Eyes of the Canyon  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  959. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Warren Teissier on Dec 6, 2001 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 72° | 48° 66° | 50° 77° | 48° 79° | 52° 84° | 55°

Mark Oveson at the top of the first pitch of Liche...

Description 

The Eyes of the Canyon is a group of 3 large rocks rather than a single formation. They are located in the depths of Bluebell Canyon to the left of the Third.

As seen from the East between the Third and Fourth Flatirons one can see two slender formations: the highest and furthest South is the Willy B, the next one, lower on the mountain and further North is the Thing or Morning after. The Eyes of the canyon are a bit lower and further North from that.

Climbing on the Eyes can be scary due to the extreme amounts of lichen covering the rocks and the unprotected and exposed nature of a couple of the climbs. These climbs are fun and greatly coveted by slabmongers trying to checkmark all of Roach's climbs in: Flatiron Classics.

Due to the "easy" rating of the climbs some folks have been tempted to solo them only to be marooned by the moss and lichen and rescued by rope carrying friends...

Getting There 

Follow the Royal Arch trail until it begins to switch back out of Bluebell canyon and exit right (North) on a primitive trail. Follow this trail NW for a couple hundred feet until you reach the base of the first piece of the Eyes of the Canyon. This is the start of a 400 ft route called Lichen Wars (5.6 S).

Climb Lichen Wars or continue hiking up to the left of this first piece and work your way South West on the trail leading to the Thing. After hiking for some 500 feet the other two large formations will come into view. The first one on the left is the start of Blinded, a 200 ft climb. Hike up and right from the base of that climb for 50 feet to another rock and find the start of Sight Fight. This last route leads to the highest summit of The Eyes and provides, as mentioned by Roach the: "Best view in the World of the Southwest side of the Third Flatiron."

The Classics

Featured Route For Eyes of the Canyon

Lichen Wars 5.6 R  CO : Flatirons : ... : Eyes of the Canyon

This is a 400ft route of which the first 50 feet prove to be the crux.Start at the bottom of the face up a smooth, unprotected mossy and licheny slab (5.6 s). After this section the climbing eases and protection appears.This section can be avoided by starting the climb further up on the South (left side of the face) and traversing to the centerAfter this, romp up easy rock to a ledge with broken blocks. Scramble left through the blocks and up another 100 ft section of slab to reach the summitDes...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO