Face 
Elephant Head 
Euro Route 
Friends Can't Be Trusted 
Get A Life 
Higher Mind Dynamics 
It Ain't Over Til It's Loose 
Left Dihedral aka Dihedral 1 aka First Dihedral 
Luhr's Route aka Right Dihedral 
Monolith Spire - Dewar Dihedral 
Mormon Tea 
Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire 
Revolution Will Not be Televised, The 
Route 2 
Route 4 
Short Route 
Wide Load aka Route 3 
Wingate Warrior 
Wizard I 

Monument Canyon

Submitted By: Ben Mottinger on Nov 11, 2001
Administrators: Jesse Zacher, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
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Description 

This is the description for all the one-two pitch routes along the Monument Trail leading to Independence Monument. There are some nice moderate (5.8-9) trad routes here, as well as some more difficult face climbs (sport), and even some multi-pitch hand cracks. They are nice routes to finish up a day after climbing the monument.


Getting There 

First Area: As the Monument Trail leaves the fence and starts following the creek bed up the canyon, many one-pitch lines will come into view on the right side of the canyon. Look for a prominent right-facing dihedral and 40ft to its right, a left-facing dihedral. In between these routes are several bolted climbs. All have fixed rap anchors.

Second Area: Around the first bend, up the hill and past the first area, look again to the right side for some obvious cracks. Here you'll find an attempted aid line with a fixed pin 10ft. off the deck. Another route starts 10ft. left of the aid route, which is finger/offwidth for 80ft.

Third Area: In the last recess of the canyon before you turn the corner and Ind. Mon. comes into view, look for a tall pillar against the back wall of the canyon. A two (maybe three) pitch nice hand crack goes up the left side of the pillar to fixed anchors at each belay.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Monument Canyon:
Left Dihedral aka Dihedral 1 aka First Dihedral   5.8     Trad, 2 pitches   
Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   
Luhr's Route aka Right Dihedral   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 120 feet   
Carter Route   5.9+     Trad   
Circle, Square, and the Triangle   5.9+     Trad, 1 pitch   
Desert Solitaire   5.11a C1     Trad, Aid, 6 pitches, 350 feet, Grade III   
Get A Life   5.12c R     Trad, 5 pitches, 460 feet, Grade III   
Browse More Classics in Monument Canyon

Featured Route For Monument Canyon
Tony at the summit belay of Desert Solitaire (5.11, C1) in Colorado National Monument. Image by Bill Wright.

Desert Solitaire 5.11a C1  CO : Grand Junction : ... : Monument Canyon
Access this stellar route via the Lower Independence Monument trail. The route is located 400 yards up trail from Monolith Spire and 1/4 mile before Independence Monument. Look right for the beautiful Lightning Bolt splitter 2 pitches up with a left angling 4th class ramp leading to it. Approach via drainage after trail passes inbetween two large boulders. This route is south-facing and very sunny.P1. Crux Pitch. Locate a beautiful left facing wi...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Photos of Monument Canyon Slideshow Add Photo
Snake Eyes?<br />Joseffa Meir has found the tipped dice, with the last ready to tumble in Monument Canyon. Photo by Tony Bubb, 2005.

Snake Eyes?
Joseffa Meir has found the tipped dice...

Looking back into Monument Canyon from the base of a wall. "The Kissing Couple" is the most prominant formation in this view. Photo by Tony Bubb, 2005.

Looking back into Monument Canyon from the base of...


Comments on Monument Canyon Add Comment
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By ward johnston
Jul 16, 2009

I left three cams monolith spire about a month ago. They are gone. (BD #0.5, #2, and Ocun orange). You would think that when someone leaves three cams on a route they would be returning to retrieve the gear. If you would like to return it, please drop it off at the Grand Junction Climbing Center (1548 Independent Ave.) I have your QD if you want it back. Otherwise, enjoy my cams and I hope the karma doesn't get you.