Lens Rock  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  3,473. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Holly Barnard on Jun 4, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 63° | 39° 66° | 43° 73° | 45° 72° | 45° 75° | 43°

Season raptor closures MORE INFO >>> The following areas are closed from March 1-July 31 or until further notice: Twin Owls, Rock One, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sheep Mountain, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Lightning Rock and Checkerboard Rock are currently closed. The closures include the named rock formations and the areas extending 100 yards surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber's access trails to the formation. Alligator Rock is also closed. www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/area_closures.htm This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

Lens Rock from near the base on the left side.

Description 

Lens Rock is a 1-2 pitch crag located between the Bookend and the Citadel. It consists of mostly easy to moderate trad lines and couple of stiffer mixed routes. This small crag does offer a variety of fun climbing - chimney, off-width, finger to fist cracks and some face climbing too. I wouldn't consider this crag to be a destination, but it is worth a stop off to get another line in for the day if you are in the general area.

Climbs that ascend the actual lens feature of Lens Rock have rap anchors at the top. Most other climbs use a walk/scramble off to the east in the gully between Lens Rock and the Bookend. This walk off is not pleasant nor is it obvious. Work your way down a path of least resistance and be prepared for some 4th class scrambling/downclimbing.

Getting There 

Lens Rock is most easily accessed from other crags. Take the Black Canyon Trail to the Bookend or to the Pear. From the Bookend: head west below the Bookend across the gully and you'll run into Lens Rock. From the Pear: head up and east the descent gully on the east (right) side of the Pear.

Lens Rock is easily identified by two features: its SE face that is shaped like a lens and a large balanced rock on its summit with crack lines running up to it.

The Classics

Featured Route For Lens Rock

The Frame 5.8+  CO : Lumpy Ridge : Lens Rock

Approach this route from the Bookend trail by walking past the Bookend then up the gully between it and Lens Rock, some scrambling encountered. The Frame is the prominent wide crack on the upper east face of Lens Rock. Grunt through a few offwidth moves on the lower half i.e. chicken wings/arm bars, then utilize face holds to stay out of the crack as the angle eases. Belay from bolts on top, a few feet left of the crack. Descend to the north then east dropping down easy slabs. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

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Lens Rock from near the base on the right side. R...