Sunshine Dome is a huge, immaculate chunk of granite in the interior portion of the South Platte. Standing face to face with this beast is very pleasing.
Getting There
Approximately 3 miles north of Deckers on Hwy 126 there is a turnoff to the west that is marked for Cheesman Reservoir, etc. this is Road 211. Take this road approximately 5 miles until you reach the (closed) Goose Creek Campground. The Goose Creek Campground is just a little ways past the Molly Gulch Campground. Find a spot to park.
Hike down into the campground and follow the stream downstream, eventually crossing onto its north side. The first rock you get to on the left is Rainy Day Rock. Keep heading to the east, kind of following the creek. There is a good trail that climbs up and over a little hill and drops down into a pleasant valley. Go across this valley (crossing the creek again in the process), doing your best to avoid private property. Once across the valley, keep heading east, steeply uphill to the top of a ridge. You will be able to see Lake Wobegone Dome, the Infidel, Couch Potatoes, Flagship, Renaissance Slab, and Sunshine Dome (from left to right).
My directions from here differ than those that somebody else might give you. Many people suggest hiking down to the northeast, and then up between the Infidel and Couch Potatoes and then dropping down to meet the left side of Sunshine Dome. My recommendation is to head down to the east or maybe southeast along a little ridge of sorts. This little ridge is kind of across the valley to the south from the rock formations. This ridge is easy hiking through a burn area and allows you to see your objective the entire time. Keep descending through this broad ridge until you are below Sunshine Dome and then head straight across to it.
A really helpful idea is to check out the Google Maps webpage which gives overhead satellite photos of excellent resolution. this will allow you to see the general layout of the land. Keep in mind that the photos were taken before the Hayman Fire.
The approach takes longer than it looks/sounds. You might want a fairly early start.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Sunshine Dome:
Climb the somewhat vegetated crack about 100 feet right of French Curve. Belay on the slab below the roof. Continue up the 5.11 slab to the roof, pull through and face climb the 5.12, RP protected seam to its end. Belay at the top on a scenic dike stance. Wander up the bolt protected face and run it out to the top....[more]Browse More Classics in CO
By Allen Hill From: FIve Points, Colorado and Pine Apr 6, 2007
I think these are some of the best routes anywhere in the state. I've done four of the routes and all of them were four star climbs. Trout's "Shinning Path" is in my opinion the best climb in the Platte. Noel's "Heart of Darkness" is also an exceptional route. The solitude is just fantastic on this remote dome.
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