North Fork of the St. Vrain River Climbing
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Elevation: | 6,022 ft |
GPS: |
40.24453, -105.33163 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 264,984 total · 1,904/month |
Shared By: | John McNamee on Oct 13, 2012 |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Description
US 36 is a popular through road connecting Denver to Estes Park and continues into Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the stretch from Lyons to Estes Park is a canyon littered with rocks that draw the eye. Many of these crags lie on private property or are only reasonably accessed through private property, so check first.
The rock here varies from granitic to harder, metamorphic, igneous varieties that are more challenging to characterize. Crags here may range from micro routes to perhaps 1000 feet.
Some of these crags include the River Wall (once called the best crag in Colorado) at Button Rock Reservoir, other scattered crags near Button Rock, boulders at Big Elk Meadows (east of Estes Park along FR 118). There are some scattered crags in the area of Pinewood Springs which have had less-heralded ascents.
North St. Vrain
Lyons Area
Longmont Reservoir Area (aka Buttonrock)
Coulson Gulch - 2.9 mile hike from Johnny Park off CO 66
Further up US 36
Split Rocks
Animal Magnetism
Little Thompson drainage approach via US 36
Big Elk Meadows
The Palace
Raven's Roost
Kenny Mountain
Tomato Rock
Pinewood Area - between Little Thompson and North Fork of the St. Vrain
Button Rock
Button Slab
Pinewood Boulders, Tomato Rock
Off CO 7, via rough roads or Off US 36 through Johnny Park
Pierson Park
Pierson Point
The rock here varies from granitic to harder, metamorphic, igneous varieties that are more challenging to characterize. Crags here may range from micro routes to perhaps 1000 feet.
Some of these crags include the River Wall (once called the best crag in Colorado) at Button Rock Reservoir, other scattered crags near Button Rock, boulders at Big Elk Meadows (east of Estes Park along FR 118). There are some scattered crags in the area of Pinewood Springs which have had less-heralded ascents.
North St. Vrain
Lyons Area
Longmont Reservoir Area (aka Buttonrock)
Coulson Gulch - 2.9 mile hike from Johnny Park off CO 66
Further up US 36
Split Rocks
Animal Magnetism
Little Thompson drainage approach via US 36
Big Elk Meadows
The Palace
Raven's Roost
Kenny Mountain
Tomato Rock
Pinewood Area - between Little Thompson and North Fork of the St. Vrain
Button Rock
Button Slab
Pinewood Boulders, Tomato Rock
Off CO 7, via rough roads or Off US 36 through Johnny Park
Pierson Park
Pierson Point
Getting There
Some of this can be accessed from CR 41 off of US 36 between Lyons and Estes Park. Some of this can be accessed from Johnny Park off of the Little Valley Rd. from Fish Creek Rd. going south from Estes Park.
To get there from the west, you can go east from Estes Park along US 36. To access this area from Denver, head north on I-25, go NW on US 36 through Boulder to Lyons. No access this from the NE, you can go west on US 66 into Lyons, and then go west on US 36.
To get there from the west, you can go east from Estes Park along US 36. To access this area from Denver, head north on I-25, go NW on US 36 through Boulder to Lyons. No access this from the NE, you can go west on US 66 into Lyons, and then go west on US 36.
Other Activities
There is a Ciatano Winery located along the St. Vrain River at the Rock'n River just outside of Lyons with wine tasting from grapes grown from the Western Slope. Nice Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Viogner. $3 for 5 tasting. They have a picnic area with large trout in their pond. 11-5 F-M in Winter & 10-6 daily in Summer. 303.823.5011. Nice for apres climbing or early rainout days.
Classic Climbing Routes at North Fork of the St. Vrain River
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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