Grotto Walls Area  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  12,474. Good page?    Administrators:  Alvaro Arnal, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Alvaro Arnal on May 21, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 55° | 32° 64° | 34° 70° | 39° 72° | 39° 73° | 39°

Stemming for self preservation.

Description 

One of the mainstays of Independence Pass climbing, the Grotto Walls area offers the greatest variety of climbing on the Pass from the convenience of the Lower Grotto Wall to the more wild setting of the Third Grotto Wall. Climbing here is split pretty evenly between sport and trad. There is some great bouldering as well in the scree fields below the cliffs.

Getting There 

Drive up Independence Pass from Aspen about 9 miles. Come around a left hairpin turn and pull into the large pull-off on the left side of the road. Lower Grotto Wall is the large cliff just above the road. There will usually be a party on Twin Cracks and Cryogenics, and one to multiple cars with tourists pulled over watching the "crazy climbers".

The Classics

Featured Route For Grotto Walls Area

Twin Cracks 5.8  CO : Independence Pass : ... : Lower Grotto Wall

The crux is at the top of the two parallel cracks under a roof to traverse right (crux), then pull onto a face onto a ledge to bolted anchor P1, belay. Then up to the top of the Lower Grotto Wall belay P2....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO